bending MAX textures?

[Shimakaze]

That's why the Channel Info Utility is so great. Lets you use the bend method without altering the mesh at all.

[AJ Jefferies]

Wow - I had no idea you could do any of that with Channel Info...

Great stuff!

[pixelstudio]

Shimikaze, this technique is nice. but not exact right? im my example if have made a texture map of 242x240. this exacly matches the correct scale and such. so applying this to a plane object would be exact.

any idea how to get exact measure using channel info ?

[Shimakaze]

I'm not sure I understand what you mean. It's as exact as you make it really.

[LarsSonparsson]

User Ray Server pointed me, that after applying the bend modifier click on 'update' in the map channel info box. Then carry on with the instructions as normal.

I haven't tested it yet, but that sounds good reason why my tests didn't work.
Gona test it later again.

-LarsSon

[Shimakaze]

You shouldn't need to but try it anyway.

[pixelstudio]

Shimakaze, could you try the following:

- Create a circle spline.
- delete lower 2 segments. apply outline on the whole spline. now you have a arc.
- Convert it into a mesh or poly.
- apply uvw.
--do you channel info thingies.

If i do this my end result is as disformed mesh, and uvw not correct...


-- edit it works better when i use a mesh instead of poly.

[Shimakaze]

A couple of things... rather then converting the spline to editable poly, try adding an extrude modifier to it. Simply converting it makes it one sided, which tends to create some problems. Second, you probably won't get very good results using bend to straighten something that's already bended out. If you need to create something like that, a much easier way would be to create a plane with lots of segments and bend it 180 degrees. The UVs should be bended along with the plane and everything will be all dandy like. Just make sure you have enough segments.

[dbuchhofer]

heres a commercial option also http://www.mankua.com/texlay.htm spline and or mesh mapping is fun

[Giovanni]

yea, the info channel technique is interesting but it does not do what I need, which is what pixelstudio is showing.

When I tested the info channel swapping of mesh and uv channels, I get the original plane (mesh) coorectly, but the map is simply a counter-deformation to compensate for the bend. I get a simmetric "funnel" like distortion, but not the circular bent I need.

I knew about Texture layer, but I learned to use the least amount of plugins as possible...Besides, Text layer is an overkill.

Anyways, will keep testing....But I am afraid for now the only way is manual texture building, that is, map a plane, deform it the best you can guess, get a top camera and render with full luminance.
Of course, no much parameters to adjust curve once the map is rendered, but...

thank you

regards

gio

[^Lele^]

Gio, post a scene.
I'll try map it for you and send it back.

[pixelstudio]

Well i have an example form a project i'm working on. and realy this roads are hard to texture so that the texture is following the curve.
specialy without stretching and such.

So if any1 has an idea feel free to try out.

Screen:


Download: Click

And a example texture: Download

[dbuchhofer]

if that much accuracy is needed, you'll want to get started with unwrapping. its evil at first, but once you get the hang of it, its not so bad.

I'd suggest using Unwrap UVW, starting with a flatten mapping with .001 spacing, and moving/rotating your clusters as needed to line up sanely. Then texporter or another similar script to export out paths and then laying out your texture in photoshop.

its time consuming, but there really isn't going to be a good way to do the stuff you're looking for in that sort of layout without either major geometry rebuilding with lofts or something else with a built in map channel or painting/mapping the time consuming way

[percydaman]

sweeps create uvmaps that follow curves. good for simple sidewalks. unfortunately your example isn't exactly simple.

[Shimakaze]

Here's a quick mockup of how you could do it. Could be done a lot more accurate but I've no time. You'll get the general idea though. Just remember that regardless of how you do it you need lots of segments for the textures to behave correctly. Having a single polygon with lots of points is a recipe for disaster.