3dtotal Training DVD Series v2 (the ship)

[WhiteLineRacer]

Hi, i'm loosing it

The training DVD seems fine up until Mapping (now a dirty word in my house).

After grabbing a selection of polys using "Edit Mesh" i'm shown how to apply a "UVW Mapping" modifier, view align / bitmap fit / scale the checker then move the gizmo off to the side. Cool. Unwrap UVW, move the shape out of the square template in the Edit UVW's window.

We then grab a load more polys and repeat ish. The tutor stops the process selects the whole model (not in poly mode) and unwraps it. Is this neccesary? This is where I got confused. At no point does the dvd go from one unwrap process through selecting polys and UVW mapping again without him selecting the entire model and unwrapping it. The one time this sequence is repeated to show what happens between unwrapping and reselecting a new set of polys the ship is unwrapped mid sequence.

As a result after already unwrapping a selection of polys and using the Edit UVW's I hit edit mesh / select polys again / UVW Map them / hit Unwrap and oh, why is the previous selection of polys gone? I only have the selection I just unwrapped shown in the Edit UVW's window. Also none of the Unwrap UVW modifiers have a plus symbol before then in the modifier stack and I notice they are there in the DVD's modifier stack.

God it's hard trying to explain this stuff in a message. What am I doing wrong guys ???? please end my pain before I give up and become an accountant

Regards

WLR

[Rich-3DT]

Hello WLR,
Ok well I understand your problem here. The procedure of selecting poly groups, UVW mapping them and then Unwrapping the selection is the process through which the entire model is completed. The reason the entire process is not recorded is that it is simply a repetition of the initial technique outlined.
The only real problem will concern the order in which polys are mapped and the arrangemant within the final template but this is highly subjective and hence is not outlined- basically there is no wrong or right way.
The reason you cannot see previously mapped geometry is that Unwrap UVW only displays those polygons selected within sub-object mode. They still exist and have not been deleted but are invisible.
If you select the entire model without being in sub-object mode then all the UV's will appear. That is why it is good to move all mapped geometry out of the template boundary so that it does not get confused with areas not already mapped / unwrapped which by default will appear within the bitmap.
Follow ?
The idea is that you map some polys and move them out of the way. You can then hide these on the model "Hide Selected" so you do not accidentally re-map them. Having done so now move thses out of the template boundary as you have done, say to the left for example. Now repeat this but now move the polys elsewhere so they do not overlap. keep doing this and now and then check the progress by selecting the whole model (not in sub-object mode) and you will see all mapped polys so far.
Any other questions then please let me know.
Hope this sorts out your problem.

[WhiteLineRacer]

Thanks so much, so what I'm doing is correct I just can't see the previous Unwrapped polys in the Edit UVW window unless I select the whole model.

Selecting the whole model and unwrapping will give me all the polys that I've unwrapped "outside" the template and all ones still unwrapped will be someplace within the template. Those outside the template can then be knitted together here.

I think I've got it, off to try again.

I never thought mapping would involve breaking apart and rebuilding the model
by flat poly groups in the edit uvw window. This is well tricky to learn with no one to turn to and say "wtf am I meant to do with these edges ".

Cheers

WLR

[WhiteLineRacer]

I think it's working m8