Create a Realistic Looking Mailbox using 3ds Max and UV Layout – Day 3
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 3 in a series. Go to Day 1, or Day 2.
Video 1
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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.
Video 2
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Video 3
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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.
Video 4
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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.
Video 5
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Note: click the ‘Monitor’ icon to view tutorial in full-screen HD.
This tutorial is Day 3 in a series. Go to Day 1, or Day 2.
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Really impressive, greate tutorial THX DUDE :D
Hey Wassim,
Thanks man! Glad you liked it.
arrrrr matey! I’m getting a “404″ page for Day 3 Video 1. Man, I’ve got bad timing.
Hey guys,
Just wanted to mention that one of the videos from “Day 3″ is missing temporarily. I’ve already contacted Kaleb about it, so I’m sure it will be added soon. The missing part fits in between the end of “Video 3″ and the start “Video 4″, so I’d recommend stopping at the end of “Video 3″ until the fourth part is added :)
thanks man,that was an awsome tut,thank you for sharing with us ur knowledge,and i wish u do for us a tut about how to model a car ……..and thanks again..;) keep it up
Great Tuts, thanks Bro
Hi i’ve got some problems with the AO, when using the render to texture, i have pretty noisy shadows and messi image, here is a sample:
http://www.picdo.net/fichiers/2010/3/19/0e5811a9-4acc-4b25-a867-8e853da62d01_UV.jpg
Can you help me to fix that ??
Thanks again :D
Hey Wassim,
That’s a strange one, I’ve never actually seen that before. I’m not really sure what to recommend trying as I don’t know what’s causing the problem… If you don’t mind, maybe try my alternate xNormal method for generating the AO map. I think it should give you a better result :)
Here’s a short tutorial on how to do it.
http://www.christateonline.com/Tutorials/Tutorial_Content/Mailbox_AO_Fix.zip
Sorry I couldn’t be of more help
Hey Chris, thanks for the ADD video i’il check it as soon as possible, again great tutorial :D
In video 1 when i render the AO map, it comes out like this http://www.upload.ee/image/451712/Mailbox_AO.jpg and i can’t figure out what seems to be the problem.
Any suggestions?
Hey Siim,
Looks like you might have “Use Automatic Unwrap” turned on under “Mapping Coordinates” in the Render To Texture dialog. Switch it to “Use Existing Channel” and make sure the channel is set to 1 (in the channel drop down). That should fix it :)
All working fine now :) thanks for helping.
Chris, tHanks
My AO map result is not what is achieved in video.It appears more black square patches all over the map and messy.
Any advice.Render takes approax 31 minutes to complete.
First try,mysettings were, sky light, sampling per pixel 64, render to texture output resolution 2048.
Second try ,sky light,sampling per pixel 16, render to texture output 1024.
Results achieved were square black patches and grey lines all over the map.
Great tutor thanks
Texturing has always been an issue for me, nice to see how you make your from scratch. Already learned lots, thanks!
Your defaults are not the 3ds max 9 defaults, I should tell you, Tate.
“Use existing Channel” under “Mapping Coordinates” in the “Render To Texture” panel, is default to “Use Automatic Unwrap”. Yours is set to the first option.
Hey Mikkel,
Sorry for the mix up! The settings I was using in the tutorial seem to be the defaults for me. When I open up the Render To Texture dialog (with or without an object selected) Max automatically switches the coordinates to “Use Existing Channel”.
I don’t use Render To Texture or Mentalray very often, but when I do it seems to always default to those settings. So I didn’t think much of it when recording the tutorial.
So saying “I will leave this at default” is misleading.
I’ll keep watching though :)
With this settings, I have a reasonable AO map with out square dark patches.
Time took to render to texture:9 minutes
Map size:1024X1024
Format PNG
Sky light
Sample quality:1/4,64
Material standard grey,sample 64,Ambient reflective Occulusion
Here is my link
http://haqzaf.deviantart.com/art/Mailbox-modeling-texturing-157780851
Hey guys,
Sorry to hear some of you are having problems creating your AO maps. I have no idea why it’s working for some, but not for others… and because the results vary from person to person I can’t really give a specific fix that would work for everyone.
So I decided to record another short tutorial covering an alternative method for baking out an AO map without using Max or the RTT option. You will however have to download and install xNormal, which is a awesome free software program. I’m hoping this alternative method will fix everyone’s AO issues.
