Sorry your browser is not supported!

I modelled a helicopter recently, and quite a good effort it is too. I tried to UV and skin it last night but ran into several problems. Unfortunately, there are some very complex bits to the helicopter and putting all of them into one skin is proving difficult - especially using Wings' limited UVer. So, this post is broken down into two main parts really...
1) Is it 'acceptable' to break a model into 2,3 or 4 separate models so that they can be UVd/skinned separately to each other, then 'glue' the models back together in the 3d application itself? (I only ask so that I don't get into what could be considered a bad habit)
2) I don't like the way Wings does the UVing. It's quite, quite horrid. Is there a way to add UV coordinates outside of the modelling app? For example, if I'm using LithUnwrap, can I load up a UVless model (click 'OK' on the 'This model has no UV coordinates' alert) and create the UV coordinates there? If so, how?

Thanks for your time

I've just found this post:http://www.thegamecreators.com/?m=forum_view&t=25602&b=3 to answer part 2 of my question, but question 1 still stands...

Making models in parts is totally acceptable. And, at least with .X format, you are not limited to one texture file either.

Milkshape's text coordinate editor takes some practice, but it is very handy at projecting textures from multiple angles. So, you can do a top view for the wings and a side view for the helo's body, etc.
--
TAZ

[edit for typos]

Really you shouldn't break your model into smaller ones (unless it's a really complicated one), all you need is make groups properly to make UVing easier (grouping can be done in Lith, BTW). Hope that brings you on the way.

Well, I much prefer creating the UVs myself in lithunwrap, rather than modifying those exported from Wings. The only problem I have now is that only *separate* objects get exported as groups into lithunwrap...

not exactly ideal.

Just to remark on my findings...

I didn't know that wings would gladly AutoUV on material selections. I've broken up my model into material selections, then in the autoUV window, without doing anything clicked continue -> projection and it's picked apart all my stuff beautifully!

Coolness. I'm not a Wings user, but I'm glad you found a solution that keeps you from jumping through hoops.
--
TAZ

It's not over yet

Exporting to 3DS and X from Lithunwrap distort the model's normals quite badly. X seems to have no shade/shadow to it, and 3DS is flat shaded. It looks like I either need to buy Unwrap3D (which I don't really want to do, since I can't model/texture) or find another free unwrapper...

Either that or find a converter from OBJ to X which works. OBJ exports from Lithunwrap seem to be ok...

------------------------------------------

Balls to it - I'll just end up buy Milkshape to use as a converter.

go for unwrap3d it has more conversion model format options and makes uv wrapping a breeze.

I'm not really ready to buy stuff when I'm still learning. If I bought unwrap3D then I'd have a very well UVd, but crappily textured model

---------------------------------------------

Wow, I seriously underestimated what updates to wings can do. I was running 0.98.17f at home, and I've just downloaded 0.98.20b here at work. The AutoUV routines are much better! Somehow, it knows exactly how I want my mini gun to be textured... spooky...

Can you use Milkshape 3D as your OBJ to X conversion tool?

@Zircher, I was thinking of doing that. I'll download the demo tonight. I noticed that lithunwrap exports as ms3d this morning, so Milkshape 3D could be the missing link

It just seems a shame/waste of money to buy milkshape to use as a glorified converter.

Aye, but I think that you will find that MS3D has some other features that might come in handy.

It's also a 1/10th of the price of other conversion tools.
--
TAZ

I still reccomend unwrap3d over milkshape as a conversion tool.

check out the third party game plugins it has as well as standard 3d tools.

Description Extension Import Export
Alias Wavefront OBJ yes yes
3D Studio 3DS yes yes
3D Studio ASCII ASC yes yes
Microsoft DirectX X yes yes
Truespace COB yes yes
Lightwave LWO yes yes
AutoCAD DXF yes yes
Quake 1 MDL yes
Quake 2 MD2 yes
Quake 3 Arena MD3 yes yes
Return to Castle Wolfenstein MDC yes
Kingpin: Life of Crime MDX yes
Quake 1/2/3, Half-Life BSP yes
Command & Conquer: Renegade W3D yes
Vampire: The Masquerade - Redemption NOD yes
Shogo: Mobile Armor Division
Blood 2: The Chosen
Aliens vs. Predator 2
The Operative: No One Lives Forever
Global Operations ABC yes
Unreal Tournament 3D 3D yes yes
Unreal Tournament PSK/PSA PSK, PSA yes
WarCraft 3: Reign of Chaos MDX yes
Delta Force 5: Black Hawk Down
Delta Force 4: Task Force Dagger
Delta Force 3: Land Warrior
Delta Force 2
Delta Force
3DI yes
Neverwinter Nights MDL yes yes
Battlefield 1942 SM, RS yes yes
Homeworld PEO, GEO yes
Freespace 1/2 POF yes
Descent 3 OOF yes
Black & White L3D yes
Half-Life: Opposing Force MDL yes
Half-Life: Opposing Force SMD yes yes
Rainbow Six Rogue Spear QOB, ROB yes
4x4 Evolution SMF yes
Tread Marks LUV yes yes
Re-Volt PRM yes yes
Serious Sam MDL yes
Birth of the Federation HOB yes
Star Fleet Command 1/2 MOD yes
Star Trek Armada 1/2 SOD yes yes
Star Trek: Voyager - Elite Force MDR yes
Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 3DO yes
Jedi Knight 2: Jedi Outcast GLM yes
Star Wars Galaxies MSH yes
The Sims SKN, BMF yes yes
Genesis3D ACT, BDY yes
3D GameStudio MDL yes yes
Nichimen Nendo NDO yes
Anim8or AN8 yes
Cartography Shop CSM yes yes
Blitz3D B3D yes yes
MilkShape3D MS3D yes yes
Metasequoia MQO yes yes
POV-Ray RAW RAW yes yes
POV-Ray POV POV yes
OpenGL CPP CPP yes
ASCII 3D Studio Max ASE yes
Apple Quickdraw 3D 3DMF yes
Stereo Lithography STL yes yes
Object File Format OFF yes yes
Adobe Illustrator AI yes
BioVision Hierarchy BVH yes
Hollywood FX HFO yes
RenderMan RIB RIB yes
VRML 1.0, 2.0 WRL yes


Supported 2D Graphics File Formats


Description Extension
Windows Bitmap BMP
Truevision Targa TGA
Joint Photographic Experts Group JPG
Portable Network Graphics PNG
Zsoft Paintbrush PCX
Adobe Photoshop PSD
Microsoft DirectDrawSurface DDS
Portable Pixel Format PPM
Portable Grayscale Format PGM
Portable Bitmap Format PBM
Serious Sam TEX
Descent 3 OGF
Homeworld LIF
Jedi Knight: Dark Forces 2 MAT
Rainbow Six Rogue Spear RSB
LithTech Shogo/Blood2/AvP2/NOLF/GOps DTX
WarCraft 3: Reign of Chaos BLP