Character and Environmental UV tools.

ZennDavid

Hey there Polycounters, I was just curious what tools (if any) you all use most commonly for UV'ing character, prop, or environmental models?

Over the past few years I have used Headus UVLayout pretty exclusively for an array of different types of models. Although I love the tool, It may be a bit of a crutch. What do you all think ? I am still working my way into the professional world so I would love to hear what some of you have used in industry jobs (or at home) any advice is greatly appreciated.

pasha_sevez

Actually you're already using the best UVing tool You don't need to worry - there's still no better tools to do this job. The only thing UVLayout is lacking is low level operations like customized pivot when rotating or scaling - but these operations are package related actually. And UVLayout was designed as a high level tool initially.

mdeforge

I'm interesting in trying out the Ninja tools for Maya on Creative Cash... while I love UVLayout as well, Ninja tools look pretty awesome too. Much more affordable too.

Farfarer

I just use modo for anything I do on personal work - never found a need for external/third-party tools as it's built-in ones are superb.

Lamont

I use the tools that came with the package because it may not be at the next job I work at. Maya/3DS Max have a pretty good UV tool-set.

ZennDavid

Thanks all ! i appreciate the replies

Anuxinamoon

I use maya and zbrush.

The BTunwrap tool for maya lets me do better unwrapping of not so straight environments into straight UV's. This is good for trim and repeating textures.

bk3d

Stradigos wrote: »

I'm interesting in trying out the Ninja tools for Maya on Creative Cash... while I love UVLayout as well, Ninja tools look pretty awesome too. Much more affordable too.

You can get the Ninja Dojo cheaper if you purchase it directly thru Me. Creative Crash takes 45% of sales so thats why its more expensive on Creative Crash. As for UVing.. the Nice thing about Ninja_UV is that you map directly in maya. It's not a 3rd party software. And i also give good support. I also will take suggestions and try to implement them.


you can check it out here.
http://www.bk3d.com/Ninja_Dojo/Dojo.htm

pasha_sevez

Lamont wrote: »

I use the tools that came with the package because it may not be at the next job I work at. Maya/3DS Max have a pretty good UV tool-set.

If you posess a licensed UVLayout USB-dongle - nobody will ban you from using it!

The "out of the box" UV tools of Maya or Max are incomparably petty. Using third-party script or plugins really makes working better - but not THAT RADICALLY as UVLayout does. IMHO.

cptSwing

Max & Textools

Joshua Stubbles

You also could have checked the wiki! Good list of tools on there. Should be updated with some of the newer stand-alone tools, but it's a good start.

http://wiki.polycount.com/TextureCoordinates

Rabbid_Cheeze

Max 2012 has some really great UV tools, especially if you supplement them with the Unwrella UV Packer. Max has its own packer built in, but its packs based on the bounding box area of the UV shells instead of their actual borders.

poopipe

i agree max's standard tools are really very good - especially when lined up against maya.

I've tried 3rd party apps in the past and I just can't be bothered skipping back and forth between apps when working on something - especially when 90% of max unwrapping is as simple as laying seams out and clicking a couple of buttons

I'll have a look at this unwrella packer thing though - that is max's weak spot.

solar

I agree with the above. Max with textools, and with the new uv additions in 2012 I have no need to use anything else.