What are the top tips for bake normal map 3D models?

When baking normal maps for 3D models, top tips include using a clean high-poly model with UVs matching the low-poly, aligning the cage properly, adjusting ray distance to avoid artifacts, and enabling anti-aliasing. Clean high-poly topology ensures accurate detail transfer—mismatched UVs cause stretching. A well-fitted cage fixes bleeding or missing details (it bridges high/low-poly). Ray distance: Too short misses details; too long creates glitches—test for balance. Anti-aliasing keeps edges sharp and noise-free. Beginners: Start with simple models (e.g., a cube with extruded lines) to master cage setup and UVs before complex assets.