T-rex unwrapping

[skywalker113]

I want to unwrap this t-rex so that I can paint it in uv space. I have never uv mapped a whole organic object.

My biggest question is how I am going to seperate things into diffrent peices for the uv's, while keeping the skin attached.

[probiner]

Give a try to PLG UV plugin. You mark seems and it unwraps and breaks the model were you marked without the need to actually break the model.

http://homepage2.nifty.com/nif-hp/index2_english.htm

Steve Warner did a video
http://www.stevewarner.com/html/uv_unwrapping_part-03.html

Erikals did a video
http://www.newtek.com/forums/showpost.php?p=901584&postcount=1

Even i did a video :)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTus8gsVwkE

Has for where you could mark the seams, you probably should tell how are you going to paint this mesh. Since it has influence in the UV arrange.
Photoshop? 3D painting application?

Cheers

[SplineGod]

You dont have to separate anything from anything to create UV maps.
The 'unwrapping' process is really about creating a planar projection from
a convoluated mesh for applying textures. It helps to have a good understanding
of what UV maps really are and how they work.
Its not always necessary to unwrap the mesh as a single pelt.
You can divide it up into sections. You can also overlap UV maps
and blend between them using alpha maps/weight maps etc

[DrStrik9]

Also take a serious look at
http://www.uvlayout.com/

Just watch the videos, and be amazed. I find I cannot live without this now ...

[Waves of light]

I recently did a cartoon Dino/T-rex and unwrapped using PLG UV Plugin, which also has a 64bit version.

Here's a screen shot, if they help, I split the body down the middle and cut at the top at the arms and legs. Yours is probably a more detailed model, so hiding the seams maybe harder.

Oh, and if you are going to use the plugin, the biggest tip I can give is to save your Edge Data incrementally (which I believe you will have to do manually) because there were so many times I changed/added edge data, created the UV and then couldn't go back to a 'good' version.

[probiner]

Funny creature :D

The procedural is too obvious, you could try to get other texture there and a bump besides the color would give a completly different look.

Cheers

[Waves of light]

Good spot. I actually baked the procedural to the UV map so I could follow the texture and see where the seams met. I would love to go back and learn how to hide seams properly (any pointers or tuts you know of would be great)... I was up again timescales, so that worked.

Anyway, hi-jack thread over.

[probiner]

Did you baked it in LW? I dont know why those seams show up.
Post the UV and texture side by side if did not used LW baking camera.

http://www.newtek.com/forums/showthread.php?t=100351&highlight=Seamless
This tips could help you to get seamless textures.
Go with Subpatch interpolation if you are using a Subpatch object. If you use any 3D painting app, save a copy with the model freezed.

Cheers

[bazsa73]

Just a mini hint for tooth UVs. Make one tooth with a UV map. Multiply and distribute the tooth as you wish. When you are fininshed just select randomly some teeth, grab the UVs associated with them in the UV editor and then you will have some variation even though some will look the same but still you dont have to paint them all separately.

[Waves of light]

Yes, baked in LW. Thanks for the link. I will have a look at these the next time I come to doing a UV mapped creature.

Again, Skywalker, sorry for the hijacking.

[skywalker113]

Thanks for the information guys.

I am having trouble using the plg_make_uv_edit plugin. It does not select edges very easily. Sometimes I end up selecting edges behind the edges I want to select. Has anyone eles had this problem?

[probiner]

Erikals did a video
http://www.newtek.com/forums/showpost.php?p=901584&postcount=1


Thats why i posted this video by erikals :)

Just Undo Selection in Numeric Tab. and try again :P It won't catch flipped polys, i think.

Cheers

[Andyjaggy]

Thanks for the information guys.

I am having trouble using the plg_make_uv_edit plugin. It does not select edges very easily. Sometimes I end up selecting edges behind the edges I want to select. Has anyone eles had this problem?

Yeah selecting the edges is a bit flakey. Make sure you uncheck the hide handles box, that helps.

I wish we could just use normal edge selections for it.

[Waves of light]

Best way to use plg_make_uv_edit is:

1. Select one edge, select another edge, select 'Advance Edge' to select all the edges between the two selected edges.
2. Use the right mouse a click close to the edge gives you better selection
3. Unchecking 'hide handles' and then clicking on the handles.

And regular incremental saves, which you have to change the file name for each time.