Difference between revisions of "3ds Max: UV Maps"

After having a rather large dilemma concerning my textures and them being exported correctly from 3D Studio Max into NifSkope or the CS, I've decided to write this tutorial, as I've seen really no other good reference on the subject. There are several guides to reskinning and retexturing, but none of them really go into much detail concerning 3D Studio Max or UV maps... That in mind, hopefully you've come to the right place.

After having a rather large dilemma concerning my textures and them being exported correctly from 3D Studio Max into NifSkope or the CS, I've decided to write this tutorial, as I've seen really no other good reference on the subject. There are several guides to reskinning and retexturing, but none of them really go into much detail concerning 3D Studio Max or UV maps... That in mind, hopefully you've come to the right place.

== What is a UV map? ==

== What is a UV map? ==

There are, in point of fact, two different ways to make and edit a UV map. One, I consider slightly more advanced, and am only briefly going to make mention of, as there is an excellent tutorial on this method [http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorial/Using-UVW-Mapping-Texture-Technique-in-3D-Studio-Max/22161 here]. This method entails creating a UV map that can be edited in any paint program (paint shop, photo shop, etc) and then reincorporated into your model. For the purposes of this tutorial, we're going to assume you have already found or created a texture you would like to use.

There are, in point of fact, two different ways to make and edit a UV map. One, I consider slightly more advanced, and am only briefly going to make mention of, as there is an excellent tutorial on this method [http://www.tutorialized.com/tutorial/Using-UVW-Mapping-Texture-Technique-in-3D-Studio-Max/22161 here]. This method entails creating a UV map that can be edited in any paint program (paint shop, photo shop, etc) and then reincorporated into your model. For the purposes of this tutorial, we're going to assume you have already found or created a texture you would like to use.

== Beginning ==

== Beginning ==

First, obviously, load the model you wish to texture into 3D Studio Max. I'm using version 8, as it is the best equipped to transfer collision meshes. I am rather certain this tutorial will work fine for versions 7 and 9 as well.

First, obviously, load the model you wish to texture into 3D Studio Max. I'm using version 8, as it is the best equipped to transfer collision meshes. I am rather certain this tutorial will work fine for versions 7 and 9 as well.

That being done, click on the "polygon" selection and highlight the polygons you want to apply the mesh to. You can use CTRL to select more than one face. Once you have the faces selected that you wish to texture, navigate to the Material Editor (or press M) and select an empty material sphere. Click the button next to "Diffuse" in the Blinn Basic Parameters rollout. This will pull up a menu to the side, and select "Bitmap". From here, navigate to the texture you wish to use and select it. Apply the texture to the polygons you have selected. You can select the checkered cube to show the texture applied in the viewport.

That being done, click on the "polygon" selection and highlight the polygons you want to apply the mesh to. You can use CTRL to select more than one face. Once you have the faces selected that you wish to texture, navigate to the Material Editor (or press M) and select an empty material sphere. Click the button next to "Diffuse" in the Blinn Basic Parameters rollout. This will pull up a menu to the side, and select "Bitmap". From here, navigate to the texture you wish to use and select it. Apply the texture to the polygons you have selected. You can select the checkered cube to show the texture applied in the viewport.