CGTalk - To bind the smoothed model or the lowpoly model

View Full Version : To bind the smoothed model or the lowpoly model - that is the question

fr3drik

11-11-2004, 08:32 AM

I'm trying to figure out the pros and cons of binding a smoothed model vs. binding a lowpoly proxy model (and then rendering the smoothed proxy).

It seems that, generally, the whole process of weight painting and creating blendshapes will take so much more time when binding the smoothed model. Is it worth it? I mean, does the deformations get THAT much better? Isn't it possible to achieve the same deformations when using corrective blendshapes on the lowpoly model?

I find it very useful to be able to animate the lowpoly version of a character ...rather than having a box character - especially when mixing live material and CG. It's easier to see what's going on.

What are your opinions and experience on this? I'm just about to skin my character and in the past I've only skinned the lowpoly version and then smoothed it just before rendering (or rendered the smoothproxy).

mimo8

11-11-2004, 09:58 AM

I use CPS throughout the whole modelling, rigging and animation process.
never tried binding the smooth mesh, but binding the proxy does a fine job and I dont want to imagine the work binding all those vertexes of the smooth mesh ... horror.

anyhow I finetune the deformations with blendshapes (stahlberg method)

john_homer

11-11-2004, 06:26 PM

it depends how low res you are going....

we rig a reasonably detailed model (around 10,000 faces), then smooth it for render, but only a smooth of 1 devision.
we have a lover res (mainly nurbs) model for animation because of the speed factor.

if your binding a model that is too low you cant really get some of the finer deformations because you dont have the detail there (yet) to manipulate.

.j

fr3drik

11-11-2004, 07:13 PM

Thanks guys, that's good to know. :)

CGTalk Moderation

01-19-2006, 08:00 PM

This thread has been automatically closed as it remained inactive for 12 months. If you wish to continue the discussion, please create a new thread in the appropriate forum.