Create a Realistic Looking Mailbox using 3ds Max and UV Layout – Day 2

Create a Realistic Looking Mailbox using 3ds Max and UV Layout – Day 2

Chris Tate on Mar 12th 2010 with 26 comments
Tutorial Details
  • Software: Autodesk 3ds Max 2009, and Headus UV Layout.
  • Difficulty: Intermediate
  • Completion Time: 2 - 3 hours
  • Software/ Hardware Requirements: Dual core PC and recent (GeForce 8 level) graphics card
  • Supporting Files/ Plugins: Reference Images; Texture Source; Custom UV Checker

Final Product What You'll Be Creating

In this detailed, three day workflow tutorial, you will follow the entire process of modeling, UV mapping, and texturing a lifelike mailbox using 3ds Max and UV Layout. Starting out in 3ds max with a simple box primitive, you will use poly modeling tools and techniques to build and shape our mailbox model. With the model completed, you will then move on to UV mapping using a combination of both 3ds Max’s unwrap uvw modifier as well as the demo version of Headus UVLayout. Finally, with the UV all packed away, you will learn some very useful techniques to build up the colors and materials of your texture.

This tutorial is Day 2 in a series. Go to Day 1, or Day 3.


Video 1

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.

Video 2

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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.


This tutorial is Day 2 in a series. Go to Day 1, or Day 3.


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By Chris Tate

Rollover to read this author's bio or click through to see a full list of posts by this author.

A long time Cgtuts+ author, Chris has recently moved into the role of co-editor at Cgtuts+. Chris has nearly a decade of experience working with 3D studio Max and has authored many in depth tutorials for Cgtuts+ as well as other websites. A generalist by definition, Chris spends most of his time modeling, but has many years of experience in the area's of UVMapping, Texturing, Lighting and Rendering. On rare occasions when he's not wasting away in front of his computer, Chris enjoys playing hockey, skateboarding, watching movies and playing games. You can find more of his work over at christateonline.com.  

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Discussion 26 Comments

  1. Tom says:
    March 12, 2010 at 3:04 am

    fd

    Reply
  2. Midge says:
    March 12, 2010 at 5:54 am

    Another great tute from one of the Tate Brothers. You and Ben make what are for me the best tutorial videos available online. That I am able to download them at no cost is a huge bonus. As a mature user of max, that is to say “Old man” I have learnt more about Max from you guys than from reading any amount of books.
    Many Thanks and keep them coming please.

    Midge
    UK

    Reply
  3. Bruno Américo says:
    March 12, 2010 at 10:57 am

    thanks Chris for another great tutorial :b

    Reply
  4. Stefan V. says:
    March 12, 2010 at 11:53 am

    Hey Chris

    Thanks for these great tutorials!
    I have a small problem though, when I import the new obj from UVoutlay to max the shading doesn’t seem right and the object haven’t saved the UV layout from UVoutlay?

    P.S I’m using max 2010-

    Reply
    • Chris Tate says:
      March 12, 2010 at 7:39 pm
      Author

      Hey Stefan,

      Not to worry, the shading problem your having is pretty common (It happens to me all the time) it’s sometimes caused by UVLayout or the obj importer assigning a single smoothing group to the model, and because the mailbox is box shaped. It’s trying to smooth the polygons across the 90 degree angles and that’s why the shading looks weird.

      It’s a easy fix, just select the piece with the shading problem and then add a “Smooth” modifier to it. Don’t check anything on in the settings, just apply the modifier and then right click on the piece and “convert to editable poly”. That should reset any smoothing groups and fix the problem. :)

      Regarding the missing UV’s… When you import the obj from UVLayout back into 3ds Max, do you have “Texture Coordinates” checked on in the import options?

      I took a screen cap of my import settings, so you can double check them and make sure everything’s the same.

      http://www.christateonline.com/CG_Tuts/OBJ_Import_Settings.jpg

      Hope this helps!

      Reply
      • Stefan V. says:
        March 13, 2010 at 9:49 am

        Hey Chris.

        Thanks for the help with both the UV error and the shading mess up, it all ending up just fine!
        Now I can’t wait for the next part of the tutorial, which is probably the most enjoyable one, the texturing part! YEAH!

