What the heck is baking a model?

[Sir donks alot (rip my grandpa)]

I was asking someone for help with a model and I was told I had to "bake" it....what the hell does that mean?

[Marco Skoll]

In a general sense, "baking" in computer graphics/animation is taking something that would normally be calculated on-demand at run-time, and instead calculating it in advance and then accessing it from memory.

For example, if a model's hair is jiggle boned, baking those bones will instead make SFM calculate how those bones should jiggle based on how the model is currently moving in scene, and then just use that pre-calculated version, rather than re-calculating it every time.

(Or it should, anyway. But SFM's procedural bone baking is temperamental, and it often produces blank animation data).

SFM's baking options are thin, but other programs will allow things like lighting, textures, ambient occlusion, etc to be baked.

[Sir donks alot (rip my grandpa)]

Originally posted by Marco Skoll:

In a general sense, "baking" in computer graphics/animation is taking something that would normally be calculated on-demand at run-time, and instead calculating it in advance and then accessing it from memory.

For example, if a model's hair is jiggle boned, baking those bones will instead make SFM calculate how those bones should jiggle based on how the model is currently moving in scene, and then just use that pre-calculated version, rather than re-calculating it every time.

(Or it should, anyway. But SFM's procedural bone baking is temperamental, and it often produces blank animation data).

SFM's baking options are thin, but other programs will allow things like lighting, textures, ambient occlusion, etc to be baked.

Uhhh ok....so how do I do it?

[Marco Skoll]

That depends on what you want to bake. Assuming it's jiggle bones, that's done via the right click menu, under Utilities -> Bake Procedural Bones (this is also where you would re-enable them).

This can cause problems with some models though, as it bakes *all* procedural bones, including any pose assist "helper" bones the model may have.

[Sir donks alot (rip my grandpa)]

Originally posted by Marco Skoll:

That depends on what you want to bake. Assuming it's jiggle bones, that's done via the right click menu, under Utilities -> Bake Procedural Bones (this is also where you would re-enable them).

This can cause problems with some models though, as it bakes *all* procedural bones, including any pose assist "helper" bones the model may have.

I did it but it didnt do what I needed it to do

[R234]

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

I did it but it didnt do what I needed it to do

What did it need to do, anyway? You haven't even told us what you're trying to achieve.

[Sir donks alot (rip my grandpa)]

Originally posted by R234:

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

I did it but it didnt do what I needed it to do

What did it need to do, anyway? You haven't even told us what you're trying to achieve.

Im trying to put a part on a model. I tried scaling it but the part keeps disappearing. I was told to "bake" it first. I baked it and it still wont work

[R234]

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

Im trying to put a part on a model. I tried scaling it but the part keeps disappearing. I was told to "bake" it first. I baked it and it still wont work

"Put a part on a model"? I don't follow, please be more specific. What "part", what model, why scale?

[surfer171]

Originally posted by R234:

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

Im trying to put a part on a model. I tried scaling it but the part keeps disappearing. I was told to "bake" it first. I baked it and it still wont work

"Put a part on a model"? I don't follow, please be more specific. What "part", what model, why scale?

The scale part can be explained when you were to attach something to another model that has scaled down for example you spawn a HWM sniper, apply scale control and you shrink him down to a mini figurine. You then spawned in say… his backpack (I don't know the name but I think it's the cozy camper) that has a jiggle bone at the urine jar and pans. The problem arise is when you lock the cozy camper to the sniper then the problem comes in as in the model disappears at certain angles. One way is to bake the model, apply scale as well and then lock it like normally done.

It's confusing yes but I guess that's some way to make a normal sized human model into a figurine and attach it with cosmetics the same size as it is.

[R234]

Originally posted by surfer171:

The scale part can be explained when you were to attach something to another model that has scaled down for example you spawn a HWM sniper, apply scale control and you shrink him down to a mini figurine. You then spawned in say… his backpack (I don't know the name but I think it's the cozy camper) that has a jiggle bone at the urine jar and pans. The problem arise is when you lock the cozy camper to the sniper then the problem comes in as in the model disappears at certain angles. One way is to bake the model, apply scale as well and then lock it like normally done.

It's confusing yes but I guess that's some way to make a normal sized human model into a figurine and attach it with cosmetics the same size as it is.

Do you know for a fact that's what the OP is talking about? As of yet their posts have been pretty cryptic.

[surfer171]

Ok… so you got me there but if the OP is trying to make figurine sized models then what my explanation can be considered right for now.

I mean, I have been doing figurine sized posters and I can relate to the problem though the technical things isn't. I know you need to bake procedural bone for any items with jiggle bone then apply scale control.

[Sir donks alot (rip my grandpa)]

Originally posted by R234:

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

Im trying to put a part on a model. I tried scaling it but the part keeps disappearing. I was told to "bake" it first. I baked it and it still wont work

"Put a part on a model"? I don't follow, please be more specific. What "part", what model, why scale?

The spine. I want to put the chest part onto another model.

[surfer171]

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

Originally posted by R234:

"Put a part on a model"? I don't follow, please be more specific. What "part", what model, why scale?

The spine. I want to put the chest part onto another model.

What model does this chest part originates?

[Sir donks alot (rip my grandpa)]

Originally posted by surfer171:

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

The spine. I want to put the chest part onto another model.

What model does this chest part originates?

I dont get it...

[R234]

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

The spine. I want to put the chest part onto another model.

Still nowhere near enough information. What spine, what chest part, what model?

[Sir donks alot (rip my grandpa)]

Originally posted by R234:

Originally posted by uber gaming (ytb) (G.E.W.P):

The spine. I want to put the chest part onto another model.

Still nowhere near enough information. What spine, what chest part, what model?

spine 1 and femscout onto a male scout