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UV-Mapper suggestions
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UV-Mapper suggestions // Feature suggestions
Post by RichLevy // May 8, 2007, 10:32pm
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RichLevy
Total Posts: 1140
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At this point in time I can use a bunch of different programs, but I don't know if I would recommend any of them just for UV mapping, though any of them are more than capable.
Modo has a very slick implementation
Silo 2 is looking very nice
XSI while it does not have LSCM does a nice job and has some cool tools (RoadKill has a plugin for it too)
RoadKill
BodyPaint
All these programs have a version LSCM or Peltmapping. Thing with UV mapping it can be done in the most basic tools, or their are some really kick but specialty programs that do nothing but UV mapping.
I did some reseach again about 6 weeks ago and came up with a couple of programs that do nothing but uvmapping, though I thought their price was kinda high just to do uv's ( over 200.00 ).
I gotta go now, do that hand therapy thing, but I'll search down the names and put them up later.
Jack, UU3D as I can remeber handles all the different cobs that I threw at it... but I can't say for sure whether it is a file or the program. I also like the FBX, BVH and obj formats.
Rich |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 9, 2007, 12:32am
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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Thanks Rich, I appreciate it.
Looks like it's the file -- or the model. Bender did the same thing, then proceeded to crash. I may have to go through, normalize each sub-object, and then try triangulating each of the different sub objects until I find the ones causing the problems. I did have to triangulate it to get it exported as 3ds format. Obj format choked too -- definitely a bad sign. Argh, odd that I'd have any geometry problems with the whole thing constructed of quads and mainly modeled using extrusions...
I've thought about XSI a few times, but the interface seems so mechanical... :( the $500 price tag for Foundation is certainly a good deal, but I'd have to step up to the $2000 price tag to get native 64bit and some of the other useful stuff. From what I'm reading XSI's mapping tools are considered amongst the best out there, but I can't find any details on what exactly they do and what the workflow is like. I'm hesitant to download the demo again because it trashed my registry with thousands of entries that it didn't clean up when I uninstalled it. :mad:
The main problem I'm seeing with Roadkill is that it doesn't have any tools for working with hierarchies -- something I want so that I can have multiple meshes share one UV space/texture map. UU3D does that no probs. Not to mention that FBX export is pretty darn useful -- I wonder if it keeps the animations intact... I'm gonna bang this one out most of the way with TS's UV editor, and if when it comes down to it, if $60 gets this project done, I may just do that, sorry nowherebrain. :p
Anycase I'm looking forward to your list Rich.
-Jack. |
Post by Steinie // May 9, 2007, 12:54am
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Steinie
Total Posts: 3667
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U_Unwrapper is only $50 and MadMouse uses it. I would ask for his opinion too.
I've bought bad meals for $50.:( |
Post by nowherebrain // May 9, 2007, 12:56am
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nowherebrain
Total Posts: 1062
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Oooopppps! Now I am retard. I did not know of some of those features, are they recent(within 1.5 years) additions? I guess my ignorance knows no bounds...I apologize if I sent someone down the wrong path...blender is free though, and they are both stand alone programs. |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 9, 2007, 1:29am
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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@Nowherebrain,
I'd still like to see that tutorial if you're up for it. ;)
-Jack. |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 9, 2007, 1:30am
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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@ Steinie,
I agree.... LOL chinese takeout usually runs me $50.... :p
Edit: Ok. Madmouse's thread convinced me. I paid my $50. :D
-Jack. |
Post by RichLevy // May 9, 2007, 3:05am
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RichLevy
Total Posts: 1140
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@ Steinie,
I agree.... LOL chinese takeout usually runs me $50.... :p
Edit: Ok. Madmouse's thread convinced me. I paid my $50. :D
-Jack.
Lots of people around here and Renderosity have gone the UVMapper route, it looks like a solid program, I am sure you will be very satisfied with your purchase.
It doesn't hurt when you see people like Steve or John Logan using the program either :D
Free UV tools
Wingz
Blender
RoadKill
Low buck pay
UVMapper
Ultimate UnWrap 3D
Mid range tools (100-400 range)
SIlo
Headus
High price range (500-1000)
BodyPaint
Modo
XSI Foundation
Cinema 4D basic
High price range (1000 and up)
Maya
XSI Essentials
3D Studio Max
All of these programs include either Pelt Mapping or an LSCM implementation. Many prefer the Bender route as being the best version of LSCM, and free is hard to beat. Wingz may not be a easy to use but it falls in the free zone also. RoadKill again is free, the interface is not hard to figure out but it can be a little slugginsh getting around.
