I was thinking about getting one of these... but I decided that it would be better for me to just get used to unwrapping. That being said I have yet to see the positive side to my decision... I was just working on Unwrapping something for 2 hours and I'm still not done.
I dont know what unwrella is... haven't used it, but if it's anything like roadkill or unfold3d I reckon just using the regular unwrap tools from your 3d package... they tend to give the best results and give you the most control.
there are nice scripts that can help you within your 3d app like chuggnuts for max.
I used to use unfold3d as a crutch because I sucked at unwrapping. It sped up the unwrap process for me but my layouts totally sucked dick. Went back to regular unwrapping and am now much better at it.
yeah, im not bad at unwrapping, it just comes down to the time, and its like my teacher said, i get unwrapping, so why not use something that will make me work faster, and if it doesn't work 100% i can fix it. anyways im leaning towards unwrella, only 47 bucks for student license
http://www.unwrella.com/ check it out, pretty sweet 1:1 unwrap, user seams, and packs it for you
I'll admit that auto unwrappers can be pretty handy. They are good at getting you a good start, but almost always have to go back in and do some cleanup to uv's
If you pick up this tool please post and let us know how it is! :P
Hadn't heard of unwrella, though it looks impressive (specifically the uv packing part). The biggest problem I see with it is that its specific to 3dsmax, which makes it useless in the future if you end up at a job using maya or other major packages other then max.
I use headus for its relax/optimize tools but do all the initial unwrapping in max/maya. Its tools work well enough, but its slow and the ui is really bad.I've tried a few others, but nothing thats still being developed and all that good (though I do miss DeepUV).
yeah i hope max 2010 adds more to the unwrap options, i saw they are expanding the selection tools, but i also want to see things like being able to straighten a selected edge. and stuff like that, or max should integrate unwrella XD
I'd really like to be able to select edgeloops in the uvw window... or give uvw a ring tool
Are you talking about the Ring and Loop buttons that are in Selection Parameters inside of UnwrapUVW? Or the edge loop button inside of the Unwrap Editor window right next to the paint selection tool? Select loop and ring, can also be added to the quad menu, and bound to keys.
I think its entirely pointless to use a 3rd party app, I haven't found one yet that lives up to the hassle. I suggest before you get hooked one some 3rd party software that does exactly what 3dsmax and maya do, you take the time to learn 3dsmax and or maya's unwrap tools. The chances are that whatever the 3rd party app has, was either rolled into the main software packages in one way or another or a free script was created.
i've been using unwrella for like a week now. I love it. i still have to do some manual tweaking with the relax tool, but overall its nice. most def worth a try. Its helping make the most dreadful part of the art process a tad less dreadful.
UVW Unwrap Enhancements
Manipulating UV maps in the Viewport is now as easy as modeling in the Viewport thanks to a significantly expanded 3ds Max Design UVW Unwrap toolset. New features include such UV Selection tools as Growing/Shrinking Rings and Loops, and quick editing tools for aligning, spacing, and stitching UVs.
Vig: boy do i feel like a dildo... I just got back in to max and found the edge loop tool haha
I always looked for it in the dropdown menus and could never find it - anyway lol thanks!!
Replies
there are nice scripts that can help you within your 3d app like chuggnuts for max.
I used to use unfold3d as a crutch because I sucked at unwrapping. It sped up the unwrap process for me but my layouts totally sucked dick. Went back to regular unwrapping and am now much better at it.
http://www.unwrella.com/ check it out, pretty sweet 1:1 unwrap, user seams, and packs it for you
I'll admit that auto unwrappers can be pretty handy. They are good at getting you a good start, but almost always have to go back in and do some cleanup to uv's
If you pick up this tool please post and let us know how it is! :P
I use headus for its relax/optimize tools but do all the initial unwrapping in max/maya. Its tools work well enough, but its slow and the ui is really bad.I've tried a few others, but nothing thats still being developed and all that good (though I do miss DeepUV).
I think its entirely pointless to use a 3rd party app, I haven't found one yet that lives up to the hassle. I suggest before you get hooked one some 3rd party software that does exactly what 3dsmax and maya do, you take the time to learn 3dsmax and or maya's unwrap tools. The chances are that whatever the 3rd party app has, was either rolled into the main software packages in one way or another or a free script was created.
UVW Unwrap Enhancements
Manipulating UV maps in the Viewport is now as easy as modeling in the Viewport thanks to a significantly expanded 3ds Max Design UVW Unwrap toolset. New features include such UV Selection tools as Growing/Shrinking Rings and Loops, and quick editing tools for aligning, spacing, and stitching UVs.
good news kite
Vig: boy do i feel like a dildo... I just got back in to max and found the edge loop tool haha
I always looked for it in the dropdown menus and could never find it - anyway lol thanks!!
ie you want to mirror head uv's but you don't want to use symmetry.
there are long winded work arounds I suppose