Need someone to explain XSI texturing to me.

XSI verry confusing

from Sins Forums

Hi. Im going to start making planet textures but i cant figure out how to add a texture onto a sphere using XSI so i want a verry clear list of how to do it. I've asked people but they either dont answer me or give me a verry vague answer. So im making a post about it so i can get answers and maybe help others with same questions.

modding
3,574 views 3 replies
Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top

The process is called UV mapping (or UV unwrapping sometimes) and is not that easy to explain, but here are a few outline steps:

1. Select your model.

2. Get->Property->Texture Projection->XY,YZ,XZ (any one of these, doesn't matter)

3. Select polygons on your model which you wish to UV map

4. Open the textureeditor, (Alt+7)

5. Choose a subprojection type  (planar, cylindrical, spherical etc.) which suits your polygon selection best

Repeat steps 3 to 5 until you have mapped your entire model.

There is a LOT more to getting good at UV mapping. I've been doing this for a year and a half in XSI and two years in 3DMax, and I still sometimes make bad calls and mistakes.

For planetary textures, I suggest you use a cylindrical UV subprojection for the central part of your planet and then map the poles with a planar subrojection. That way you avoid texture distortion at the poles which is pretty much unavoidable with a spherical map (even though there are some ways you can pre-distort the texture to fit your spherical mapping better, but I won't go into that and its not that effective either).

Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top

How manny subdivisions do planets have? and what size arround is a planet? 1 2 3 4 5?

how do i put the image on the model?

Im using a map. You know a rectangle? Will it still work?

Star Control: Origins
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top

FYI : I came across a tutorial on YouTube the other that covered XSI texturing, I'm sorry I dont have the link but their search engine is pretty good (thanks to the google buy out).