You can find a good outline of the best level work-flow practices we use over here:
http://gtm.steamproxy.vip/app/246900/discussions/4/350533172687207447/



The usual work flow we use for models+textures is this:

1. Create Low-Poly mesh in 3dsMax
2. Apply a single material or multiple materials to the desired polygons of the mesh. Making sure no polygons are without a material. A checker material works nicely for this.

3. Unwrap its UVs, ensuring they use as much UV space as possible without ever overlapping(unless safe to do so).
4. Create High-Poly mesh in 3dsMax or ZBrush based on Low-Poly mesh. Only done if detail unique to the mesh is needed. We don't care about UVs with this one.

5. Export a rendered 2d image of the Low-Poly mesh's UVs.
6. Export the Low-Poly mesh as either an ASE or an FBX(ideally).
7. Export the optional High-Poly mesh as either an ASE or an FBX(ideally).
8. Use XNormal to render a normal map using the Low-Poly mesh and High-Poly mesh. Only needed if detail unique to the mesh is needed, otherwise we use existing textures.

9. Use photoshop to take the rendered UV image and use it as a guideline for creating the diffuse(color) and specularity maps.

10. Use photoshop to save 3 separate images: The Diffuse, the Specularity and the Normal Map, all as .TGA files.

11. Import everything into the UDK(3 textures, one low-poly), making sure to adhere to good naming conventions. Also making sure to use the right compression and texture group settings for the textures.

12. Create, copy, or subclass a material that will make use of the imported textures.
13. Apply the material(s) to the imported Low-Poly mesh.
14. Save package.


It should also be noted that if you use base textures(looping images like rocks, grass, metal, etc) you can skip steps 4, 5, 7, 8 and 9. Each image is instead created just in photoshop, or sourced elsewhere and designed to be represented as a general texture instead of as a skin with unique areas. The best example of such meshes are rocks, leaves, trees, dunes, concrete blocks, etc. Anything that doesn't require different mismatching/unique areas on one texture.

NOTE1: If the high-poly is the same as the low-poly, then you don't need a normal map at all. There is no depth information to give detail.

NOTE2: You don't have to use normal maps in materials. They just make things look nicer, but if there is no room for extra fine-detail, then they are not needed. Not having a normal map applied to a material is completely normal(excuse the pun).

You could also use a seamless normal map(like a base texture) in the material. You can use the material editor to tile it a bit, and decrease its intensity to make it less invasive.

NOTE3: The Diffuse map is usually just a color map and has nothing to do with low and high poly models or normal maps.

NOTE4: If your Normal maps are not being rendered by XNormal correctly, they may indeed come out looking odd, possibly even black. Any bit of black on a normal map is bad.

NOTE5: Here are the settings we usually use in XNormal to get the right export processing.

Make sure the transform boxes(X, Y, Z) are set to:
x+
y-
z+

Some other important settings:

tangent space = on
Closest hit if ray fails = on
Discard back-face hits = on
Padding = 8

Also, make sure to adjust the trace distances if you need to. They can help fix ray-hit-miss issues, where the ray-tracing fails because they are too short.

Strangely enough I was going to make this topic yesterday since I'm always bugging people for help. Once I get some free time I'll write up a few tricks and tips I've learned along my way that would be helpful to modders old and new

Ok then i'll start.
Problem is a physics issue ( I think)
I've been trying to add shopping carts into my new map, to work as bins ( Ajanitor and myselfs mindmeld)
So mesh ready, textures are set. I've added two types of cart, one is a debris style archtype the other is a VCBin with the mesh changed to the cart.
They sit fine, you can throw them around, bump them etc. However when you try to place anything inside the cart it jiggles around a bit then self destroys ( i guess due to "destroy if stuck" active). If the "destroy if stuck" is deactivated, them mesh still shakes but it's not stuck and doesnt fly off or anything.
My collision mesh (read UXC) was an H shape, i thought that a box in the middle may be the issue ( actors inside the mesh forcing down ), but then I changed the mesh to be more of a bucket |_| shape, still have the same problem.
I've already added baskets using the same methods and they work 100%.
Any ideas what would be causing the mesh to freak out when actors are dropped inside?

So the object now has a flat base and it's still freaking out?

I can imagine if it didn't rest flush with the floor it would be much more prone to freaking out, built on tiny legs or something similar. How thick are the actual "walls" of the cart's collision? You'll notice the Bin is fairly thick.

