Learn how to create professional low res meshes for next-gen games. The bulk of this demonstration is in 3ds Max 2010 where the instructor uses the new graphite modeling tools to optimize and create meshes to be used to capture the details from the fountain high res mesh. After the low res mesh is created the instructor creates the UVs for all the modular pieces of the fountain and then goes into great detail about the baking options to create your normal and ao maps.

The techniques used in this video have been proven effective in production to quickly create professional next-gen game meshes.

Reusing the High Res Mesh to speed up the creation of the Low Res Mesh

Creating UVs for the Low Res Meshes

Explaining in Detail the different Render to Texture Options

Comparing Separated Meshes and Combined Meshes When Baking

Using the new Graphite Modeling Tools in 3ds Max 2010

Explaining Smoothing Groups and When to Use Them

Taking the Baked Maps into Photoshop to Composite and Refine