How could i unwrap this?
polycounter lvl 18
Im new to unwrapping and was looking for advice on how i could unwrap this in 3dsmax. Not the basics but general theory on were to cut the seams and to use cylindrical or planar, ect in 3DSMAX 9. I tried using UVLayout but it seems more suited to organix meshes. Thanks!
-Buddikaman-
-Buddikaman-
Replies
You put planar maps on the object so selections of faces of the object produce an uv island that is as flat as possible. The goal is to produce an easy template to paint on.
Here is a link to Ego Lounge since it shows a bunch of tutorials for max. When I look at tutorials is look at them for inspiration, since they usually set off a light bulb in my brain for something that I'm just missing but it's right in from of my eyes. So take them with a grain of slat. Do a search on unwraping. Go to the uv layout site and look at how he puts seams on the models try that on boxes and wedges and you should figure out how to put seams on complex objects.
What I would do.
Make a copy of your model name it placement. Hide this in a layer.
Name the copy of model that you did not hide and call it unwrap. You can put this on a new layer if you want. Look at it and determine everything that's the same shape. Keep one of everything. Keep in mind that everything you delete has to be positioned again. so if you delete a gear that is exactly the same as a small one you'll have to rescale it and position it. I sometimes do it, depends on my mood.
Look at your model and see what parts of your model fit into cylinders, squares, etc. Then apply mapping that suits your needs. Sometimes I'll just use flatten. the problem with flatten is it leaves a ton of little parts, but if you are patient and work on small portions of your model at a time it's not bad, and goes fairly quick at times.
http://lounge.ego-farms.com/showthread.php?t=66
Pretty nice tutorial on unwrapping a mechanical object.
http://www.game-artist.net/forums/vbarticles.php?do=article&articleid=38
Alex
-Buddikaman-
Their video doesn't explain a thing. I'll make one tonight. It's a limited plugin, but it's useful.
http://www.luxinia.de/index.php/ArtTools/3dsmax
cheers,
Rom
snowblindstudios.com
cheers,
Rom
snowblindstudios.com
It's crap quality, so I'll explain the steps:
1) Convert object to editable mesh
2) Unweld all UVs
3) Make your initial map (in this case, planar)
4) Choose UVPaint script and click-drag on the mesh (from the part that was already UVmapped. It will continue the UV to the new face. Sometimes an error will pop up the very first time you use it in a scene. Just click okay and try it again, and it will work.
PROS: Super fast, easy
CONS: Requires editable mesh, viewport can never aim "UP" - you always have to have the grid visible as the tool uses that to calculate some data, have to unweld all UVs
boy, this tool is cool but suffers from the things you've mentioned.
- i wish i can use it while having the UVunwrap window up so i can see what i'm doing.
- currently you have to go thru hoops to make it work. though when you start using it, its very nice.
SO can some maxscript-savvy folks here in the forums take this script and have it support editpoly and having the UVunwrap window up side by side so you see what you're doing? that would be much, much appreciated.
cheers,
Rom
snowblindstudios.com
Certainly useful though - I use it all the time.
I'm going to start learning maxscript soon, so I'll be looking it over as well.
Though I'm sure someone here know already knows the scripting can take a peak?
delete all but one, UV map it and then clone it around the model, much easier than UV mapping all of them.
Or detach all the bolts as separate objects, unwrap one, save out the UV's, and load that onto the other bolts.