Use Simple Projections

How to unwrap a texture for games using 3DSMax.

1. Select an Editable Poly

2. RIGHT COLUMN> Modifier List> UVW Mapping Clear

3. RIGHT COLUMN> Modifier List> Unwrap UVW

a. Mapping the first group of polys

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Selection> Polygon> select in the 3D viewport the polys

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Projection> Planar, Align Options, try ‘Best Align’ or use XYZ buttons

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Configure> uncheck ‘Normalize Map’

Notice: “Normalize Map” of 3DS Max will maintain the correct proportions for the various polygons.
Removing this means that in the “Edit UVWs” window polygons will be bigger and you will need to zoom out with the mouse wheel.

>Edit UVWs window> mouse whell to zoom out, the polys are red (selected)

>Edit UVWs window> in the bottom deselect ‘Polygon’ after that riselect ‘Polygon’, click in an empty area to unselect polys, after that select the polys

>Edit UVWs window> in the top select ‘Scale Selected Subobjects’, scale the polys to fit them inside the UV CheckerPattern (rotate Mouse Wheel to zoom out-in)

>Edit UVWs window> in the top select ‘Move Selected Subobjects’, move the polys over the UV CheckerPattern (press Mouse Wheel to pan)

b. Mapping the second group of polys

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Selection> Polygon> select in the viewport others polys

> … return to point a. …

Welding UVWs points

Put the UVWs pieces in the right size and order, use the commands:

Edit UVWs window>

– To navigate in the window rotate Mouse Wheel to zoom out-in, press Mouse Wheel to pan

– To move UVWs pieces in the bottom select ‘Vertex, Edge, Polygon’, check/uncheck ‘select by Element’

Weld the Points:

Edit UVWs window>

– in the bottom select ‘Vertex’, select the vertex, you can see the vertex in the 3D viewport also.

– Main Top Menu> Tools> Target Weld, DRAG AND DROP a vertex over another one

Repack

>Edit UVWs window> Tools> Pack UVs

Create the Template

>Edit UVWs window> Tools> Render UVW Template, save the bitmap texture.

Seams

1. Create Seams

Loop Seams

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Selection> Edge> select in the 3D viewport an edge

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Selection> Modify Selection> Loop: XY Edges

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Peel> Seams> Convert Edge Selection To Seams

Manual Seam Selection

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Peel> Seams> Edit Seams, click in the 3D Viewport edges, LMB to add / LMB+Alt to remove seams

OR

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Peel> Seams> Point-to-Point Seams, click in the 3D Viewport vertex

2. Expand Polygon Selection to Seams

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Selection> Polygon> inside 3D Viewport select a poly

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Peel> Seams> ‘Expand Polygon Selection to Seams’ button

Unwrap UVW Modifiers> Peel> Quick Peel

> … return to point a. …