You can download the flash video here:
http://www.christateonline.com/Tutorials/Tutorial_Content/Mailbox_AO_Fix.zip
“Sorry to hear some of you are having problems creating your AO maps. I have no idea why it’s working for some, but not for others… and because the results vary from person to person I can’t really give a specific fix that would work for everyone. ”
Your settings were different by default, some values were much higher than what I had by default(using Max 2009). I also had weird issues on my AO map when I tried but then I checked your settings from the video and had pretty good result with them. :)
Thanks for the short fixed tutorial! I hope to see the missing video soon :)
My progress so far in texturing this mail box following Chris Tate day three video one and half.
http://haqzaf.deviantart.com/art/Modeling-texturing-mailbox-157810454
No problem.All instrusion are very clear understable and helpful in texture management.
I’m excited and happy to see my progress.
” The missing part fits in between the end of “Video 3″ and the start “Video 4″, so I’d recommend stopping at the end of “Video 3″ until the fourth part is added :) ”
Is the other tut online ?
Hey Infaas,
It looks like the missing video has been added, so you’re good to go!
Great! thanks for the tut Chris
Thank you very much it worked PERFECTLY ^^
Great Tutorial
Thanks Chris!
I having been a user of max for a couple years now and i have never touched mapping and this video was great for an intro thank you so much I learned a lot. look forward for more videos from you!
Oops, i’ve missed day 1 and day 2.. :D
Thanks for your nice tuts.
When I try to import the .psd, it shows up in the preview with graphical artifacts all over it. I have searched the web, but haven’t found a solution to my problem. Anyone?
I know there are teachers and there are artist and there is no difference
when it comes to your work.
Thank you I am half blind so excuse me if I dont annoint your feet
peace
Very impressive tutorial Chris. You have a very good way of sharing your experience and I am learning so much from you. Thanks mate :-D
Please, please keep the tutorials coming ;-)
Hi Chris
I really appreciate your tut. It’s been great for learning handling the uv’s and texturing.
Do you consider working on a larger project i.e. a complex scene or a more difficult object.
Great tut.
Hans-Peter
Very impressive. I am new to 3d,and I am just having a good taste of 3d adventure with your tutorials.I hope that you’ll put some more tuts in the future. AO didn’t work for me using RTT (I am missing smthg) and it worked fine by using xnormal. thanks again
thanks I have finish my work follow your tuts very helpful！
that’s my final pic：
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk225/deutschlandv/final94a.jpg
thanks again!
the real final pic :
http://i281.photobucket.com/albums/kk225/deutschlandv/final95.jpg
Hi Chris
Great tutorial.
I have a problem though, I managed to get a good UV render to use in Photoshop, but the model in Max that is rendered is very jagged (I am using version 8 SP3) see images. Max Verison 8 has different setting boxes for GI and FG, I have tried different settings to no avail. Am I missing something.
http://www.adrianmcgrath.com/ZIssues/Jagged-1.JPG
http://www.adrianmcgrath.com/ZIssues/Jagged-2.JPG
http://www.adrianmcgrath.com/ZIssues/Jagged-2.JPG
Thanks
A
Problem solved…
I needed to set up the driver – in my case to DirectX:
Customize – Preferences – Display Drivers – Choose Driver
And then reload with ‘Show Map In Viewport’
Now looks great.
Thanks Chris – awesome tutorial
A
Have a question, how to bind hodkey for Stitch in UV unwrap window? Added hotkey in menu, but it does not work.
http://i103.photobucket.com/albums/m136/xxvpainkillervxx/Capture.jpg
I am not sure why I keep getting this result…should I re-do my UV map?
How would one keep “rendering” mode in perspective view port? I have to render (f9) every time just to see what changes I made in PS.
very grateful
Hi,
I have had so many problems with UV Unwrapping and texturing over the years i have been modellling, so far infact they have really fallen behind my modelling so i had to find an easier way for me to do all of this.
I have only recently found UVLayout and i got to say its a amazing piece of software it really is so i do thank headus for that program and your input in your tutorial about it also. And i would to thank you on you texturing part of the tutorial too because as i said i have lacked confidence and the knowledge to create such good but effective textures.
Thanks a bunch mate!
I have an intel G31/G33, I’ll get texturing and rendering?
Sorry if misspelled, I used GoogleTranslator.
Thank You.
I have learned alot from this.
especially……this
Looks like you might have “Use Automatic Unwrap” turned on under “Mapping Coordinates” in the Render To Texture dialog. Switch it to “Use Existing Channel” and make sure the channel is set to 1 (in the channel drop down). That should fix it
You can tell I failed English.
why arent you using youtube?
Hi! Thanx for the tutorial! Could u please fix the first video? It says “Sorry we unable to play this episode”.
Hi Ilya,
Sorry about that! We’ve been having a number of issues with our video host lately, But I’ll get this fixed asap!
Chris
Thanx, Chris!
Looking forward to finish the lesson (:
Meanwhile doing TF2 Sentry Gun.
Great tutorials!
Hey guys! Video 1 is now fixed (again), sorry for the inconvenience!
Cheers,
Ben