blaXXer
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UNWRAPPING-TUTORIAL
(how to do proper UVW-maps)

Requirements: 3dsMax 5 or above, Texporter-Plugin (can be found here)

First of all, I assume you've had some previous experiences with 3dsmax and that you are familiar with its basic features.

So you have your model (for easiness' sake I'll be using a fairly simple box here)

Fig. 1 That's how you start out...

Then, change to the Modifier Tab, scroll down that list and chose the 'UVW Map' modifier.

Fig. 2The Modifier Tab, pick 'UVW Map'.

Change it to 'Box', switch back to the modifer list and pick 'Unwrap UVW'.

Fig. 3[i]Pick 'Box'.


Fig. 4Then pick 'Unwrap UVW'.



Fig. 5The 'Unwrap UVW' Tab, here, click on 'Edit'

Once you've done so, click on the 'Edit'-button and a new window will pop up.


Fig. 6The 'Edit UVWs' window.

Unless you want all sides to be the same, click on 'Mapping' in the toolbar and choose 'flatten mapping', leave everything as it is and click 'ok'.


Fig. 7The 'flatten Mapping' dialogue.

You will now notice how the image in the window has changed. thats all your faces placed accurately one next to another.


Fig. 8OMFG...something's changed.

Now, close the window and switch to the 'Utilities Tab' (either you already have the texporter in the buttonset or you will have to pick it from the list after you click on 'More..')


Fig. 9The Utilities Tab.

For now, leave all settings as they are and choose a resolution in which you want to export your want-to-be-texture-map (I chose 1600*1600). click then on the 'pick object' button and choose the box in the perspective window.


Fig. 10

Again, a new window will pop up in which you should see the boxes' faces colored differently, now click on the disk symbol in the upper left corner of the respective window and save your unwrapping to a format which you feel is appropriate (mostly *.jpg *.png oder *.tga should do the trick.)


Fig. 11That's how it should look like...


Fig. 12here's our unwrapping applied to the box.

Import your map into a program of your choice to do your textures (I recommend inkscape or GIMP - they're free!!!) and you're done...

You can of course, do this with any object you want to, just make sure to apply your UVW maps to certain parts of the models as you see fit.


Fig. 13And now to something completely different

Congratulations, you created your first proper UVW-mapping

Tutorial (c) blaXXer, Nov 6, 2005

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starforce2

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you gotta release that as a 3 ancelled runabout. Looks klingon.

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Awsome Tutorial! Very easy to follow. I will defo have a go at it tonight if I get some spare time. Thanks blaXXer.

(sticky this thread!)

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starforce2 wrote:

you gotta release that as a 3 ancelled runabout. Looks klingon.

sry, but this one is for a Freelancer modification called 'return to earth' and I doubt they'd be very happy to see one of their original designs being in BC as some klingon ship...

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Nice tutorial. BTW, the ship should be ported as a Dominion Shuttle.

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Very cool tutorial, BlaXXer! Thanks for making it. I just wonder if it's this easy when dealing with spherical objects...

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Its a lot easier with spherical objects...

Go up to the part where it says "Pick Box", and pick the spherical option instead. No need for anything else after that.

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Cube wrote:

Nice tutorial. BTW, the ship should be ported as a Dominion Shuttle.

quoting myself:

Quote:

starforce2 wrote: you gotta release that as a 3 ancelled runabout. Looks klingon. sry, but this one is for a Freelancer modification called 'return to earth' and I doubt they'd be very happy to see one of their original designs being in BC as some klingon ship...

@phaser:
actually, it was more work writing the tutorials, than assigning proper UVW maps to an object

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this is really usefull. wel done

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German version released: http://game-toxic.de/thread.php?sid=&postid=5226#post5226

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Nice tut mate.

Tho, it would be better to first explain what each mapping type in UVW mapping mode does, they're after all the basics.

And also explain the UV Unwrap Normal mapping technique too, I use it all the time

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Now available in a handy PDF format Enjoy

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Adonis wrote:

Nice tut mate. Tho, it would be better to first explain what each mapping type in UVW mapping mode does, they're after all the basics. And also explain the UV Unwrap Normal mapping technique too, I use it all the time

I might actually do that in an completely overhauled version^^

Quote:

Now available in a handy PDF format Enjoy

nifty! thx

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