UVW Unwrapping

[Anonymous]

Hi all,

I’m trying a few different techniques of UVW Unwrapping, including Texporter, using MAX 6.

I’d be interested to see if anyone has any advice / tutorials as to the best methods of applying texture maps for human characters.

Common problems I’m looking to avoid include stretching and seams, also, I am right in thinking there is no way to make modifications to the mesh after I’ve applied the Modifier?

Thanks in advance,

Lewis

[Anonymous]

UVW unwrapping can be a right pain in the ass. Texporter is a great tool, but you still need to get the UVW Unwrapping correct before you can use it properly.

I think you can modify the mesh after unwrapping the UVW’s, however this can mess it up and result in texturing problems and you may have to fiddle about with the unwrapping again to get it right. Its best to just make sure the model is final before doing the unwrapping and texturing etc.

I haven’t used it too much, but I think the best way to do it with a character is to detach the arms, legs, hands and head as seperate objects. Apply UVW mapping to these as appropriate(ie: cylinder is the usual type used for these body parts I think). Rotate the UVW gizmo so that the seam line(differant colored line in the gizmo) is at the back of the model part, where it won’t be as noticeable. Then use Texporter to export a “template” for each body part and paint your textures. Then reapply your textures to the body parts and when thats done and it looks ok, re-attach all the body parts together and weld the joints so that its all one mesh once again. Then I think you can apply a multi/subobject material to the mesh with all the textures you made in the appropriate material slots for each body part.

Now, I could be missing out on big details here as I haven’t done this in a LONG time. Anyone else have any thoughts?

[Anonymous]

Thanks No-Opt.

[Anonymous]

UVW mapping can be hard, but once you get the basics nailed its pretty much plain sailing, and you’ll get used to hiding seams etc. I recommend the Paul Steed book “MODELING A CHARACTER IN 3DS MAX”, he goes through modelling, unwrapping and texturing a Quake 3 style character and its very easy to follow. If I can help you with any of your unwrapping woes Boadle, don’t hesitate to give me a holler.

You can buy Steed’s book here:
http://www.amazon.co.uk/exec/obidos/ASIN/1556228155/ref=/202-8096779-9991005

[Anonymous]

You may find some decent tutorials over at http://www.3dbuzz.com or http://www.3dtotal.com. I know Ronny swears by 3dBuzz!!

[Anonymous]

Listen to the man, he knows what he’s talking about. They say learning how to unwrap is one of the hardest things in Max and Pete spent his time to show me how exactly it’s done. Sure I’m not great at it yet but I can see what exactly I should be doing and what I’m doing wrong. Practice makes perfect.

I’m sure he can give even you a few words of advice, Lewis. :)

You may find some decent tutorials over at http://www.3dbuzz.com or http://www.3dtotal.com. I know Ronny swears by 3dBuzz!! [/quote:367a362587]
Too right, Pete! :)

If I can I’ll have to check out that book, sounds really useful.

[Anonymous]

Thanks lads,

I have downloaded all the Buzz videos (very handy), and I have Steeds book. I find it useful to a point, but he spends more time talking about the Texporter plugin technique, which I found to be a pain in the ass.

Am making good progress with the Unwrapping (its for a work project – hence the panic!) – and I’m looking for more advanced guidelines, as I am competent with the basics.

Topics such as:

When to stitch and when to weld?

Why do new smoothing groups mess up my unwrapping?

Funny story:

After the traumatic experience that was showing my girlfriend Doom3 (“Why do people make such evil games” she wailed), I showed her my latest model the other day, complete with the UVW Unwrapping.

To show her hows its done, I turned off the modifier, which messed up the (human characters texture map, applying the head detail to the leg, and the chest to the arms.

She instantly started to freak out, and accused me of making ‘one of those Doom games’.

I laughed so hard I couldn’t convince her otherwise. She still believes I am making a mutated demon game!

[Anonymous]

Lewis,

I have yet to download it but I just found this one from 3D Palace. May be worth a look.

UVW Unwrapping – The complete guide

http://3d-palace.com/video.php?vid=21

[Anonymous]

I am competent with the basics.

Topics such as:

When to stitch and when to weld?

Why do new smoothing groups mess up my unwrapping?

[/quote:e0745188d3]

Personally, I always weld and never stitch. I find Steed’s method of unwrapping far more intuitive and accurate than the multiple “uvw map” and “unwrap uvw” modifiers in the stack method. New smoothing groups shoudn’t mess up your mapping, they should only alter the way the surface on your mesh is lit. New material IDS however wil……

[Anonymous]

I feel excluded….um…..hey how about that polygon tool in maya

*tumbleweed*

[Anonymous]

Thanks Pete. Apologies Kyoto.

I think it was the Material IDs that screwed things up. Why do they mess up the UVs? I can’t see why they should, as I didn’t think they were changing any of the geometry, only assigning lables to groups of polys? Confused.

Steed. Maybe it was just me, but I couldn’t get his method to work.

I couldn’t work out whether to detach the head as a seperate element or not. When I left it attached to the main element, and opened up textporter, I was presented with UVs for the whole body, not just the head. I agree that flattening the mesh in 3d seems to make more sense that UVs in 2d.

I’d like to read a better explanation of this method. Any ideas where I might find one?

Thanks for the link Ronny. I will check this out.

L.

[Anonymous]

…except it won’t let me register.

Why is nothing ever simple?

[Anonymous]

I’ll get back to you this evening Boadle, bear with me

[Anonymous]

Here is something else I just dug up.

UV mapping Characters
http://www.xenosgames.com/tutorials.htm

Just found it while hunting for tuts so I’m not sure if it’s any good.

[Author]

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