To bake a 3D model in Substance Painter, import your high-poly (detailed) and low-poly (optimized) models, verify UVs are correct, adjust bake settings (e.g., normal/ambient occlusion maps), and run the bake.
- **Why bake?** It transfers fine high-poly details to the low-poly model via texture maps—critical for keeping models light enough for real-time use (like games). Align both models perfectly to avoid artifacts. - **Beginner tip:** Use Substance Painter’s default bake presets—they’re pre-configured for common tasks, so you can learn without extra complexity.