Making a good UV map when object parts are angled

[MysticRain]

Hey all :)

I'm making my first mesh that has not only straight edges.
It's a sofa and therefore has round egdes, ups and downs -and angled cushions.

http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/ChainedAngel89/Sims/wcif/sofa.jpg


Now I am creating the UVmap for the object and I want it to be easily recolorable so the cushion facets splattered all over the map is not a good idea.
Is there a way to put the parts together in the right way and "unangle" the cushions in the map?

Here is a pic of the map right now:


http://i135.photobucket.com/albums/q149/ChainedAngel89/Sims/wcif/uvmap.jpg



Thanks in advance :)

Mystic

[bluetexasbonnie]

I know it is late now, but it often works better to do the mapping while things are still fairly square, straight, and easily organized on the texture. Makes things easier in the long run.

[HystericalParoxysm]

Strongly agreeing with bluetexasbonnie here. Honestly I think it'd be worth it to you to just remove the current cushions, remake them "flat" and map them, and then deform them to sag realistically against the couch. Anything that needs to be rounded or angled or whatever, I always find it easiest to make it flat, map it first, and then move it into place. If it needs to be squished or scaled or whatever, then it's a LOT easier to change the mapping to fit rather than do the mapping on something already made.

[MysticRain]

That sounds reasonable...but there are a few problems... first I am lazy and I have deen working on these cushions the whole day and yesterday xD
Okay, not a good reason, I know...

Umm, but there's another problem. I don't change the object once it is mapped because the times I did it, it messed up the file and simPE wouldn't take it :\
Is it just me, do I do something wrong? Or is there something I have to know?

I use wings 3D and UVmapper Classic (ok, can be seen in the screen ^^).

[Echo]

Just a thought, but have you tried mapping it from inside Wings? I've found it much easier than UVMapper Classic when you've got a particular idea in mind of how you want things mapped, especially if they're unusually shaped surfaces. :) Also, as you've already got them separated into Wings-friendly groups, that would make it even easier.

[MysticRain]

Yes, I have indeed thought of mapping from inside wings...and I even tried it but I had now idea what I was supposed to do...

It's probably abolutely easy but I don't know how to work with it.
I'll try though.
If you have any tips for me or a tut it would be great. I'll go and search for one, too.

[~Dee~]

Umm, but there's another problem. I don't change the object once it is mapped because the times I did it, it messed up the file and simPE wouldn't take it :\
Is it just me, do I do something wrong? Or is there something I have to know?

I use wings 3D and UVmapper Classic (ok, can be seen in the screen

^^).

I do it like others said, UVmap the cushions before you shape them,
once you finished load it into UVmapper again and ' Save Model' only.
Then regroup in Milkshape and export into SimPE,
I never had a problem of SimPe not accepting it.

[MysticRain]

Ok, I didn't open it in the UVmapper afterwards so this was the problem -thanks for the hint!
Umm, do I have to regroup them in milkshape? because I don't have milkshape ^^
And, what exactly would regrouping look like? omg what a noob am I ^^

[~Dee~]

When I first started meshing, in one of the tuts it said I needed to regroup
in Milkshape before exporting to SimPE.
I've been doing it ever since and like I said,never had a problem.
Sometimes when I'm in a hurry,I forgot and then I get a error message in SimPE.
So yes...I think you need to regroup in Milkshape.
In Milkshape go to 'Groups' located on the top right,then 'select' all the parts
of your mesh and click 'regroup' and give it the same name then maxis in the
rename box.

[HystericalParoxysm]

You don't need to regroup in Milkshape if you're not using Milkshape to mesh. Milkshape isn't essential to non-animated object meshes whatsoever - you do need to regroup in whatever you're using (like Wings) before exporting to SimPE, to get your group names back to what they were before.

[~Dee~]

Thank you so much for that info HP,I didn't know that.
Learn something new every day.:)

[MysticRain]

Thank you for this info, this will be the reason I got an error message the last times I tried to import a "last minute changed" mesh. They did show up normally in game, though.

My sofa didn't, the whole seating area is invisible, only the edges aren't. I hope it is just the regroup problem... if it isn't and I have to do the whole thing the second time over again...I'll cry xD

edit: umm, how do I know what the names where like before? And were do I find the regroup option in wings..? *feels like bloody noob again*

[~Dee~]

In Wings select all your parts then choose the triangle/cube on top right.
Right click and choose 'combine'.

In SimPE click the GMDC and next to the preview window it still has the
original maxis names, if not,just reopen the maxis object you use as a
clone and write down the names.

[MysticRain]

Alright, I combine all parts again in Wings.

Then I take the names from the original object in simPE..and where am I supposed to put these names? I really have no clue :\

Could this be the reason why the lower part of the object is invisible in game?

Thanks for your help :)

[~Dee~]

Can you take a pic in game,so I can see which parts not showing up?
If you use UVmapper you need to redo your cushions.
You need to UVmap them before you shape them,your UVmap in post #1
is not correct.
If you use the UVmapping in Wings,I've no idea,as I never use it.

When you click on import in SimPe to import your mesh,a window pops up and it says 'Add' use the arrow and choose 'Replace', underneath is a small space with an arrow,
click on that and it should have the maxis name there.

[MysticRain]

I already redid the cushions because of the mapping. I mapped them when they were still straight and plain.
They show up nicely in game, what doesn't show is the seating underneath. everthing else is invisible except the edges and parts of the seating where I added some vertices.

I only have a screen of the simPE preview but it shows up exactly like this ingame. So here it is.

[~Dee~]

I never seen anything like that to be honest.
Is the seating and the cushions all in one mesh called 'fabric'?
Did you UVmap the seating properly,could you post a pic of your new UVmap please.
If all else fails you should post in the repair forum and attach your file.

[SanMiguel02]

i prefer wings for mapping also but it has some problems with closed faces sometimes

try using normal projection that seems to sort it out

[MysticRain]

San Miguel02 -I used UVmapper classic for mapping, I can't figure out how the wings mapping works.

Dee -I will attach the UVmap, I only have the one I already rearranged so some faces are over each other if the texture should be the same. The only thing I see that looks kinda weird is one face of the arm which seems not to be closed.... I hope someone gets this sorted out bc it was so much work -.-

[~Dee~]

Mmm...your UVmap looks okay.
Mystic, I really think you should post this in the Repair forum
and attach your file.
I think the only way someone will work this out is, if we can look at the file.

[MysticRain]

Ok, I'll do it.
Thanks for your help, time and patience !