UV mapping Pipes question

BI0H0G · Nov 2012

Quick question in uv mapping pipes is there a way to fix the distortion or do i just leave it?

keizza · Nov 2012

best way is to add more geo around the pipe if at all possible.

Kurt Russell Fan Club · Nov 2012

The distortion happens because you're mapping a trapezoid to a rectangle. Those quads are really two triangles, and the triangles get distorted differently, so you see that dodgy seam along the diagonal.

You can add more geo to make the trapezoid more like a rectangle, or you can make the UVs more like a trapezoid (try unwrapping using pelt rather than cylindrical mapping).

Deadly Nightshade · Nov 2012

Thing with pipes is that you either have to pick distortion, oddly shaped UV-shells or something in-between. It's just the way 3D works.

Farfarer · Nov 2012

Generally for this stuff I just leave the distortion in there for the sake of neat UVs.

Maybe fiddle with the UV verts once you've got it unwrapped nice and rectangular, but I try and keep the edges that follow along the length of the pipe aligned all the way along.

cupsster · Nov 2012

with rect texture you can reuse it perhaps

BI0H0G · Nov 2012

Thanks for the reply, the reason i'm asking is because the model is not mine actually a small part of the actual model so that part is just small so it wont be that notable just asking to see if there's any option of fix it whit out adding geometry but i think i just leave it at it is. thanks for the help

edit: do i use the unfold option to get these line straight?

spectre1130 · Nov 2012

Keep the same seam under the pipe and just use the relax tool. Should just pull the pipe into a much more realistic shape, at the cost of being harder to texture. Probably the relax by face angles or whatever option. Is that Max, Maya...?

spectre1130 · Nov 2012

Pelt will work too. I would definitely add more loops around the pipes horizontal axis as well.

Racer445 · Nov 2012

i also generally leave the distortion in. easier to texture and it's nice and easy to pack in to the rest of your sheet.

BI0H0G · Nov 2012

Thanks for the help, i think i leave it be since is just a small piece

bk3d · Nov 2012

If you need some tools to make your UV life easier.. You should consider Ninja UV. You can find it on Creative Crash.

http://www.creativecrash.com/maya/marketplace/scripts-plugins/texturing/c/ninja-uv--2

Angry Beaver · Nov 2012

The only problem with this distortion is that it can be a bit noticeable sometimes. Often your best bet is to make the UV have a more consistent density. By that I mean that you should give the underneath corners of the pipes more texels than just the inside corner, warp your u/vs a little to counteract the density issue but keep keep your outside edges straight.

UV mapping Pipes question

Replies