Graphics Programs Reference
In-Depth Information
Parameters rollout. Done! Using the box unwrap you've done
what the UVW Map modifier does. The difference is we don't
have to jump back and forth and collapse things. We can go
straight into the UVW editor and look at the results. Just as
before, if you want to see the unwrap or edit the vertices, you
will have to open up the Edit UVWs window by pressing the
Edit button in the Parameters rollout.
This will also work with the cylindrical, spherical, and pla-
nar unwrap. Note that you can adjust the alignment of your
unwrap to the x-, y-, or z-axis. You can also align to view, fit,
center, and best align your unwrap. Use these options on your
own to see how they work. Practice unwrapping cylinders,
boxes, and spheres using these new tools.
Now let's go back into the Edit
UVWs window. Some other little
features that are slightly tucked
away are Flatten Mapping, Normal
Mapping, and Unfold Mapping.
Flatten Mapping basically
works like this: It finds faces that
share a similar facing (based on the
threshold you give it) and breaks that off, then makes it flat on
your UVWs. It does this over all of the polygons you have
selected. You can then take these pieces and put them back
together to quickly form a nice, fairly undistorted UVW lay-
out. It's nice, but I like to do it by hand. It takes a little more
time, but it comes out better I think.
Figure 17-23: The Mapping
menu
Figure 17-24: A
box using Flat-
ten Mapping
