DIY baked shadows

[bigsofty]

Hi,

I was wondering if someone could recommend a good way of baking shadows onto geometry. Because my level is built up of parts that can be moved around between games, I cant use a light mapper, Giles for example. Stencil buffering is too slow on the portable platforms and unnecessary due to static nature of the majority of on-screen objects once the level has started. I don't mind using projection shadows + multi-texturing if a way can be suggested or any relevant method of doing baked shadows on-the-fly?

Cheers,


Ian

[mentalthink]

Hi Bigsofty, well I normally use 3ds max or cinema 4d (this last is a more simple use software, but is equal or more powerfull than 3ds max.)

In render engines, you can use Vray, or I think is better Final Render, is a little more faster, and ok... they have a lot of parameters, but I only use a few things and my LM or complete maps, they appears really good, I don´t think a software is better than other, only what you will know whit one.

If you need help about this point, comment be, in this same post, or in PM, I make  simple tutorial for show you how make a simple ligthmapping or complete map. (in max or cinema)

Kinds Regards,
Iván J.

PS:For if you are interested, exists some very cheaper software, for modelling, I stay using from 1 week ago, more better than anything I touch, is called Nevercenter Silo, for make a low poly models is awesome, and well, you can sculp and paint over the object.
Now I stay learning Blender, Wow, in this version is very very easy, know how works, the interface is like a Maya or Max, and is powerfull, find info on the web is very simple and, have a lot of tutorials, Ex. Youtube , Vimeo, and html´s documents.
And for texturing, more better than Photoshop, you have BodyPaint, is included on Cinema 4D, you can paint over the 3d geometry, or I now I begin to use Coat 3D, is like a Zbrush, but too much easier to user, and is awesome the results.
Well I try to put a normal map on Glbasic, on my Pre Palm, but this don´t show the Bump effects, I don´t know if the device don´t supports bump shader, or I sat making something wrong.

[AMateus]

Hello,

You need LightMaps. I don't know if GL supports them or not (I'm new here), but for static shadows, that's what I'd use.

Hope it helps.

[erico]

Hi Ian,

I have no exp. on glbasic 3d yet but baking shadows into geometry, in my mind, will follow 2 paths:

1-bake texture+lights on a 3d program and export that as you general 3d map, UV.
2-bake lights and export only them to uv, then blend them inside glbasic with you current texture.

Draw back is you will increase memory needs as you will have more images to map, if you can use the second idea there, you can export your light maps in smaller files, lets say, 4 bit black and white png or something like that in a low res too.

These are good if your lights don't move, there must be a way to program the light map inside glbasic too.

It is also important to know if you are mapping lets say, an object, or a cenario? They may have different approaches.

I once did some exercises on mapping cenario...but didn't proceed much into this.

I'm not sure this helps at all

[bigsofty]

Ok, thanks guys, external lighmapping is not really an option as the level has, between loads,movable sections/objects. But I think Erico is on the right lines. I'm reading up on imposters+projection shadows... brain bending stuff!

Cheers,


Ian