UV for the Environment
UVs are coordinates that helps to wrap a 2D texture onto a 3D mode. Before unwrapping, I like to consider how the model will be used and viewed. So I can play on where to cut the seam and how much texture space each part of the model should occupy.
Maya is the best software I used so far for UV unwrapping. The tools in Maya are very easy to use. I can move, scale and rotate UV shells very easily. The sewing and cutting tool are very useful for to adjust how the texture unwrap as well. Tools like “Unfold” and “Straighten UV” are very useful for spread the UV for the shape I want as well. Optimize tool can help me make efficient use of the texture space. I scale up UVs for areas that need more detail and scale down less important areas. For the UV that require more detail, I scale it up as much as possible to maximize texture resolution. Normally, there shouldn’t be any overlapping and flipped UVs. But for the technique I’m going to use later, it is necessary to have a few overlapping ones.
UV mapping can be a meticulous process, but it is necessary for high-quality texturing. I have to take my time to refine and check my UV, as this will greatly influence the final appearance of the textured model.
