Transfer textures between characters with different geometry, proportions, UV's and pose.

[Anonymous]

Hey guys,

I've done a lot of search on that but I couldn't find an answer for my question.

Let's say I have two characters, model A and model B.

I want to transfer the textures from model A to model B.

However, model B has a different mesh geometry, body proportions, pose and uv map from model A.

So my question is: how can I get the textures from model A and put them into model B WITHOUT altering model B mesh geometry?

Would there be a way of doing that?

Thank you very much and have a nice day!

[mspeer]

Hi!

If the models are totally different, then there is no option to transfer the textures automatically.

They need either similar UVs or geometry.

[Anonymous]

Hi, thank you for replying. Just one more question please. 

I know a software called Wrap3 that does exactly what I need. It's able to transfer the UV map between different models by wrapping the mesh geometry from model A around model B after I've placed some corresponding points between the models. 

The only problem with this approach is that, obviously, it'll also transfer model A geometry. 

What happens is that I have a model that is retopologized and ready for animation. However, I've got some scanned high poly non-retopologized models from which I'd like to take their color, normal maps etc and use them in my already retopologized model. 

So my question is: is it technically impossible for a software to take the UV map of one model and reproduce it into another model that has a different geometry and a different pose even if you "tell" the software where the corresponding points between the models are? Why? 

So if that's the case, how could I approach this problem? 

Thank you very much and hace a nice day. 

[mspeer]

Hi!

If you have a highres model and a lowres model from retopology, then you have the same pose, correct?

If yes, then you can use Baking / Transfer Maps or Mesh > Transfer Attributes.

If not, then you need to get the same pose, there is no other option in Maya, at least with the default tools.

[Anonymous]

Hi, thank you for your answer. 

Now I'm curious to know if the task I'm trying to accomplish is something not usually done in CGI. For to my purposes it would be so useful. 

Let's suppose I have two different textured models: a tiger and a panther.

Both have different textures, UV maps, mesh geometry and pose. And none of them is rigged so their pose cannot be matched. 

Now, If I want to transfer the tiger's texture and project it onto the panther's mesh, I wonder if such task would be possible to be accomplished somehow and with good results inside CGI, even if there isn't any specific tool for this purpose. What do you think?

[mspeer · Accepted solution]

Hi!

Yes this is possible, but it's better to get the same pose for both models, which also allows manual control and as benefit you can then use many tools that rely on some sort of transfer and baking between different objects.

[Anonymous]

Hi,

You just made me realize that I can accomplish that just by taking an extra step. 

First I have to project the geometry of the Tiger into the Panther (I've done that using Wrap3). 

The "new Panther" now has the same geometry and UV map of the Tiger. 

Now I just have to use the "new Panther" and transfer its texture (that would be the Tiger's texture) to the Panther model (for now both models are identical in shape). 

This way I'll have what I want. That is: getting the textures of one model and fitting them into a different one without changing the mesh geometry of the target model. 

Thank you very much for helping me to figure it out, I appreciate that. 🙂