Documentation:Maya Optimization Workflow

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MAYA OPTIMIZATION WORKFLOW

1. Import photo scanned .obj (or .fbx)
2. Go to Display > Heads Up Display > Poly Count
3. DUPLICATE the imported model and hide it. Keeping an original will be handy if there are mistakes
4. Delete FLOATING unwanted artifacts and fill holes using ‘Fill Hole’ function
5. Reduce polycount by doing one of the following:
   1. Use ‘Reduce’ function to the highest percentage without losing detail
      1. This is a very quick process but topology won’t be even
   2. Type ‘polyRemesh’ in MEL script editor and press enter
      1. In attribute editor, play with polyRemesh settings (can raise ‘Reduce Threshold’ or lower ‘Max Triangle Count’ if poly count is still too high)
      2. Once happy, type ‘polyRetopo’ in MEL script editor and press enter (SAVE before this step)
         1. If Maya continues to freeze or crash, skip this step
      3. MAKE SURE the lo poly model is in the exact same position as the hi poly model. Unhide the hi poly model so that it is overlapping each other
      4. Go to Mesh > Transfer Attributes □
      5. Reset to default settings
      6. Select source mesh (hi poly) and shift select destination mesh (lo poly), and then hit transfer
      7. Texture should be transferred
      8. Hide hi poly again to continue
6. If poly count still seems too high, use ‘Reduce’ function again
7. Use Maya’s sculpting tools to refine edges and smooth surfaces
8. Continue to fill holes/clean/fix and delete artifacts on lo poly model until specified quality
   1. If a large hole is filled, make sure to ‘Triangulate’ or ‘Quadrangulate’ in ‘Mesh’ by selecting the face
9. If you had filled holes and/or moved the faces around, go to Mesh > Transfer Attributes □
   1. Reset to default settings
   2. Select source mesh (hi poly) and shift select destination mesh (lo poly), and then hit transfer
   3. Texture should be transferred
10. Once done, remember to ‘Freeze Transformations’ and ‘Delete History’
11. Done! Export selection as .obj or .fbx and upload to the teamshare with your working .ma/.mb file

NOTE: If you are having trouble plugging up holes in the model, it will be better just to do it in ZBrush. (Refer to ZBrush section)

TIPS & TRICKS for MAYA

1. If you are having trouble viewing the model and texture while in face mode, turn of ‘Selection Highlighting’ in Show > Selection Highlighting
2. Use the paint brush select tool to have more flexibility highlighting and deleting unwanted faces. You can hold ‘B’ button while click dragging to adjust brush size.
3. To clean up the tiny pesky faces that are floating, double click a face on the model (this will select all faces on that surface) then invert the selection by holding SHIFT and click dragging over the entire work area (you can zoom out to make this easier). Then, press delete
4. If you find at any step your system starts to slow down, try to ‘Freeze Transformations’ and ‘Delete History’