How can you optimize models for different game engines?

One thing I typically do with optimizing my models is I start by working in quads and try to make sure every face has four sides. I then try to delete every other edge loop where I can while paying attention to whether the shape changes. If it changes too much, then that edge loop shouldn't be deleted. If deleting an edge loop changes by an insignificant amount or doesn't change the shape of the mesh at all, then chances are you can get rid of all of those edges in one fell swoop.

Something often overlooked is the consideration you give to how light catches a surface. Some bevels will need to be exaggerated or you are able to cut back on the amount of segments based on how light hits it. Remember, the wireframe doesn't provide any information once in the engine- make sure your bevels do what they NEED to do- catch light! (And bake well of course.)

To have control on Poly Count : First steps is to model a proxy as perfectly as possible. This will help you in getting the basic proportions of the in asset. The main purpose of proxy is to get the overall proportions and alignments of the mode, This proxy process can help to save a lot of time , which is usually wasted in iterative process of modelling A basic proxy will help us to build the midlevel model with a proper poly budget.

A technique that I consider a good way to reduce the polygon count is Floating Details, which consists of details of the model in the baking process such as screws, buttons, creases and grooves, etc... This way it is possible to greatly detail a model with less polygon count and keeping the polygon focused on the shape and important details.

Game engines use triangular surfaces. Therefore, when limiting the polygon numbers of models, we should know that a face consists of 2 triangles. The models we will make should not contain surfaces that will not be visible in the game, and the vertexes and edges that will create new triangles should be cleaned. thanks

Here are the key considerations: - Polygon Count: Adjust the polygon count to meet the specific engine's requirements, balancing detail and performance. - Texture Size and Format: Match texture sizes and formats to the engine's capabilities, ensuring optimal visual quality and memory usage. - Texture Compression: Utilize engine-specific texture compression techniques to reduce file sizes and improve performance. - Texture Streaming: Implement texture streaming for open-world games to load textures dynamically based on player proximity, reducing memory usage. - Material Optimization: Adjust material properties to align with the engine's rendering capabilities, including settings for shaders, reflections, and lighting.

If our model uses UDIMs it is possible to use different texture sizes for different UV squares. Some parts of your model may need 4096 while others can get by with 1024. Be careful using this method since depending on the size of assets it can be quite noticeable but it helps with large assets that have many, many, tiny pieces.

Texture management is not just a matter of fidelity and performance; it's also a storytelling tool. The right texture can set the mood, reinforce the game's theme, or even guide player behavior. When optimizing, remember that texture quality impacts the emotional and aesthetic experience of the user. Utilize techniques like mipmapping judiciously, ensuring that they don't diminish the narrative elements conveyed by the textures. Another point to consider is cross-platform compatibility.So, while tools like atlas packing and texture baking are crucial for optimization, never lose sight of the artistic and narrative essence that your textures bring to the game.

when working on 3d modeling for game ( character or environmnet ,props ) there is some point that must be consider as ( game type ,budget ,style 1. the poly count : that effect the final look for the model (realstic ,cartoon ,..etc) 2. the texture size and methoud and number and that depent on the modeling final outpot ( udim , modular, low poly , ....) cuase deffrent model size part need deffrent resultion to look great and how many texture map really neededand that can make big deffrence to the look of the model . 3. the matrial number and this can be defferent from game engine to onther and againe the game type and budget . 4. 3d model exporting format 5. onther thing can help knowing wether the game must have baked light or not .

This sounds like a simple question but, of course, has a lot of considerations around it. How complex is your scene overall? What's your compute limitation? How easy is it to scale fidelity up and down in order to fit different targets. For example, if you're only targeting current gen consoles and high end PCs, memory constraints, texture streaming concerns, and rendering cost are relatively cheap for a single high-resolution texture. This will of course scale with scene complexity, up to linearly with poor batching and material sharing. On the other hand, if you're including mobile devices, older consoles, etc, you should make sure that you're making decisions with your most LIMITED targets in mind first.

For file format and export settings, most engines can handle the .obj format. I typically use the .fbx format since it can have multpile UV sets (good for making custom lightmaps if you're using trim sheet textures or to get more lighting detail in a given mesh), it can store a lot more data (for animation or simulation needs), and it can make use of more than one UV tile which makes it great for adding extra detail to meshes and making character models.

