Interactive Mapping

Summary

Getting started

Realtime
Enabled
Reset
Next Mode
Project
Align Axis
Align Seam

Planar
Planar Split
Box
Cylindrical
Cylindrical Cap
Spherical
Polar

Controls

Description

First, be sure you have Select by facet mode enabled.  This is done by choosing Select | Select Method | by facet from the main menu, or clicking on the Select by facet button on the main toolbar (see below.)  If any other selection mode is active, the interactive mapper will be grayed out and unavailable for use.  Nest, select the portion of your model that you would like to remap interactively.  If no selection is active the entire model will be remapped.  Finally, there are three ways to turn on the interactive mapping mode; select Map | Interactive | Enabled from the main menu; press F2, the hotkey for that menu item; or click on the Interactive Mapping button on the main toolbar (see below.)  This will toggle the interactive mapping mode on.  To exit interactive mapping, simply repeat this selection to toggle it off.

Select by facet button    Interactive Mapping button

Normally you will not need to change this option.  It is offered for older systems that may lack the processing power to fully utilize the interactive mapping mode.  Because interactive mapping is computationally demanding, some older systems or mapping of models with extremely high facet counts may slow interactive mapping to an unacceptable level.  In this case, you can toggle this option off and you will be able to adjust the interactive cage in the 3D view without remapping the model every frame.  When this option is disabled, remapping is achieved by selecting the Project menu option below, or pressing the corresponding hotkey F5.

This option toggles the interactive mapping mode on and off.  When active, there is a check mark next to the menu item, the interactive mapping button on the menu bar is depressed, and the interactive mapping mode cage is visible in the 3D view.  The hotkey for this menu item is F2.

Resets the interactive mapping cage orientation based on the Align Axis and Align Seam options (see below.)  Hotkey F3.

Selects the next interactive mapping mode.  The modes are cycled trhough in the following order;  Planar, Planar Split, Box, Cylindrical, Cylindrical Cap, Spherical and Polar, just as they appear on the menu.  Hotkey F4.

This option is not usually needed unless the Realtime option (see above) has been disabled.  When the Realtime option has been turned off, projection of the interactive cage must be performed manually.  To do this, select this item from the menu, or press the corresponding hotkey F5.

This option determines the major axis of the interactive mapping control cage.  You might want to change this based on the orientation of your model or of the selection you are currently mapping.  The Reset option (see above) uses this setting when resetting the control cage orientation.  Options include X, -X, Y, -Y, Z, -Z.

This option determines the alignment of the seam on the interactive mapping control cage  The Reset option (see above) uses this setting when resetting the control cage orientation.  Options include X, -X, Y, -Y, Z, -Z.

Planar

Selects single sided planar mapping mode for the interactive mapper.  This mode is useful for two dimentional objects that will only be seen from one side, such as decals, walls and floors, etc.  See also Planar Mapping.

Selects two sided planar mapping mode for the interactive mapper.  This option uses the split 'By Orientation' option, dividing facets into two groups based on the direction each facet is facing.  This mode is useful for mostly flat, two sided objects such as a table top or a sign.  See also Planar Mapping.

Selects box mapping mode for the interactive mapper.  This mode is useful for mapping six sided objects such as boxes, cubes and dice.  The facets are divided into six groups based on the direction each facet is facing.  See also Box Mapping.

Selects cylindrical mapping mode for the interactive mapper.  This mode is useful for mapping cylindrical objects such as pipes.  If you need the top and bottom of the object mapped separately, use Cylindrical Cap mode (see below.)  See also Cylindrical Mapping.

Selects cylindrical cap mapping mode for the interactive mapper.  This mode is useful for mapping cylindrical objects that include a top and bottom such as barrels, batteries and soda cans.  See also Cylindrical Mapping.

Selects spherical mapping mode for the interactive mapper.  This mode is useful for mapping spherical objects such as planets, basketballs, etc.  See also Spherical Mapping.

Selects polar mapping mode for the interactive mapper.  This mode is especially useful for mapping a human head without any seams or discontinuities.  See also Polar Mapping.

The interactive mapping cage is controlled directly by left clicking the mouse on one of the translation or rotation controls in the 3D view (see below.)  While holding the left mouse button down, drag the mouse up or down on the screen.  This will move/rotate the control cage on the screen and update the texture map projection in realtime (unless the Realtime option, discussed above, has been disabled.)  Moving the mouse up increases either the mapping offset [translation] or rotation angle [rotation] depending on the selected tool.  Similarly, dragging the mouse down decreases the mapping offset or rotation angle.  Release the mouse when the adjustment, and resulting map, is to your liking.

Color conventions for the interactive mapping cage are as follows; the X-axis is red, the Y-axis is green, and the Z-axis is blue.  Default colors for the control cage: white lines show the projection while yellow lines indicate a seam.  Note: you can change the colors assigned to the control cage with the Preferences dialog box.  See also Preferences.

 X-axis translation tool.    Y-axis translation tool.    Z-axis translation tool.
 X-axis rotation tool.      Y-axis rotation tool.       Z-axis rotation tool.