uv maps

# 1 17-11-2005 , 02:40 AM

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Join Date: Nov 2005

Location: calgary, alberta, canada

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how do i create a uv map..!..the texturing free tutorial didnt show me how..
if the uv map is not the name for what am asking for..then am asking for that map that u use to texture ur model!

thx in advance

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# 2 19-11-2005 , 01:55 AM

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Join Date: Jan 2005

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Before you create any kind of map (color map, bump map, specular map...) you have to unwrap your model, meaning that you have to layout your UVs in order to get a good texturing.
Next you go to the Texture Editor, and you can see your model unwraped. You click UV Snapshot, choose your options and you have a map with your UVs there, ready to paint on.
After that you just have to assing it to the desired slot on the shader.

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# 3 19-11-2005 , 04:21 PM

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Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: Fairfield, CT

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if you have zbrush though, to save the pain of UV mapping, you can import to dat.... if you can/

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# 4 19-11-2005 , 04:38 PM

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Join Date: Sep 2004

Location: Queens, New York City

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What is "zbrush"? Where does one find/get it? UV mapping can be a REAL tedious ordeal (I'm in the middle of it right now), so anything which can speed up the process would be appreciated.

Mustafallica,

Creating a UV map is technically easy but does take some thought. Assuming you're working with polygons (NURBS already have a UV layout), you first need to figure out which PROJECTION will work best (Edit Polygons>Texture>Planar/cylindrical/spherical/automatic mapping).

If your surface is flat or nearly flat, a planar projection will work best. If roughly cylindrical or spherical, those may work best. If you don't know, or if the object you are mapping is complex, automatic mapping is probably the way to go.

The first step would be to assign simple colors to the various parts of your object (either to the entire object, or just to certain faces). Then you select that object (or the faces you colored) by "selecting object with material" via your hypershade.

You should have your UV Texture Editor panel visible in one of your windows at this point. Let's say you have a planar projection. You want that planar projection as flat as possible, so before projecting, switch to a front or side (or top) view, and make sure mapping by camera is selected in your planar projection options box. Hit "Project", and you'll see your newly projected object in the upper right quadrant of the UV Editor. Using the manipulator, move the map out of that quadrant (so it doesn't get all tangled with everything you haven't yet mapped). Switch to "UVs" (ie when you would left click over an object to select either faces, edges, vertices, or UVs), and start looking for overlapping UVs (a separate subject).

When all your UVs are in place, you then switch to "faces" and assign it a checker (or similar) pattern to get a better idea of how the real texture you plan to use will deform.

When satisfied, move the map back to the upper right quadrant, and with all the UVs selected, choose "UV Snapshot". The snapshot can be saved as a .jpeg or whatever and imported into Photoshop or whatever paint program you wish to use.

Hope this helps!

Maybe I will do a tutorial on this someday, as it took me forever to figure all this out!

Carry on...

"Ad astra per aspera..."

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# 5 19-11-2005 , 04:53 PM

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Join Date: Apr 2005

Location: Fairfield, CT

Posts: 2,436

For ZBrush? go to www.pixologic.com
It is a modeling /3d program that will cost you about 500$, but the free demo you can download to see all of the great features in it. The main thing is that you can paint directly on a surface, no UV's involved. In a way, as you paint it maps the UV's all on its own. Its amazing. I just downloaded the learning edition, and, unlike Maya PLE it has no watermark!

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uv maps

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