Spiral/Cord Unwrap Help

skyline5gtr

Hey all, I'm having a really hard time figuring out how to unwrap this and was hoping someone could provide another method or idea. So far ive tried to select 1 edge as the seam and pelt map but with all the swirls it goes crazy and cannot straighten them.

Thanks guys

Vailias

first: check to see if it has decent UV's already.
Depending on how you made that there may be a "generate uv coords" option that was checked.

if not: apply a planar map, do the 1 edge seam thing, but break the edge in the UV's and don't try and pelt map it. Also make sure to seam off the end caps if you have them.
Once you have that mapped and the UV seam, then just use the normal relax stuff in max's uv editor. It might take a few goes, and you may have to fiddle with some problematic areas (ie just select verts in one region or another and relax separately), but that should get you a decently flat map.

skyline5gtr

Vailias wrote: »

first: check to see if it has decent UV's already.
Depending on how you made that there may be a "generate uv coords" option that was checked.

if not: apply a planar map, do the 1 edge seam thing, but break the edge in the UV's and don't try and pelt map it. Also make sure to seam off the end caps if you have them.
Once you have that mapped and the UV seam, then just use the normal relax stuff in max's uv editor. It might take a few goes, and you may have to fiddle with some problematic areas (ie just select verts in one region or another and relax separately), but that should get you a decently flat map.

I created the object by creating a helix spline - then 2 additional splines joined the shape and converting to editable poly.

Popeye9

I have had good luck with using spline mapping on these types of shapes. The help file explains it really well.

skyline5gtr

Popeye9 wrote: »

I have had good luck with using spline mapping on these types of shapes. The help file explains it really well.

never heard of will take a look thanks !

skyline5gtr

I already collapsed the mesh to editable poly, so its asking me to select a spline i cannot :-(

imperator_dk

Alternatively :

Select an edge loop running throughout the mesh, right click -> create shape.

You now have a spline in your scene following the path of your wire.

Apply a Unwrap UVW modifier to your object. Enter Polygon mode and under wrap mode choose spline mapping and select your created spline.

3dsmax will now do a cylindrical unwrap based on the provided spline.

skyline5gtr

Ok tried the spline mapping with imperators help, when i select the spline this is what happens lol

imperator_dk

Try to reset xform on your mesh.

skyline5gtr

That was the first thing i tried :-(

skyline5gtr

Maybe its because im using a spline that is not the mesh ?

imperator_dk

Anyways alternatively you can select the spline you created from the loop, enable viewport rendering, adjust its thickness and number of sides and check generate mapping coordinates. Then you can convert it to poly and have a nicely unwrapped mesh.

skyline5gtr

imperator_dk wrote: »

Anyways alternatively you can select the spline you created from the loop, enable viewport rendering, adjust its thickness and number of sides and check generate mapping coordinates. Then you can convert it to poly and have a nicely unwrapped mesh.

Since its a spiral or helix the edge loop never stays the same and spins around so its not the same shape , damn didnt think this would be this hard hmm

imperator_dk

make a clone of your mesh, apply a negative push modifier that way you can push the mesh to be ultra thin string at the center of your cylinder.... then make the spline using an edge loop, now you have a spline running at the center of your old cylinder.

skyline5gtr

I used a combo of everyones comments, thanks guys was invaluable would have taken forever otherwise