Unwrap Uvw 3ds Max Easy Way to Any Model

3DS MAX UVW UNWRAPPING

SUMMARY:

The following is a tutorial on the entire process of preparing a character for texturing. While there are many ways to approach unwrapping, including pelt maps and other quick-and-dirty techniques, the Precision Unwrapping process described here maximizes the user's control over the final result.

This first page is a high level summary of the entire process. The following six pages explain the entire process step-by-step.

Please see links to the right to view other pages of this tutorial.

STAGE 1: PREPARATION a) Start with an Editable Poly model (keep copies of your spline models!) b) Checker Map: Create a checker material and apply to your model (can be a checkerletter map). Increase tiling (20x20 is often a good starting place). c) Reference Mapping: Apply Unwrap UVW modifier. Hit [Open UV Editor] to view 2D UVW space. Hit Face Selection, go to Mapping/Flatten Mapping & hit [OK] for a quick, full unwrap. Select all UVs & scale down to a dot. Move out of the 0-to-1 square to fit into a white checker space for later reference.

STAGE 2: UNWRAPPING a) Select map-able polygon area (for cylindrical, planar, or spherical map). b) Apply UVW map and use the 5 steps: Activate the Gizmo sub-object level, to see the yellow and green lines. Make regular (hit spherical & planar). Choose final mapping type. Fix orientation (alignment + hand-rotation. Check all views) Check pupik & green line directions to place seams where you want. Scale (cylindrical maps are scaled to fix checker pattern stretching). c) Apply Unwrap UVW, hit [Open UV Editor], select UVs & move out of 0-to-1 square. d) Convert to Editable Poly and choose another area to map (step [2]a). Repeat until all parts are unwrapped. Confirm by applying Unwrap UVW with no particular area selected and check to be sure the entire Reference Map is gone!

STAGE 3: CLEAN UP Apply Unwrap UVW at object level. Hit [Open UV Editor] and put all elements in the 0-to-1 square with the following 4 critical considerations (ordered by importance): a) Reduce Seams: Stitch together related parts like flesh on lower & upper arms. Different materials should NOT be stitched, like flesh to cloth. b) Group by Color: Texture painting is easier if grouped by cloth, flesh, etc. c) Prioritize: The most noticeable or detailed parts get more space. A face needs 1/5 the square, even though it is 1/20 the total surface area of a body. Feet bottoms can usually get less space, as they are less visible. d) Optimize in the 0-to-1 square: Scale up parts & re-arrange for less wasted space. Mirrored parts can be stacked for less texturing work (symmetrical faces, right & left arms, etc). Leave at least 5 pixels gutter for normal mapping.

STAGE 4: EXPORT UVW COORDINATES Apply UnwrapUVW, hit [Open UV Editor], and choose Tools/Render UVW Template. Set size (512x512, 1024x1024, or 2048x2048) and hit Render UVW Template. Save as a JPEG and open in Photoshop. STAGE 5: PAINT IN PHOTOSHOP Create a Photoshop file the same size as your UVW template. Add at least four layers: TOP LAYER: UVs: Copy and paste the UVW template to the top layer: set to Multiply, 30-50% opacity, and locked. SECOND LAYER: Pallette: Find color references and color pick to make a Pallette (at least two shades per color). BOTTOM LAYER: BaseColors: Create a layer for Colors on the bottom. Fill with a medium-dark color from your pallette. use the marquee tool to block out all the major colors. PRO TIP: Once you have major colors applied, hide the UV layer, save as a JPEG and apply to the model to view the colors in scene and make adjustments before adding details. MIDDLE LAYERS: Create layers in between for painting details, dirt, and Ambient Occlusion (shadows cast by the model onto itself). Consider painting with a solid brush, 40% opacity, and use your pallette to quickly pick colors. Paint Color, Specular, Bump, and Opacity maps as needed. Save out as separate JPEG files, quality 10.

STEP 6: CREATE MAX MATERIAL In 3ds max, select a Standard Material and name it. Apply JPEGs to Maps Channels. Apply the material to the model and render.

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3D Studio Max Precision Unwrapping:

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Source: http://www.madwomb.com/tutorials/jasonwiser_tutorial_maxUnwrapping01.html

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