Ambient Occlusion Baking in Blender for American Truck Simulator | Video Request

We put out a video on updating a truck to the newest version last week, and in the comments we were asked to make a video on AO Baking a truck.
We used the #Peterbilt 367 High Hood as the option and showed from how to use TexTools to how to assign materials to the body parts we baked.
Tools required:
Blender - blender.org
TexTools - github.com/Sav...
Paint Dot Net - getpaint.net
#Blender3D #AmericanTruckSimulator #SCSSoftware
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[@jnkyrd.4106]

This is by far one of the best tutorials you’ve done Jeff. Answered all my questions about AO baking and solved many of my issues with that. Length was perfect, music choice and volume were good, screen keys on and your explanations about your approach and why you approach the way you do was really informative. Thanks so much. I’ve watched most of your vids and the content is really helpful. Redd.

[@TacticsTechniquesandProcedures]

I’m new to this so I texture paint all pieces of one type of item on the same diffuse/albedo/color map. Thanks for all the tips!

[@damiencollyer8073]

Please keep these tutorials coming. I've found them invaluable whilst learning to create mods.

[@LegendBizzle]

ive learnt a lot thanks

[@christosmoschos999]

Thank you so much you said it and done it

[@mz3_jake236]

when are you gonna add the high hood to ats? im dying for it lol

[@kartal2339]

thanks for video ...you are a magician

[@Halffastgaming]

I'm just one person who is passionate about learning!

[@kartal2339]

@@Halffastgaming why i cant see ao legacy option in text tools

[@Halffastgaming]

@@kartal2339 I don't know. Are you on the newest version on 2.8 or 2.9 blender in texture mapping tab?

[@kartal2339]

@@Halffastgaming im on 2.9

[@deqa]

Baking a model in its entirety, joined pieces, in one 4k map is generally not practice for super quality meshes because you can separate and bake each piece on its own 4k UV island and it produces a nicer AO. But, again, for this low res model, it's better to join them all and bake them because it's so low poly that you don't gain the benefit of having a separate UV map for each mesh object (each mesh object is too low res to benefit from the entirety of a 4k UV tile space). Another niche thing to consider is, you set a 4k UV tile for the one mesh object, and sure, each object is on that tile... but now each object has to call a 4k texture file. Why not just use a 1024 or lower res map (suitable for this low poly) for each object? Like the "separate the objects" bake AO workflow. Something to consider, given that now each object is calling a 4k UV tile for no reason and increasing performance. Edit: Then again, for a model of this resolution, a 4k AO could work, but it's like, "one texture for 3 pieces decreases load times"... not really. Calling a 4k map for a model of this resolution is strange insofar as a 2k map would work and so on! I can understand the logic of how calling a 1024x1024 map per piece is dumb though because the pieces are so low resolution, you WOULD pack all the objects together and just have ONE tileset (but 4k? not really). You can see the vert count around the front wheel fender and how that is truly a 1024x1024 mesh, moreso 2k joined together, and even then, why join the meshes together? Keep them separated and it increases performance vs calling a giant tile for a model that isn't of that tile's resolution.

[@Halffastgaming]

The issue becomes that in SCS world they use scaling to help lower resolution screens achieve better image quality. Why that's a problem is (in a video I created) because when you have an HD, 1440p or 4K screen, leaving the scaling at 100 or less produces a wonderful image at those resolutions. Modded trucks use the 4k bake per image and folks leave scaling at 400 for HD+ screens and wonder why they have no fps.

[@deqa]

@@Halffastgaming Oh I see that makes sense, yeah my scaling is 400 in game but I don't notice it, but for sure I completely forgot about scaling. I'll try to find your scaling video.

[@markbrower3489]

Thanks for the tutorial, I learn a lot from them. I have one question, what is the position and settings of your light source?

[@Halffastgaming]

There is no position and settings of light source other than the default in Textools.

[@markbrower3489]

@@Halffastgaming Thank you!

[@DTD2212]

Thank you so much for this! I have one question, I made sideskirts for the new DAF in ETS2. They're just a bit brighter than the truck itself so I painted over the AO texture with some grey and it now looks ok. Is that how you're supposed to do it or is there some other way? I also used only one texture for 3 parts I have (Left skirt, right skirt, doors on the right), is that bad? They're just square plains so no details really

[@Halffastgaming]

The one tex for three parts is good, cuts down on extra load times. You can paint grey over or the "correct" is to adjust the vertex color of the model in question.

[@DTD2212]

@@Halffastgaming I'll change the vertex colors then, thanks for the fast reply :D

[@bgmlover552]

nice tutorial for beginners,but dude any advantage of textools over default baker of blender

[@Halffastgaming]

Easier this way imho

[@user-su2id5pt3g]

If I bake the truck interior with the Ambient Occlusion option, then it always turns out very grainy and dark. But If I bake it diffuse + color (direct and indirect lighting turned off) with AO pass in the node editor then it turns out kinda decent. Why is this happening since the AO is very nice in cycles render view, but once I bake it with the AO option, it turns out bad no matter the samples.

[@Halffastgaming]

Because the light is coming from outside so naturally there will be more shadowing.

[@idriveyourelax1953]

Well done sir. AO baking checked off my to learn list.Can i ask for a video with this said truck converting it into game please

[@Halffastgaming]

Someday. I'm up to an 11 part video so far. Will be 40 hours in total. But no time soon.

[@idriveyourelax1953]

@@Halffastgaming Thanks for your dedication sir.I will surely keep on practicing the AO..until then i might try to ingame a trailer watching the OBJ to ATS video

[@user-su2id5pt3g]

So how would you skin this truck if you have smart uv unwrapped it? Like connecting stripes and logos are hard if the uvs are all over the place right.

[@Halffastgaming]

Smart UV unwrapping is not used for making a template, unless you mark edges on all the parts so they come apart as you would like.

[@mikekeller3802]

Half Fast Gaming do you do personal trucks for a person?

[@Halffastgaming]

Not any more no.

[@mikekeller3802]

@@Halffastgaming ok

[@xyonxyt9170]

sir please help i cant get ao legacy option in textools there is only showing ao not ao legacy pls help sir i am in very problem i am working on a mod now i need a high quality texture thats why i need it pls help sir

[@Halffastgaming]

I don't control Textools. Best to contact the person who released it.

[@damiencollyer8073]

Could I use this method for parts painted up under diff.spec.add.env?

[@Halffastgaming]

Most likely yes

[@damiencollyer8073]

@@Halffastgaming time to open up blender and have a play then.

[@djpsycokidd7413]

How do I get my chrome to look so sexy

[@Halffastgaming]

Find the right chrome texture and adjust the mat properly.

[@itsa_david]

@@Halffastgaming do you know how to polish chrome or make it shiny?

[@itsa_david]

@@Halffastgaming do you know how to polish chrome or make it shiny?

[@Halffastgaming]

@@itsa_david in RL?

[@itsa_david]

@@Halffastgaming ingame