http://softimage.com/purchase/get_current/Default.aspx [ QUOTE ] From now until December 20th, 2006, upgrade to SOFTIMAGE|XSI 6 from any previous version of XSI Foundation. * Upgrade from any version of XSI Foundation to XSI Foundation 6 for $395 USMSRP. * Upgrade from any version of XSI Foundation to XSI Essentials 6 for…
I'd really recommend bumping the barrel up to 8-sided from its current 6; the extra 6 triangles will really improve the 'roundness' of the barrel at a very small cost.
I use Max 6 because the tools for my current expansion pack project are written for Max 6 and the tool programmers have moved onto support other projects.
The answer for your question is on this video. Starts at 6:00 min. [ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HjnXfZfD60"]ZBrush Tutorial (Architectural Techniques) - part 6 - YouTube[/ame]
I might be misunderstanding. But originally you have the environment you are trying to capture in Maya. You render from 6 cameras. Convert to cubemap format. Then try to convert back to use as a skybox? Can't you just use your 6 original images and map them to 6 planes (a cube)? Skipping all the CubeMapGen and HDRShop?