The basic idea of UV-mapping is that you want to put all surfaces of your 3D-model onto a 2D-plane. It can't be done 100% perfect, think of taking a ball and cutting it up and get a flat plane - it can't be done.

However the most basic approach is that you use "Automatic UV mapping" then all parts are arranged and placed for you. You don't have full control of the painting of textures etc however.

For Fur to work the uv:s has to be within the -1,-1 - 1,1 in the uv-map.

So simplest way to get fur:

1. Choose model
2. Create Automatic UV-map
3. Assign Fur

To look at the UV:s open the UV-editor.

Good luck.

Thanks, I already started experimenting with automatic UV mapping and editing... It looks horreblly messy but I think I can fix it :) . Should have results soon.

Help with fur please
 

* How can I make the fur thicker? I couldn't find an attribute which does it...
* How can I attach the fur to only selected faces? I read something about 'painting fur' but I didn't manage to do that...
* What do I need to do to make the fur visible on render?
Thanks in advance
Benny

Practicing VU Editing
 

Progress with UVs:
Body:
http://img239.imageshack.us/img239/486/temp1me4.th.jpg
Arms and legs: * this part should be hairy
http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/9770/temp2je6.th.jpg
The spikes:
http://img529.imageshack.us/img529/1338/temp3pv6.th.jpg
The claws: * this one is the most problematic, and is still in progress...
http://img528.imageshack.us/img528/8489/temp4cq7.th.jpg

BTW, I still need help with the fur (previous post).
Also, any comment/criticism for UV editing is welcome.

Done editing UVs
 

http://img521.imageshack.us/img521/9449/tempcz1.th.jpg
Took me a whole morning but I'm happy with it ;) .
I think I'm going to experiment with texturing now... I don't really know how to get the fur working (2 posts ago... :( ) .

Hi there Benny

The fur should be visible on the render by default.

The fur, if you want more of it then up the density, if its the actual thickness of the fur then up the base and tip width of the fur attributes.

To paint it on selceted areas, assign the fur then go to fur->paint fur attributes tool option box then select baldness, changet the value in the attribute editor of the tool to 0 and it will delete the fur when you paint it.

Thanks
 

I found out I had a problem with my render settings...
Well, here's my alien's fur:
http://img502.imageshack.us/img502/2281/temppk4.th.png

I have a question about applying a texture - What material do I need to assign, and what file format and size should I use for the texture?

coming along nicely BennyK. what kind of look are you going for with the fur? - at the moment it's looking a bit bare. have you seen the fur presets on the shelf?

the texture size all depends on the amount of detail that you want. i usually use targa, but i'm fairly new to texturing so others might suggest a better file type. as for the shader, it depends on what you want his skin to look like - i might use a blinn to get started.

keep at it!

:beer:

Aliens probably don't have lungs anyway lol.

You see an alien ? or you have some alien friends : ))))))))))
How could you know if they have lungs or not ...

(joking man) :beer: :beer: :beer:


good job nice so far ... :)

Help with painting fur
 

I just tried that now, and it works fine, but I can't find a way to accurately remove the fur from selected areas only.
selecting the vertices and using 'Flood' (like with sculpt geometry tool) doesn't work - It effects everything and not just the selected vertices :( .
Doing the same with UVs selected repeatedly makes Maya crash :( :( :( (and it takes 2 minutes for it to load again :( ).

Any advise?
Benny

Moved on
 

I decided to put it aside since it was just a test project anyway, and I doubt I'll return to it sometime... If I won't be interested in the next competition I'll start another project, very big and ambitious one, - Model of my apartment ( + furniture).

Any help with my previous post is still appreciated...
Benny

Benny things like fur and paint effects when used extensively have to be tackled very delicately if you don't want Maya to crash.
Even the best systems struggle with it unless you optimize the scene efficiently and more than likely render in layers to make the pc work less.

Welcome to Maya ...hehe

BTW ,i would start with something less ambitious than your room like just one of the objects in it and get it modelled and textured as best you can so you can really get to grips with the tools in Maya before tackling something complicated.
The challenge is a great way to learn and push yourself and most people always come away from it having learned something new and being better for it.

with my computer I guess I should really get use to 'optimizing the scene efficiently' hehe...

BTW, I was going to start with some simple objects and go on to the more difficult ones... Thanks for the advise.
Benny