They're reasonably thick, the basket I made has much thinner though.
Thickness

Base

I've not fit the mesh snug just yet, i'll be doing that once I get the jitter to stop.


EDIT: fixed the issue. It turns out all three meshes I was using were bad. I have a new one and the collision works great.

Nice to see some 3ds max assets.

I have subscribed to lynda and working throught a tutorial to learn latest max (2016)
After that, is quixel turn (texture base app).

I would like to create good looking wall based on aliens 1986.

Originally posted by cannonf0dder:

EDIT: fixed the issue. It turns out all three meshes I was using were bad. I have a new one and the collision works great.

Ah, good to hear it.

Originally posted by A JANITOR:

any chance that vcd could get a debris variable it be mighty handy

What do you mean?

Originally posted by A JANITOR:

also im trying to workout how to get objects to impact on a fluid surface actor movable since only the player the mop and shooting it with the welder can make the water ripple
is there a way to get objects to apply force to the fluid surface actor if toss a body etc into the ocean?

It could be related to the volume's collision properties, does it accept collision from rigid bodies?

Originally posted by A JANITOR:

also is there a way to make an actor via mattinee to hit the fluid surface actor like the mop does causing ripples to make a wave generator to simulate waves in my ocean?

Hmm, I actually have no idea. I've never used the UDK's wave generator, so it's possible you'd have to program a new kismet action.

Originally posted by A JANITOR:

also discovered why rocks have crap collision on them they need more depth on the depth slider when building collision in static mesh editor:)
fixing rocks can only be done on the devs computer:)

Right, I'll have a look at that again.

Originally posted by A JANITOR:

as for debris variable i guess an oject variable will do the job:)

Where? You want a VCDebris object variable. But on what? Do you want it on water actors, debris objects, splats, in the level info? Which object or actor do you need the variable to be on?

Originally posted by A JANITOR:

not entierly sure about needing a debris variable seems different/unknown territory tinkering with something advanced

You mean you want the FluidSurfaceActor to have a debris object variable, allowing it to detect VCD's physics objects?

Well, I don't think that will help. And you don't really need it either.

I successfully managed to get ripples for objects working, although it's not pretty.

Step1: Add a kismet Touch event for the water volume(which covers the whole surface of the FluidSurfaceActor).

Step2: Set the Touch event's properties to be the same as those you'd use for the Incinerator's volume.

Step3: Link the Touch output to a Modify Health kismet action.

Step4: Link the Instigator output from the Touch event to the Instigator and Target inputs on the Modify Health action.

Step5: Set the Modify Health actions properties to:
DamageType=None
Amount=0.0
Momentum=0.0
Radius=128
Heal=Off
Radial=On
Falloff=On

There you have it.

Originally posted by A JANITOR:

anyhow how does one make a nosplat or water volume destroy sand piles from the shovel?

Have you tried linking the volume's Touch event to a Destroy action?
Make sure that Touch event only accepts "VCSandPile" actors.

Hmm, try using Steam's code tag block for that info above. Eg:
That way it maintains spaces and is thus more readable for people.

Originally posted by A JANITOR:

Step4: Link the Instigator output from the Touch event to the Instigator and Target inputs on the Modify Health action.
wasnt able to get that to do anything

Did you set the properties on the Modify Health action correctly(Step5)? It won't work otherwise.

My method does work, but you might have to increase the radius.
Here is code for the copied Kismet components, just select it and paste it in the kismet window.


You'll have to assign your own actors to the object variables and the touch event afterwards.

Well, it was working on mine. Maybe your water volume doesn't have the right collision properties.

Also, just a reminder that this is not a place to talk about your levels or its features, unless you're directly instructing people how to make something.

Ok here's one. Is there any way to add a bonus completion percentage for triggering an event? Example; I have a vcmover, when interacted with does its job then sets itself to a non active state.
Once in that non active state I'd like it to award 0.25% towards completion.

Yeah, no way currently.

Using a stacking volume in that way that sounds like a good alternative.


I've been thinking about opening up the punchout system to use custom info, allowing you to decide what objects punish and award, what notes you get, etc. Basically so you can make it unique to your level without having to use the "Punchout Handler" templates.

Sounds good, will be a nice reward for the players to get a cool custom newspaper clipping for a job well done. Will try doing that stacking volume trick once I get some spare time.