Managing Texture Coordinates

Autodesk 3ds Max Tutorials > Materials and Mapping Tutorials >

This tutorial looks at some of the 3ds Max features related to materials, texturing, and rendering. The first lesson covers functionality in the Unwrap UVW modifier. You’ll then go on to learn more about the UVW’s Flatten mapping command for automatic mapping.

Another useful tool presented in this tutorial is the Relax tool, which algorithmically spreads out texture coordinates, to give more even coverage of the underlying texture. This makes it easier to assign specific texture coordinates to the desired area of the texture.

Finally, you will work with the Channel Info utility to minimize memory usage and manage other channel mapping tasks.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

Use the Unwrap UVW modifier.
Use Render To Texture to “bake” lighting, shadows, and other scene features into a bitmap texture for use in games and other real-time applications.
Use Ink 'n Paint to render comic-style images.
Use the Translucent shader to simulate translucent materials.
Use the Relax tool to affect texture coordinates.
Use the Channel Info utility to manage channel mapping tasks.

Skill level: Intermediate

Time to complete each lesson: 30 to 90 minutes

Files for This Tutorial

All the files necessary for this tutorial are provided on the program disc in the \tutorials\materials_and_rendering directory. Before starting the tutorials, copy the \tutorials folder from the disc to your local program installation.

Lessons in This Tutorial

Using Unwrap UVW, Part 1

Using Unwrap UVW, Part 2

Using the Relax Tool on Texture Coordinates

Using the Channel Info Utility

Topics in this section