Maya scripting for a better UV layout than the default one?

bugo

Hey, does anyone know of a better script/tool that creates a better UV layout? The default one is shitty, it doesn't think about convex/concave shells at all, which for 2nd uv sets in UDK is very needed on lightmaps.

EDIT: I tried roadkill, doesn't do a good job also.
I know that Headus UVLayout is great, but I want something inside Maya so I can have the 2 uvsets intact.

onionhead_o

try unwrella. i believe the plugin works within maya. even bonustools will help significantly.

mazz423

You can always use UV layout for both and then do a current UV set tranfser for map 2, that's how we do it where I work, it's an extra step but the UV packing in Headus is worth the extra minute. I know a few guys that use a script called UVDeluxe, you've probably heard of it, I myself haven't had the chance to give it a go, but that may have a competant packer.

Edit: After having a look at the creativecrash page for it it doesn't seem to have a packer built in, still, a decent script either way, may interest you anyway http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/downloads/scripts-plugins/texturing/c/uvdeluxe

bugo

mazz423 wrote: »

You can always use UV layout for both and then do a current UV set tranfser for map 2, that's how we do it where I work, it's an extra step but the UV packing in Headus is worth the extra minute. I know a few guys that use a script called UVDeluxe, you've probably heard of it, I myself haven't had the chance to give it a go, but that may have a competant packer.

Edit: After having a look at the creativecrash page for it it doesn't seem to have a packer built in, still, a decent script either way, may interest you anyway http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/downloads/scripts-plugins/texturing/c/uvdeluxe

Well, that's how I do as well. But that's not what I was talking about. I am talking about using the uv space of the 2nd uv set better instead of the default uv layout of Maya. Maya unfortunately doesn't think about concave and convex spaces inbetween shells. Try an arch model, uv map it and uv layout it, you will see how Maya doesn't think about the space inside the arch, and you have to manually place small things inside it.

Yep, I use UVdeluxe, in fact I use it every day Thanks for the tip.

bugo

onionhead - it looks like unwrella really does it judging by this picture. I'll check it out. Thanks for the tip

http://www.unwrella.com/wp-content/uploads/gallery/screenshots/a01_unwrella2_example_quads.jpg