Lookdev artists texture normal maps by baking high-poly details onto low-poly models (using tools like Substance Painter or Blender)—this adds surface depth without extra geometry, keeping models lightweight for realistic look development.
- **Bake details**: Transfer fine features (scratches, wrinkles) from a high-poly model to a low-poly one via baking tools; this preserves detail without heavy geometry. - **Tweak for materials**: Adjust the normal map’s strength in the shader—subtle for skin, bolder for metal—to match material properties.
For beginners: Start with a simple object (e.g., a beveled cube) in Blender, bake the normal map, then test its influence in Marmoset Toolbag to see how it affects the final look.