uvw unwrapping

UVW unwrapping is my most weakest point and is fundamental to good normal map creation. When it came to unwrapping my models I applied a simple unwrap in the UVW editor called Box Mapping (I did this on all of my experimentation and tests with Optimizer and Pro-Optimizer throughout the project) and in doing so I think that this is the main reason for why my models normal maps do not look as good as they potentially could.

As Xnormals creates the normal maps and Unwraps the UV's for you I was most keen to use this method of generating my normal maps as I knew that this side of the modelling process is my weakest point. (i will talk more about Xnormals in future posts)

This has been a great learning curve and I know now what to and not to do in the future when normal mapping and to plan a lot of time during production for the unwrapping of the UV's. Below is my simple UVW template that I used once I had fully completed my low poly model to a standard I was happy with.

UVW Template

If I was to do this again I again would have spent more time on the unwrapping and researched more into how to create a better UVW Unwrap. I also would have spaced the map out better as suggested to me by my module tutor, which I was doing with earlier unwraps when trying out different techniques but at this point I had completely forgot to do so and ironically this was the best resulting UVW Unwrap of them all so I left it as it was so I didn't spoil the end result.

Again if time was no object I would have spent more time on this and researched into more detail about how to generate better UVW templates and will be giving myself more time for Unwrapping on projects in the future.

Final Low Poly Model