topic UV Unwrapping. in 3ds Max Forum

UV Unwrapping.

raymondwganderson — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 07:01:20 GMT

Hello All, This is my first post on the forum. I am new to Vrep models [ coming from Brep ] all my models are created in Mcad software for use in Substance painter. so all this mesh stuff is completely new to me. Could anyone tell me how to export my unwrapped model from 3 DS Max to Substance painter ? I have been trying to alter the texel density on certain parts to match the smaller parts [ not sure if I have success or no ] I have a load to learn about Vrep !

Re: UV Unwrapping.

10DSpace — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 11:16:40 GMT

@raymondwganderson

Could anyone tell me how to export my unwrapped model from 3 DS Max to Substance painter ?

In Max, export the model via .fbx (File>Export (or Export Selected). (The default .fbx settings have always worked for me and I generally use "Export Selected" because my Max scene typically will have many meshes in it and I am usually only working on 1 or 2 at a time in SP. Then in Substance Painter, from the New Project dialogue, select the .fbx file you exported from Max and you will see your model in SP ready for you to bake maps, etc in SP workflow. Pretty simple and quick process in my experience.

Re: UV Unwrapping.

raymondwganderson — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 15:11:13 GMT

Hi 10Dspace , Many thanks for the info. Only started using 3 DS Max today , also purchased Advanced UV Normalizer from Polytools it gets very good reviews. I did unwrap a model in Max and then packed and normalized seems to work ok but I would need to fit the texel density better than the in built tool hence the purchase from Polytools. I can't seen to find how I can get the checkerboard pattern onto my model. for a visual reference. I will attach a screenshot or 2 later of my attempt at unwrapping and packing in Max.

Cheers.

Re: UV Unwrapping.

raymondwganderson — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 15:31:13 GMT

Here are 2 pics of my model unwrapped. It seems to have selected every face ! and not just the 1 object.

Re: UV Unwrapping.

10DSpace — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 15:59:02 GMT

@raymondwganderson

The checkerboard pattern is available via dropdown (see below). For better packing of the UV islands to more fully utilize the UV space click on "pack Custom".

By the way, you should try the Flatten Mapping (Edit UVW dialog> mapping>Flatten Mapping and the default angle threshold of 45 is usually fine.) Then click Pack: Custom to make sure that the islands are fully packed. Since you are texturing in Substance Painter, most of the time you don't need large "human readable" UV islands and flatten mapping gets the job done on most meshes. Give it a try.

Re: UV Unwrapping.

raymondwganderson — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 16:07:17 GMT

Thanks 10DSpace, I will give it a try just now.

Re: UV Unwrapping.

raymondwganderson — Wed, 07 Oct 2020 16:27:43 GMT

Just tried your suggestion and it works a treat, perfect texture on the welds now. My big problem WAS because the model [ a steel SHS frame with welded joints ] it is all one texture and was finding that when I came to "weld " the sections together because the texture was much bigger on the large parts and much smaller on the small parts ... when I came to "Weld " the large to the small the results were horrible, looked nothing like any weld. But ..thanks to your suggestion all is superb. Many thanks for all your help with this it is much appreciated.

Regards.