UVMApper and Ultimate 3D fall into the low buck range, each has it's strong and weak points. Price is not one of their weak points :)
Silo is not just a nice UV tool, it is a great modeling program! Worth looking into. I'm still trying to figure out how to get the new UV tools working. Silo is still in beta so the tools should keep improving.
Headus, I found out about this one on the XSI forums at CGTalk, many are very happy with the output, it is a dedicated UV tool.
BodyPaint, Cinema4D, XSI Foundation, Maya, Studio Max are all in the expensive area, all provide great tools for uv mapping. XSI is not a LSCM version while the others are, though you can get free plugins that provide either peltmapping or LSCM... BodyPaint is standalone and provides LSCM, though for a tad bit more you can get the basic C4D package and BodyPaint is included.
Certainly not an exhaustive list, I did not include any links, though all of these are easy to google and get to their sites if you want to find out more...
Best of luck.
HTH
Rich |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 9, 2007, 3:53am
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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Thanks Rick,
I'd never heard of Headus. I dropped by their website and noticed they have a pre-release pricing special going on. Shame there's no info on tools....just the UV flattening.
You missed one in the $1000 range:
http://www.polygonal-design.fr/e_unfold/index.php
:p
Coming from a Nendo background, I actually like Wings3D quite a bit. I haven't used it in almost a year, though. Last I did, I remember it had a seam-based unfolding algorithm and UV coordinate manip tools. It's a one object kind of tool though.
Silo has a very cool price tag and the new geometry paint tool definitely looks cool. :) I may have to start saving up a bit.
-Jack. |
Post by RichLevy // May 9, 2007, 6:31am
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RichLevy
Total Posts: 1140
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Oooopppps! Now I am retard. I did not know of some of those features, are they recent(within 1.5 years) additions? I guess my ignorance knows no bounds...I apologize if I sent someone down the wrong path...blender is free though, and they are both stand alone programs.
By no means are you anything other than someone with a strong opinion on the software that you use... I tend to be a tad bit fickle myself, I probably give up on software sooner than I should. I do envy someone who can push every bit of functionality out of a piece of software and make it do things that the developers had not anticipated... UV software is such a complex piece of software, I tend to do lots of character modeling and I really do not enjoy UV mapping so I am always looking for shortcuts. Someday I will find the perfect software for me :D
Rich |
Post by nowherebrain // May 9, 2007, 2:34pm
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nowherebrain
Total Posts: 1062
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@Jack:
I will, of course do the tutorial.....and hopefully many more..I just need to wait until the weekends when I am free.
@Rich:
Oh, I am definitely opinionated...and coming from the ARMY I am used to being in charge...doesn't always make me right...BTW:(blender plug)blender is still my #1 choice for UV and model painting based on bang for the buck....now where is this legendary tS 7.5....(sob sob) |
Post by Docwolph // May 10, 2007, 8:02am
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Docwolph
Total Posts: 20
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Headus/UVLayout looks interesting though I'll milling about with Roadkill right now.
Unfold3D seems a touch expensive for what little it does compared to Bodypaint3D. C4D has NO UV tools of it's own as of version 9 but v10 does include BP3D. |
Post by Jack Edwards // May 10, 2007, 8:50am
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Jack Edwards
Total Posts: 4062
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I've gotta say that I'm already really happy with UU3D. It's quick and easy to learn. (Read the help file, LOL.) The unfolding is pretty nice, and it has very nice tools for manipulating the UVs and laying out the UV patches. It's group and material handling is VERY nice, as is the import and export. The LSCM performance was a bit disappointing since there's no seaming tools yet. Course we've got Roadkill and Blender for seam based LSCM if really needed. At this point I can't see paying what some of those companies are asking for just a skinning tool... :confused:
-Jack. |
Post by nowherebrain // May 10, 2007, 1:58pm
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nowherebrain
Total Posts: 1062
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Ageed, they need to feed their families...but they do not need to feed them lobster in a Ferrari. |
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