[uUNWRAPPING-TUTORIAL [/u
(how to do proper UVW-maps)

[uRequirements:[/u 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. 2 The Modifier Tab, pick 'UVW Map'.

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

Fig. 3 [iPick 'Box'.


Fig. 4 Then pick 'Unwrap UVW'.



Fig. 5 The '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. 6 The '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. 7 The '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. 8 OMFG...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. 9 The 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. 11 That's how it should look like...


Fig. 12 here'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. 13 And now to something completely different

Congratulations, you created your first proper UVW-mapping

Tutorial (c) blaXXer, Nov 6, 2005

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Edited by - blaXXer on 12/31/2005 4:47:04 AM