Game Asset Modeling - The Sci-Fi Modular Floor Workflow

Name: Game Asset Modeling - The Sci-Fi Modular Floor Workflow
Rating: 4.0 (8 reviews)

Learn normal map baking in 3ds Max and get a crash-course in materials inside UDK as we texture this sci-fi floor!

Created by3dmotive LLC

Last updated 9/2016

English

English [Auto],

What you'll learn

Learn how to bake normal maps from a high poly model
Learn to texture the sci-fi floor from start to finish
Learn to create the material inside of UDK as you see here
Learn to light the scene and polish your materials

Course content

3 sections • 18 lectures • 1h 53m total length

Introduction0:50
Course source files and samples
Using the Grid3:18
Model modular assets on a power-of-two grid with 16 by 16 spacing and 8 major lines for clear texture mapping and easy export to Unreal.
Exploding the Low for Baking1:42
Explore exploding the low poly mesh before baking to prevent overlapping geometry, align with the high-poly model, and bake clean ambient occlusion and normal maps using a non-destructive two-frame workflow.
Baking the AO and Normal Maps10:23
Learn to bake ambient occlusion and normal maps from high to low poly in Max, using projection mapping, cages, skylight lighting, and Photoshop compositing to produce clean texture maps.
Baking out a Selection Mask6:28
Bake a selection mask in 3ds Max by assigning multi-sub object materials and distinct colors, then export a diffuse map for Photoshop-based color selections.
Importing the Mesh into UDK4:37
Import the low rez mesh and color and normal maps into unreal, create a material, and bake lights to verify light maps and grid-aligned modular floor pieces.

Starting our Base Color Map6:30
Texture color with photo-based textures to create a base color map matched to the environment. Practice a workflow with a texture library, scale control, seam reduction, and adjustment layers.
Using our Selection Mask5:32
Add carbon steel color variation on a lighter base metal texture by adjusting saturation, lightness, and color balance, then reveal the darker areas with a layer mask and selection tools.
Adding Paint Layers6:12
Apply blue and red paint textures to sci-fi panels using layer masks, color adjustments, and saturation to control paint areas, balance colors, and boost contrast for vivid detail.
Adjusting Values in the Color Map4:00
Adjust the color map and textures, tweaking carbon steel, blue and red paints, and bolts for a cohesive look, then prep rust and scratches while previewing in Photoshop and Unreal.
Adding Grunge Layers6:26
Add subtle grunge to the metal texture with overlay textures, adjusting scale and opacity to preserve the metallic surface. Clone and healing brushes fix seams and refine overlays.
Adding Dust and Rust Layers16:23
Add dust and rust layers to a sci-fi metal texture, refine with soft light and masks, paint wear and scratches, then generate a normal map to enhance depth.

Rust Edging and Scratch Pass11:58
Add grunge and rust to texture edges using a rust stamp technique, then paint scratches, adjust colors and opacity, and finalize color and specular maps for a game asset.
Creating an Opacity Mask5:46
Create a single opacity and emissive mask texture by packing masks into the red and green channels to optimize memory for Unreal, then apply the mask in the material.
Creating the Specular Map8:51
Learn to convert a color map into a specular map using adjustment layers, layer-by-layer tweaks to metal, rust, and paint, and careful color balancing for crisp highlights.
Setting up the Final Material9:18
Learn to hook up the specular map, apply a reflection cube map with a reflection mask, and configure emissive lights to create a realistic sci-fi floor material.
Decals, Lighting Pass, and Final Presentation5:14
Place and adjust point lights, apply decals to modular floor pieces, and preview the scene in game mode to prepare a polished final presentation.
Bonus Lecture: Further Learning with 3dmotive0:18

Requirements

3ds Max
UDK
Photoshop

Description

Starting with the normal map baking process in 3ds Max, we'll create a color and specular map using Photoshop, use selection masks created with Render to Texture, set up a material for the floor piece, and finally add some lights and decals when we put it all together inside of UDK. With lots of great tips and practical hands on techniques, this video serves as a great workflow tutorial for high quality game assets.

About the Instructor:

Mike Snight is the Co-Founder/Owner of 3dmotive.com. He currently works at Irrational Games as a Senior Level Artist, and contributed heavily to the production of the smash hit Bioshock: Infinite. Mike is a long-time fan of the BioShock series and a 2008 Game Art and Design graduate from The Art Institute of California—Los Angeles. Mike has also contributed to the Activision titles Transformers: War for Cybertron, and Transformers: Dark of the Moon.

Who this course is for:

Beginners-to-Intermediate Game Artists
Anyone interested in learning high quality texturing techniques

Game Asset Modeling - The Sci-Fi Modular Floor Workflow

What you'll learn

Explore related topics

Course content

Introduction to Bake Settings and Importing to UDK6 lectures • 27min

Working on Base Textures6 lectures • 45min

Wrapping up the Material, and Final Presentation6 lectures • 41min

Requirements

Description

Who this course is for: