texture-workflow

Texture Workflow

Bake high-poly detail to efficient texture sets. Optimize memory. Engine-ready outputs.

When to Use

• Baking sculpt detail to normal maps
• Creating texture atlases for modular kits
• PBR texture set generation
• Decal placement and blending
• Texture memory optimization

Workflow

High/Low Poly Setup → Cage Setup → Bake Maps → Composite
    → Atlas Pack → Engine Format Export → Validation

Standard PBR Texture Set

Map	Format	Notes
Base Color	sRGB PNG	No embedded AO
Normal	Linear PNG	OpenGL convention unless engine specifies
Roughness	Linear PNG	Single channel
Metallic	Linear PNG	Single channel
AO	Linear PNG	Multiply in shader, not base color
Height	Linear PNG	Optional parallax
Emission	sRGB PNG	Mask-based
ORM Packed	Linear PNG	R=AO, G=Roughness, B=Metallic (Unreal)

Naming: T_[Asset]_[Map] per ../references/naming-conventions.md

Bake Setup

1. Low-poly mesh with UVs (active)
2. High-poly mesh (sculpt or detail) — selected
3. Cage extrusion: 0.01–0.05m (adjust per asset scale)
4. Ray distance: match cage
5. Bake margin: 16px minimum
6. Anti-aliasing: enabled

Maps to Bake

Map	Source	Priority
Normal	High→Low	Required
AO	High or low (cavity)	Required
Curvature	High sculpt	Wear masks
Position	High	Optional (blending)
Thickness	Subsurface meshes	Characters

Texture Atlas Strategy

Modular kits share one atlas:

1. All modules UV'd to shared 0–1 or UDIM space
2. Bake each module to atlas regions
3. Trim sheet areas for repeating detail
4. Single material references atlas
5. Document region map for artists

Decals

• Decal mesh projected on surface
• Separate UV channel or atlas region
• Blend via alpha mask
• Limit decal overdraw in engine

Memory Optimization

Technique	Savings
ORM packing	3 textures → 1
Shared atlas	N materials → 1 texture
Lower res on hidden surfaces	50%+ memory
BC compression in engine	4:1 or 6:1
Trim sheets	Reuse detail across assets

Resolution Guidelines

See ../references/polycount-budgets.md texture section.

MCP Integration

1. Setup bake objects via MCP
2. Configure bake settings via MCP if supported
3. Export baked images via MCP
4. Assign baked textures to materials via MCP
5. Query texture count and resolution

Validation Checklist

• Normal map correct orientation (test in engine)
• No UV seams visible in bake
• AO not baked into base color
• Consistent texel density in final textures
• Texture resolution within budget
• Files named per convention
• sRGB vs Linear correctly assigned

Constraints

MUST DO

• Bake high-poly detail before discarding sculpt
• Use cage for clean normal bakes
• Pack ORM for engine efficiency
• Test normal map orientation in target engine
• Document atlas regions for modular kits

MUST NOT DO

• Bake without cage on complex shapes
• Embed AO in base color (PBR standard)
• Exceed texture budget without LOD justification
• Use inconsistent normal map conventions
• Skip margin in bake settings

Reference Guide

Topic	Reference	Load When
Bake troubleshooting	references/bake-troubleshooting.md	Bake artifacts
ORM packing	references/orm-packing.md	Unreal/Unity export