Unwrapping Cylindrical Shapes

KurtR

What is currently ways you guys go about laying out your uvs for long cylindrical shapes? I suddenly got two models with very long cylindrical shapes and It trips me up when it comes to texel density. I would like to extend the 0-1 area, but I can't seem to make up my mind in how to go about it. Adding an image of one of the models. It's the canons that doesn't speak to me in terms of texel density.

Eric Chadwick

Break the UVs by section of the model, seams along natural model breaks.

KurtR

This is what I did before. Its the part I marked "pipe" that I question the nature of. I broke it where the arrow is. The two bigger UV sheets is the corresponding parts. They extend the 0-1 space, but I feel I am not getting enough texel density out of it. Am I to anal about it? I don't want to cut the pipe in two. Since this part is so long, the rest of the elements then needs to correspond to the texel density of this length, but I could go much higher with other parts. I guess that's what I cannot properly understand how to deal with.

Eric Chadwick

Depends on your texturing method. You could tile a texture along the length, or you could break it in half to go all unique.

Usually organic models are best as unique uv (all inside if 0-1 space) while mechanical models are usually best with tiling layout (trim sheets, see modular page on the wiki).

Look for Millenia's workflow on his ships for Fractured Space.

KurtR

Currently getting into substance painter, so that's mostly the direction I am taking with texturing. Ill have a look at Millenia's workflow and test out your suggestions by tiling. That might be the way to go.

Thanks, Eric. Appreciated.

Eric Chadwick

http://polycount.com/discussion/175191/technique-showcase-unreal-4-13-mesh-normal-map-decals