File format and export settings are critical considerations when optimizing 3D models for different game engines. These factors significantly impact compatibility and functionality. Here's what you need to know: - Export Settings: Fine-tune your export settings to preserve essential data and information while optimizing for the target game engine. Be aware of settings related to mesh data, animations, materials, and shaders. - Conversion Tools: Use tools like plugins, scripts, or settings panels to aid in the conversion, editing, and optimization of file formats and export settings. These tools can streamline the process and ensure compatibility.

By optimizing these aspects, designers can effectively manage the size of the files they create. For instance, mipmapping creates smaller versions of textures, reducing the overall file size without sacrificing quality. Atlas packing consolidates textures, saving space and improving efficiency. Texture baking combines multiple textures, streamlining the export process. Designers can ensure, by selecting the compatible file output, that their files are appropriately formatted and optimized for use on different platforms.

In my prior work experience, I learned that optimizing models for various game engines entails exploring file formats and export settings. Understanding each engine's specificities is crucial. Choosing compatible file formats and refining export settings is important for striking the right balance between performance and visual quality. Thorough cross-platform testing is the key to fine-tuning and ensuring an efficient and immersive gaming experience.

For 90% of my work I've rocked along with just the .fbx format, it packs in normals, texture/shader info, and animation. As another has stated in this opinion article, consider your priorities and judge whether or not another format is going to be fine for you. FBX can hold animation, texture, shader, normal, and of course mesh data, alongside baked simulation. OBJ can hold just mesh and normal data, both including UVs and how many materials are supposed to be used on the model, but not including their material names. Plus it exports in a smaller size generally. Beyond that there is special formats like Alembic that can better preserve sim data, or even just a normal Blend file, which Unity at least recognizes as FBX adjacent.

In order to get an asset, prop, character etc which can work in multiple engine, it's really important to start optimisation (considering what can be adjusted in later stages) from very beginning of the creation stage. - Details which are important, add those in sculpt and try to add rest of small details in texturing stage. - Lock mesh normals +Avoid unnecessary Uv seams. - Material and texture naming. - Keep material counts low by combining UVs of accessories, clothes etc. Very important - Use compressed texture maps, combine textures like Occlusion+Roughness+Metallic into a single ORM map. - Avoid polycount in small areas, try to keep small details in normal map only. Eg - small metal nails etc can be added in normal map/height map.

It is vital to consider the size of the texture map when laying out the UVs! I'll break it down like this- DPI refers to the dots per inch of an image. The more DPI, the more information that image can have. With more DPI, there are more pixels between your UV islands. More pixels means that you take up less space with anti-aliasing (remember more information!) When laying out UVs for a prop that will use a high-resolution texture set you are able to make the UVs much closer than you could with one using a very low resolution. Consider the texture size for the model and UV accordingly!

For environments, another factor to consider in addition to the above is the amount of drawcalls (a simplistic explanation is materials/shaders per object). For example, an object made with 1 material/shader is more performant than the same object build with 2 or more materials/shaders. The downside of using one material/shader is the trade off between resolution of the asset and performance.

Draw calls are pretty important. Reducing the number of individual materials by trying to keep multiple pieces on one material, where it makes the best sense. Setting up your meshes strategically so they can batch in-engine or be culled properly in-engine. Merge meshes together that don't need to be separate. If you want things to cull when they're not looked at, they may need to be broken up in special ways to get the best result, rather than leaving a large, single mesh. Use tileable textures on large objects so they can share and batch together. Try to avoid Overdraw by avoiding long, thin triangles and being strategic about using alpha textures.

There are a few more valuable tips to consider. First, maintain a well-organized file structure. This ensures easy navigation and management, especially when working on complex projects. Second, regularly save incremental versions of your work. This precautionary measure can be a lifesaver if you need to backtrack or make revisions. Third, don't shy away from seeking feedback from peers or mentors. Fresh perspectives can provide valuable insights and improve the overall quality of your design. Lastly, stay updated with the latest tools and software updates in the field of 3D modeling. New features and advancements can significantly enhance your workflow and capabilities.