Problem Baking Displacement Map

[mayanim8]

Hello,

I am hoping someone can help me.

I am trying to create a Displacement Map using XNormal, (Using Height Map) 

I am not sure why, but for some reason the displacement map image is faceted.  

Export OBJ with Smoothing On

All Edges are Soft

I get the same results if I use a cage or not.

I am not sure why this is happening or how to fix it.

Thank you

[mayanim8]

Hello,

This issue may be resolved.  For a displacement map, you need to have a lot of geometry, even on the low resolution model to get a clean bake?

Please, if someone with more experience than I could confirm the process?

Steps:

1.  Duplicate the lowRes geometry

2.  Rename the lowRes to lowHighRes

3.  Apply a smooth to the lowHighRes, on the smooth node, increased the subdivision to 3 (in this example, values could be higher?).

2.  Export the smoothed lowHighRes geometry as the lowHighRes.obj 

4.  Use the lowHighRes.obj as the target object in XNormal (Mudbox or whatever baking software)

5.  In Maya, set attributes on the lowResShape Node: 

             i.   Arnold Subdivisions Attributes = Catclark

             ii.  Iterations = the same value that was applied to lowHighRes.obj geometry - smooth node = 3.

Is this correct?  

Thank you