Recomendation for a UV Map Editor?

[Wiro]

There is Deep UV
http://www.righthemisphere.com/products/duv/

I used it years ago with Deep Paint 3d when it was called Texture Weapons. Not sure how good it is today, I only found it decent back then.

Wiro

[Jynks]

Thanks for the tip Wiro!

i used it when it was texture weapons as well... Have not tried any of the deep apps.. I know that 4D Paint is now got a new name and released though them and also has a UV editor, but havn't tried it.

The kind of Pipeline exampled in this thread

http://www.cgtalk.com/showthread.php?t=200732

Seams to be the way to go for a small group like the one I am in, get one expensive rendering app that can put slaves for farming and get cheaper modeler/texturing apps for others t work on while lighting and animation is done.

Still very interested in any UV Editor recommendations.

[leigh]

I've tried and used many, many applications over the years. And XSI has the best UV toolset of them all (with Maya having a better Relax function). UV toolsets are actually pretty similar from package to package, it's just that some of them (XSI and Maya in particular) have some bells and whistles that the others do not.

Using a specialised UV package isn't necessarily going to make the task easier.

[womanonfire]

only external mapper i have used is http://www.unwrap3d.com/
it is very nice.

[Jynks]

Dose anyone know if Max or Silo supports "Multi-UV layout"

[EricChadwick]

Max does, if I understand you correctly.

[Ghostscape]

it's just that some of them (XSI and Maya in particular) have some bells and whistles that the others do not.

Using a specialised UV package isn't necessarily going to make the task easier.

What bells and whistles do they have that other software lacks?

[leigh]

UV transferring from one object to another, good relaxing function, tranformable UV gizmos, grabbable (is that such a word?) polynode bisectors in XSI for easily creating seams yourself, and subprojections (in XSI) all come to mind.

[Leshiy3d]

hey
the unfold3d is a powerful tool too, i like it so much ;)
in main workflow I use xsi

[Wiro]

I wouldn't say other software lacks those tools though. 3ds max has all of the above (maybe except for polynode bisectors which seems to be an XSI specific term. What does it do?). Maya has some good UV tools too. I don't think UV mapping-specific progs would be of much use since the major packages are all pretty good at it in the latest versions.

Wiro

[EricChadwick]

I have to disagree about 3ds max having all these tools. I've been using it since the DOS days, but it has its shortcomings. The Projection modifier is supposed to allow transfer of UVs between different topologies, but currently does not (http://support.discreet.com/webboard/wbpx.dll/read?216529,16) (login req'd). The UV Relax tool is shoddy, nowhere near Deep UV's (I haven't tried Maya nor XSI relaxers). It does have Texture Layers (http://www.mankua.com/) though (for an extra fee), which offers some amazing UV tools.

IMHO, if a 3rd party UV mapping program offers enough flexibility and a deep toolset, it can justify its cost. Similar to the way Silo/Modo/ZBrush help solve modeling issues that aren't addressed in the major 3D apps.

I really need to play with XSI's mapper, I've been hearing good things about it. I'm also curious about these polynode bisectors.

[DirtEater]

Wings3D is has great UV mapping functionality, and it's free. You'd have to learn it's unusual workflow (not hard, just unusual) and experiment with getting your models properly imported and exported, but it's worth it. Ask around in the Wings forum.

[Wiro]

I have to disagree about 3ds max having all these tools. I've been using it since the DOS days, but it has its shortcomings. The Projection modifier is supposed to allow transfer of UVs between different topologies, but currently does not (http://support.discreet.com/webboard/wbpx.dll/read?216529,16) (login req'd). The UV Relax tool is shoddy, nowhere near Deep UV's (I haven't tried Maya nor XSI relaxers). It does have Texture Layers (http://www.mankua.com/) though (for an extra fee), which offers some amazing UV tools.

Well, I've found every UV editing soft to have it's shortcomings. Texture Weapons had some nice tools but in the end the horrible transform interface made me give up on it.
Not sure what you find shoddy about max's relax tool. I'm pretty much satisfied with what's available. One thing I'd like would be a better atlas mapping tool (which TW had)


IMHO, if a 3rd party UV mapping program offers enough flexibility and a deep toolset, it can justify its cost.

I aggree...if the prog is flexible enough. Haven't come across one yet which is why I'm still looking into this thread :)

Wiro

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