Using texture Atlases within 3d software

eco_bach

Normally you use 3d software to create texture atlases for use in game engines. But what if you want to use texture atlases in 3d software?

For instance I have a texture atlas of leaves, containing half a dozen different leaves.

Is it simply a matter of creating your geometry, say a rough outline of a single  leaf, and then adjusting your uv coordinates by trial and error until the texture aligns properly for this particular leaf?

Synaesthesia

Basically, yeah. That's how I develop foliage using Megascans atlases. I create a plane, cut the leaves out of it (keeping optimization in mind), then shape them into the desired plant.

musashidan

There's no trial and error. You just place your uvs in the uv editor with the map showing in both the uv window and the 3d viewport. It's the same workflow.

eco_bach

Thanks, Yes, these ARE Megascan textures:) Most of my confusion surrounds how I would create the geometry, in this case leaves. ie if my Texture Atlas contains 6 different leaves, I want to end up with 6 separate geometry objects.

After some googling I found my answer , although Modo specific I think the workflow is more or less the same for any 3D app that supports UV maps http://community.foundry.com/discuss/post/1063150/content/77615

musashidan

Well, you haven't listed your 3d software but here is a tut from my channel showing the process in Max and using Megascans textures

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aMnAKaSs9BU&t=390s