Projecting textures

LEViATHAN · Feb 2009

Want to project a texture to a model (multiple textures actually), but I'm not sure which software would work best. I know you can do it in max using cameras and render to texture, but that looks incredibly tedious to pull off without planting your fist into your monitor. ZBrush can do it, but I'm not sure how well that would work for low-poly objects and I can't seem to find a decent (free) tutorial on how to do it. Same for Bodypaint 3d, can't find a good tut.

Halp?

fortheweekend_ · Feb 2009

I hope i got your question right, but you have put multiple textures onto a model, and you want to project the texture into one unwrap texture?

I had the same problem and it was advised to me to just unwrap it from the start, cause the problem with RRT is the spacing issues in the automatic unwrap, it will greatly decrease the quality of your texture.

as for a 3rd party app, your guess is as good as mine sorry.

Ghostscape · Feb 2009

I've seen it done both ways you mention, and zBrush was a lot quicker. Is this projecting head textures on a head, or something else?

Mark Dygert · Feb 2009

I do this all the time. I have a stock library of textures and materials that tile, like wood, concrete, leather, brick, tile, bla bla bla. I use these as a base to start my diffuse most of the time. Doing it this way can get a great diffuse started and get a lot of details flowing really well over seams and its really quick.

I use 3dsmax, here's how I do it.
- Unwrap your model to UV 1, this is the layout you'll want to use for your final diffuse.
- Break off pieces (or assign individual material ID's) based on materials.
- Apply your separate materials (or use one large multi-sub object material).
- Set the materials to use UV2. Whatever the material is set to, is what will RTT will grab when it renders.
- Apply a 2nd UV channel and do a quick re-unwrap/arrange so they work well with the tiles.
- Use RTT to render out Diffuse. DO NOT save the render preview window, but instead dig up the files it saves/outputs. The render preview window is total garbage poluted with lighting info along with other crap you don't need.

fortheweekend_ · Feb 2009

I dont quite understand, i have my mesh and my materials assigned via multisub object, i dont get the unwrap part.

Mark Dygert · Feb 2009

If the materials work with the way you unwrapped it, that's fine, you can skip that. But often I find that the tiles I have work better if I move the pieces around and scale them a bit. I could have a pretty crazy unwrap with a bunch of pieces facing all different directions if I put a wood overlay over that, then the wood on the model is facing all different directions. I could take a few hours to align the overlay for each piece and worry about fixing seams for another few hours or...

I unwrap the pieces to a second UV channel I can get all the pieces facing the right way without destroying the original layout. Then I bake UV2 to UV1 and suddenly all the wood patterns are transferred from the tile, to the final layout. All the pieces no matter which way they are facing have the wood applied perfectly.

UV2 & wood tile
Pieces arranged so they make the most of the tile with no regard for the final layout.

UV1 Final UV layout

A pretty good start to the diffuse

The important thing to remember is that whatever the material is set to use UV2 will be applied in RTT to the final layout.

commander_keen · Feb 2009

you could always just duplicate the object and re-uv it and use projection (in max) so you dont have to mess with multiple uv channels

I made a "1 click" texture baker script which I have been meaning release. It would make this much faster.

arshlevon · Feb 2009

ops i think i misunderstod with what i put originally... yeah zbrush is pretty easy with zapplink.

LEViATHAN · Feb 2009

fortheweekend_ wrote: »

I hope i got your question right, but you have put multiple textures onto a model, and you want to project the texture into one unwrap texture?

Yesh

Ghostscape wrote: »

Is this projecting head textures on a head, or something else?

Yep, also hands, shoes and some other things.

Psyk0 · Feb 2009

Something like this, but for max?:
http://www.ten24.info/oldman/tutorial.htm

It's actually quite easy, using photoshop to "liquify" your source image onto a render of your mesh, apply the corrected image to your model and RTT, repeat for other views.

I haven't been able to display / bake 2 views at the same time using camera map (WSM) tho.

For Zbrush:
http://www.zbrush.info/docs/index.php/Tutorial:ZProject_Texturing

Mark Dygert · Feb 2009

OoooOoo.... yea ignore everything I posted.

Both ZBrush and Mudbox2009 do what you want pretty easily.

LEViATHAN · Feb 2009

I didn't ignore what you posted (ok, I didn't reply to it, but I did read it if it makes you feel better

), but I don't (directly) see how to use that method to texture a model using multiple image sources.

Yeah I know ZBrush can do it, but I don't know what it's called (zapplink? I'll look into that.).
Also muddy2k9 doesn't work on my computer.

Mark Dygert · Feb 2009

Oh hahaha, no hard feeling here, I didn't mean to imply you ignored my post

But I did realize it wasn't what you where looking for.

It's a bummer that Mudbox2009 doesn't work on your machine its probably the easiest way.
Mudbox2009 Paint Using Stencil: http://download.autodesk.com/esd/mudbox/2009_update01212009/index.html?url=WS73099cc142f487552a50a53111913e7c26f-fb7.htm,topicNumber=d0e14530
Mudbox2009 Paint with Brush Stamps: http://download.autodesk.com/esd/mudbox/2009_update01212009/index.html?url=WS73099cc142f487552a50a53111913e7c26f-fb7.htm,topicNumber=d0e14530

Zbrush is almost as easy if you're already used to the goofy interface and terminology.
Zaplink: http://www.pixologic.com/zbrush/zapplink/
Zaplink Info and online help docs: http://www.zbrush.info/docs/index.php/ZApp_Link

Projecting textures

Replies