  5. haqzaf says:
    March 13, 2010 at 2:24 pm

    Day2-Unwrapping mailbox using Headus UV layout and onboard UVW unwraping were successfully done.My model is now fully unwrapped,UV textured,packed and ready to be exported to photoshop for further texturing.
    Thanks to Chris Tate for the tutorials.

    Reply
  6. Mikkel H. Abrahamsen says:
    March 13, 2010 at 8:03 pm

    Amazing tutorial! I have come to expect this quality of guidance from you, and you deliver again and again!

    I haven’t done any unwrapping before today, I was always intimidated by it, but this tutorial just brought me through the process! Thank you Chris, you have no idea what your videos mean to me.

    Keep up the good work! :)

    Reply
  7. Mikkel H. Abrahamsen says:
    March 17, 2010 at 2:31 pm

    Come ooon, bring day 3! :O

    Reply
  8. Meek says:
    March 18, 2010 at 1:58 am

    Great tutorial, easy to follow and very informative. thank you.

    Reply
  9. HenFre says:
    March 18, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    Greeeaaat tutorial :D

    Been watching this a lot of times and have learned a lot. Please keep them coming.. When is day three going to be here?

    Thanks a lot ;)

    Regards

    Henrik

    Reply
  10. Chris Tate says:
    March 18, 2010 at 8:35 pm
    Author

    Thanks guys!!

    I think Day 3 should be up very soon!

    Reply
  11. Felipe says:
    April 9, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    Hey, the obj exporter don’t work on 3ds max 2010 32bits ?

    Reply
  12. Anurag says:
    April 13, 2010 at 6:46 pm

    Thank you so much ! The UVW unwrap and UV layout part was realy helpful for me ! Thak you very much !

    Reply
  13. Nick says:
    April 20, 2010 at 12:24 am

    Another awesome tut, ive played with Headus before but never seen anyone else use it in action, this make it much more approachable

    Reply
  14. Akpak says:
    May 3, 2010 at 9:01 pm

    my boady pice wont load into UV layout help plz111

    Reply
  15. Johnny B. says:
    September 23, 2010 at 10:19 am

    You are one of the best teacher and artist outhere.

    You taughed us so many.

    PS. Sorry for some writing mistakes

    Reply
  16. veronica says:
    June 9, 2011 at 9:49 pm

    many thanks for the tutorial
    there seems to be a problem with the link in video 2…..

    same as the latern session

    could not see the tutorial

    Reply
    • Chris Tate says:
      June 11, 2011 at 8:07 am
      Author

      Hey Veronica,

      Sorry about that! Video 2 is now fixed :)

      We’re still working on the lantern video, but we should have it up soon as well.

      Cheers!
      Chris

      Reply
  17. Serpente says:
    July 28, 2011 at 3:53 pm

    Thank you for tutorial!!!
    http://forum.cgtalk.by/attachment.php?attachmentid=26446&d=1311765578

    Reply
  18. Petr says:
    August 9, 2011 at 4:01 pm

    Hi Chris,

    excusme, how did you copy the legs in Unwrap UVW editor?? Thank you

    Reply
  19. Petr Holusa says:
    August 10, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    Hi Chris,

    excusme, but how did you copy the uvw leg in unwrap editor? Which shotcut or any tricks? Thank you very much.

    Reply
  20. Gavin says:
    August 15, 2011 at 12:06 pm

    I dont seem to be able to download part 2? it just opens in a new window and starts to play?
    Can anyone help with this?

    Reply
  21. Johannes58 says:
    October 25, 2011 at 4:44 pm

    Great work!
    Started watching your tut for the water tower. For me modeling is the easy part since I have had many years of experience with Autocad.
    I came to see this tut to learn more on the UVW end. I followed the link for the Unwrap Tools 1.6 but cannot get it to work.
    I would be grateful for some input or a lead to some help. I will look into some of the scripting sites to see if I can solve it myself.

    Reply
  22. Remo says:
    January 23, 2012 at 6:04 am

    Chris,
    It seems the OBJ exporter from GuruWare does not work with 3DSMax 2012. What do I do now ? Also when I want to import the top of the mailbox into UVLayout 2 it will popup and say:
    “Found 5 odd faces in imported surface. Check 3D view for their locations” 3d view won’t show up though. Thanks in advance :)

    Reply

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