Unreal plant UV layout advice

ScottHoneycutt

As you can see I have a plant with one main sheet that has been duplicated multiple times. My main questions are about:

1) using the UV space. Should I stretch that sheet out? Also I'd like to ask about methods for changing the ratio of the UV template. The only way I've known is to eye-ball it by stretching the sheet out and looking at the checker, seeing if it looks like its 2x or however many sizes apart. Can you automate it (do it with an exact value somehow)? I'm in 3ds Max.

2) Also any advice on the best methods to go about making such a plant is very welcome as I've never done so before. Should I use multiple sheets for a few different varieties? I got some crits to vary it a bit so I began stretching and moving the branches, which can make the texture look bad.

3) I've read to use vertex painting on things such as this but have never done so, don't know where to start.

Thanks

ZacD

1. I'd use the extra space on the sheet for other plants in the scene, that way you can share the material. You could also put some leaf variations on there.

2. I'd have multiple variations of the model that use the same texture sheet.

3. You can use vertex painting to add some wind and movement to the mesh.

ScottHoneycutt

Thanks ZacD

ScottHoneycutt

I'm now trying to make an indoor shrub of sorts. I'm struggling to realize the best method to create such. I instinctively began by having a vertical plane for a stem and then a plan horizontally above it like a canopy, but then I immediately began to question it. Now I'm wondering if I should simply use spline for stems throughout and place small cards of green over them. Any thoughts at all? I'm not sure if I'm wording my question well or not? :poly141:

Thanks

http://img3.wikia.nocookie.net/__cb20091214060429/finalfantasy/images/b/b4/FFVIII-Galbadia-Garden-Entrance-Artwork.jpg

Octo

To scale your UV more exact you can use the UVW XForm modifier.