3d Studio Max Texturing Help

[hellion]

ok, so i got a modeling proggie, and i've made myself a nice model, now i wanna texture it. i've read the manual, read online tutorials, i even broke down and sacrificed a goat. the damn thing just keeps getting messed up.

so, basically, say... using MAX4, how can i get an easily mapped out uvw without a headache?

[Garm]

Use Lightwave 7!

[NathanKell]

Well, UVW mapping in max is accomplished through two modifiers: UVW Map and UVW Unwrap.
The former applies Planar, Box, Cylindrical, Spherical, Shrink-wrap, or Face mapping; the latter is used to edit the UVW coordinates once they're applied {and can apply planar mapping to a (set of) face(s)}.

Here's a basic procedure:
1. Collapse your object to an editable mesh.
2. Apply a Mesh Select modifier and select a group of faces that will get the same mapping (i.e. the top of a wing).
3. Apply a UVW Map modifier, choose the correct type of mapping (i.e. planar for the example above, cylindrical for a round hull, etc.). Click "Fit" to get the rough fitting, then go to Sub-Object mode and move/rotate/scale the gizmo to make the mapping fit.
4. Go to step 1 and repeat for the other face groups (i.e. underside of that wing, the top and bottom of the other wing, the fuselage, etc.).

For ticklish areas that you want to planar-map, make sure no faces are selected and then add a UVW Edit modifier, then go to Sub-Object mode, select the faces you want to add mapping to and click "Apply Planar Mapping".

Then, when you have your rough coordinates all done, you can apply a UVW Edit modifier and tweak them to get rid of stretching / put more than one object in the same texture space / whatever you want.

The tutorials that come with max should help; also, it's very worthwhile downloading gmax's tutorials package as those are geared for the real-time modeler/texturer rather than the production-quality 3D Artist.

And, last but not least, there are many scripts and plugins that help with texturing, many free.
MaxPlugins.de
ScriptSpot
Tech Design Production, another script archive.
Of particular note is ChilliSkinner, which automates the "skinning" style of UVW mapping (i.e. laying various pieces out on one texture sheet).

[hellion]

wow! thnx!