Recommendations for consolidating multiple mesh characters

justifun

I've been tasked with consolidating multi mesh characters into one texture map. Anyone have some recommended workflows? Is it just a matter of combining all objects into 1 then adjusting the UV layout so that they all dont overlap. Then adjust all of their texture maps accordingly? Or perhaps there's a tool out there that would simplify this process?

Thanks

Vailias

Assuming this is a single character with all equipment, not a character with interchangeable sets of equipment.
Make a copy of all the bits into a new mesh. Reset the UV's so they don't overlap, then use a render to texture (transfer maps.. whatever its called in your software) to bake out the related data from the source models to the destination one.

jfitch

Theres also a tool with mental ray to warp textures for you if you've moved the UVs--it doesn't always give the best result. I'm trying to find a link, but i think its a bit of a hack.

Basically what Vailias said, though you may not have to combine the pieces into one mesh if your boss/client doesn't care about that.