Selected to active modifier for texture baking.
Currently to bake a high-poly model to a low poly model, the high-poly must first be selected and then the low-poly is selected while holding the shift key. This only allows for only one pair of models to be baked at a time.
A modifier can be made that connects high and low poly models with their respective cage meshes so that multiple pairs of models can be baked with only one press of the 'Bake' button.
With this method, the high-poly models can be left on a hidden layer just as we are currently able to leave a 'cage' mesh on a hidden layer.
Having the high-poly models hidden away helps keep the viewport responsive and being able to bake multiple pairs of models allows for a person's computer to stay busy while the person is away doing something else. Otherwise, we are required to wait by the machine for the current render to finish so that the next bake can be started after the current bake finishes.
2 Comments
This seems like a somewhat specific usecase for a general feature like a modifier.
Bearing that in mind, I have a stupid question: is it not possible to script the baking process? If that's the case, you wouldn't need a modifier. You could have a "baking queue" add-on to manage your baking process.
If not a dedicated modifier... another option could be to add a "high poly" link parameter in the object properties at least. So the baking engine knows the link to the high poly object or it would be left as None for classic "solo object" baking.
Seriously, sometimes I have a feeling that baking is somehow neglected in Blender, viz poor quality of anti-aliasing for baking.