How do I convert a curvy UV to a rectangluar UV_Part 2

arcitek

I was not sure how to best revisit this old thread as I am currently having the same challenge but the responses hear are not helping me.  I do not have the Headus software that is referenced and I am trying to find a way within max to get to the same result of straightening a curvy UV island.

Original Thread.  In this pretty straight forward MAYA DEMO they are doing exactly what I need to do.  Is there a way in 3dsmax to get to this point? 

For an example, if I wanted to get the wood grain to follow this chair arm shape, how would I do it?  I have tried the straighten selection in 3dsmax and it results in a very strange island.

Eric Chadwick

http://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2022/ENU/?guid=GUID-9E98AEAC-F06F-4FAD-9091-DCD30AC9BB26
Straighten Selection tool only works with rectilinear layouts.

There are a bunch of tools in there though to help out with straightening.

You can also try Spline Mapping
http://help.autodesk.com/view/3DSMAX/2022/ENU/?guid=GUID-0ECEB654-76FB-4C2F-9CCD-57A03EA3A9C0

And there are a bunch of third-party UV tools that are worth checking out.
http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/tags/uvw

demigodssw

Try unfold UV from loop. It Works like a charm some times
https://knowledge.autodesk.com/support/3ds-max/troubleshooting/caas/screencast/Main/Details/7f7554f4-bc79-414e-90bd-216e5f6ac686.html

arcitek

Thank you Eric and Demigod for the replies.  Yeah, I was aware of the Spline Mapping and the unfold UV from loop.  The spline mapping would only work if I am dealing with a spline though, correct or do I have that wrong?  I just do not know the Unfold UV thing even though it was mentioned to me.  I guess I need to dig into that.

Have you used any of the UV Tools like Unwrella, Flatiron, Roadkill UV, Unwrap Pro or anything else?  I was kind of thinking max's UV tools would be enough and I always like to try to master the tools before having to rely on plugins or whatever.

Eric Chadwick

You do need a spline, but it's easy to make from an edgeloop.

demigodssw

Where I work I use a mix of these
-UV tools https://hqdetails.com/shop/uvtools
-Tex tools http://www.scriptspot.com/3ds-max/scripts/textools-toolbox-for-the-texture-artist
-An internally developed uv tool

UV tools is pretty good but it is 20$.
At home I just use maya its default UV tools are great.