I wonder how no1 came up with a program that makes meshs automaticly and maps the textures, you will have all kinds of method to slice the shape etc... and the program will create mapped textures ready to skin, can something like that be done ? it seems like some normal math use to me...

Theres loads of plug-in and apps for doing that, its just not quite *that* simple math for complex shapes like human figures.

LithUnWrap has several un-wrapping methods that will do it for you - you just need to pick the right one for the sort of shape your trying to do.

- Jed

I see...

Do you have any special external plug ins that you can share ? or something for other programs, like milkshape? or anything (lith too)...

I hear Deep UV is one of the leading UV mapping programs, although i use lightwave, which is not as complex as Deep UV, but i'm use to using it now, i'm hoping lightwave 8 brings some new UV tools. The thing is no matter which program you use, you will not become a good UV mapper for organic shapes overnight, you have to keep working at it. Always use a checkerd patten, and play around till you get the checkers as square and even as possible. The less even and square you checkerd patten is, the more stretching your final skins will suffer.

Yeah i know... but i just thought how come no1 comes up with a better auto meshing code, you select the body part... then it asks you if you want it double sided, symetric maybe... and it gives it a mesh that will have the resolution size to fit the model and then it maps the model, then it exports bmps with those maps ready to skin, maybe jed will code something like that one day, when he is bored :P

Like i say Deep UV has complex mathamatic routines, to help in unfolding the mesh for you, and even though it's leading the field, it's still far from perfect, and you still need to spend time tweaking your UV maps.

http://www.righthemisphere.com/products/duv/

In lightwave i often use whats known as an endomorph, it allows you to unfold a complex object in real 3D, then UV map it as a 2D planner UV map.

example pic of endomorph (http://homepage.ntlworld.com/scitzo/endomorph.gif)

And here is another link showing you how endomorph can be used in making UV maps.

http://www.menithings.com/main.php?action=how&how_id=7&manual=1

I also use a plugin for Lightwave called UVtaut, which helps to align a set of points on your UV map, along with this plugin i use various other plugins from time to time, which you can find here.

http://www.terryf.dsl.pipex.com/htm/plugins.shtml

Whats that i hear you saying Mortor, you don't use Lightwave, well it's never to late to join the club, or so i keep telling Jed anyway...:D

Acctualy, i have Lightwave on my computer but i didn't really get into it too much, if it's good for UV Maping i will sure give it a try there... :-)

Here is a link to some tuts that will help you get a start with UV mapping in lightwave aswell as many other things, hope it helps.

http://members.shaw.ca/lightwavetutorials/texturing.htm

you are the man ! :D

UV mapping is fun and exciting. Why would you want a program to do it for you? ;)

Originally posted by molotov_billy
UV mapping is fun and exciting. Why would you want a program to do it for you? ;)

He's right, i often compare it to base jumping.......:D

Originally posted by molotov_billy
UV mapping is fun and exciting. Why would you want a program to do it for you? ;)

Hehe... Maybe soon i will join the UV mapping lovers club.

I'm re-doing the UV map for Marzy's Bren at the moment. I'll *try* (no promises) to do a sort of tutorial based off it for LithUnWrap. However, Im a lazy b*stard so don't hold you breath.

- Jed