Think Different Multimedia: UV Mapping
UV Mapping
Purpose
UV mapping is a process of applying textures to an object by hand.
Creating a UV Map
UV MAPPING
To get an idea of the process, perform the following steps:
1. Start with a simple mesh, such as a sphere or cube.
2. Split the screen into two views, and change one of them to
UV/image editor, using the editor icon in the header strip.
3. Enter edit mode and choose edge select mode, as shown in
Figure bellow.
UV MAPPING
4. Select the edges (Shift-RMB)
that will be seams. Try to select
areas that when cut will result
in the mesh being able to
unfold into a flat pattern. Press
Ctrl+E and choose Mark Seam
from the pop-up menu. If you
make the mistake of marking
incorrect seams, you can undo
them with Ctrl+E ➤ Clear
Seam, which is found just
below Mark Seam in the Edges
menu (see Figure).
UV MAPPING
5. When you think you have achieved well-placed seams, press A to select
the full mesh, then press U, and then select Unwrap from the pop-up
menu. Blender will attempt to flat-unwrap your mesh in the UV editor
window. At this point, errors in seam positioning may become apparent
(see some of the examples in Figure 5–6). If necessary, fix the seams
as needed and simply unwrap again.
UV MAPPING
Once you are happy with the
UV layout, save it. This can
be done via UVs ➤ Export UV
Layout, at the bottom of the
UV editor.
Open the saved UV layout
with a 2D paint program such
as Photoshop or Gimp.
Resave the image in PNG
format
Add the texture to the
material
Add the texture to the
material
If you have a computer with a GLSL
capable graphics card, you can set the
3D view to
Textured and the Display ➤ Shading
attribute on the Properties panel to
GLSL to enable the
texture to show in 3D view
Texture Painting
Texture Painting
Texture Painting
Exercise 1: Cube Painting
Projection Painting
Purpose
UV mapping is a process of applying textures to an object by hand.
Creating a UV Map
UV MAPPING
To get an idea of the process, perform the following steps:
1. Start with a simple mesh, such as a sphere or cube.
2. Split the screen into two views, and change one of them to
UV/image editor, using the editor icon in the header strip.
3. Enter edit mode and choose edge select mode, as shown in
Figure bellow.
UV MAPPING
4. Select the edges (Shift-RMB)
that will be seams. Try to select
areas that when cut will result
in the mesh being able to
unfold into a flat pattern. Press
Ctrl+E and choose Mark Seam
from the pop-up menu. If you
make the mistake of marking
incorrect seams, you can undo
them with Ctrl+E ➤ Clear
Seam, which is found just
below Mark Seam in the Edges
menu (see Figure).
UV MAPPING
5. When you think you have achieved well-placed seams, press A to select
the full mesh, then press U, and then select Unwrap from the pop-up
menu. Blender will attempt to flat-unwrap your mesh in the UV editor
window. At this point, errors in seam positioning may become apparent
(see some of the examples in Figure 5–6). If necessary, fix the seams
as needed and simply unwrap again.
UV MAPPING
Once you are happy with the
UV layout, save it. This can
be done via UVs ➤ Export UV
Layout, at the bottom of the
UV editor.
Open the saved UV layout
with a 2D paint program such
as Photoshop or Gimp.
Resave the image in PNG
format
Add the texture to the
material
Add the texture to the
material
If you have a computer with a GLSL
capable graphics card, you can set the
3D view to
Textured and the Display ➤ Shading
attribute on the Properties panel to
GLSL to enable the
texture to show in 3D view
Texture Painting
Texture Painting
Texture Painting
Exercise 1: Cube Painting
Projection Painting