thnaks but when I was referring to baking the texture this is something that you do IN 3DSMax top get all submaterials from SU to a single texture also. The main goal is single texture map. Im not fussed at current about lighting etc.

Hi all

Im trying to find a method or script that will allow all used Textures for a selected object to be created as a single texture map without having to pass the object to 3DSMax for baking etc. Can you help?

Hmmm,.. i think Ive found something interesting by accident though.

If you create an object then use this script to triangulate the face then apply a material & then use the sandbox Flip Edge tool....the UV appears to be untouched.

-However-

If you create an object then apply a material then use this script to triangulate the face & then use the sandbox Flip Edge tool....the UV gets messed up.

..so it looks more like a process issue?!?!?!?

@thomthom said:

I do have plans for some UV tools, but I have some other projects lined up first.
I have done some experimenting with making UVs "sticky".

Cheers ThomThom. Ill look at if Whaats UV solution wors for me in the meantime.
http://forums.sketchucation.com/viewtopic.php?f=323&t=23725&hilit=uv+mapper

.Alternatively I can fix the triangles & export to Accutrans & resolve the UV there.

damn...sounds like theres no easy solution.
Could a UV script not be written that uses a similiar situation to align face but align UV ? Please excuse my ignorance if Im talking gibberish.

@gaieus said:

Sorry Woz; that was my suggestion I know...

No worries Gaeius Im grateful for whatever help I can get

I should really introduce myself & what Im trying to achieve.
So Im a hobby artist that fell upon Sketchup back in version 3. Ive found it to be the most user friendly UI for quickly pulling a model together albeit somewhat quirky. Ive tried other apps like 3DSM, Maya, Lightwave etc & those intefaces are just too over complex for simple modelling. PLUS they come with extreme pricetags. SU for me was a happy medium.
The models Im creating are for use with the Unreal 2.5 engine for the development community of this application: http://avayalive.com/WaStore/Overview.aspx
There are a few problems that I need to be able to overcome.

Unreal uses meshes in a triangulated form & uses vertex lighting so I need to be able to see the mesh in a triangulated form prior to exporting & allow me to be able to edit those triangles so that the vertex lighting is shown correctly. At current some bad triangles are shown with hard shadows on flat surfaces due to the nature of the triangulation created. With the ability to edit those triangles I can quickly edit the mesh in SU PRE-EXPORT so the creation doesnt have these issues. Other apps such as 3DSM recommend re-tesselating the mesh to breakdown the triangles into smaller surfaces, however this also is detrimental as it increases the polycount, which is at a premium considering the overall level created.

Gaeius recommended the use of this script along with the sandbox "flip edge" tool to see if it would solve the problem. Whilst the triangulation script works the UV as we now know is messed up with the flip edge tool affecting the polygons UV mapping.

So is there a suitable solution that can meet my needs?
BTW: the .alive project is something I plan to open up to the SU community in the coming weeks as there is a lot of potential for modelling, texturing etc & all with a small learning curve they could soon be developping whole environments Some projects also have funding!!

Yes.
Should I be using an alternative?!

This looks like a very powerful plugin & Im amazed at how fast things are developping. It certainly looks like it will improve the possibilities of more organic modelling.

Will this plugin be FREE or a commercial item upon release?
Do you have an ETA?
Does the created surface act as a normal SU surface allowing you to push pull edit vertices etc?

Ive got one eye keenly focused on this development

@thomthom said:

Got a sample of where it fails?

If you look at the texture in the tringle before & after you will see that it is affected. When I export the model as a mesh the surface is indeed messed up.

I hope the image is enough to work from?!
Thnaks for looking into this. This script could save me a lot of hassle if working correctly

@tig said:

###,
Plugin parts by TIG**. 20090729
v1.1
Rewritten entirely by TIG... THEN completely corrected by Thomthom (TT)!***
It now retains all Texture mapping successfully. 20091203

[attachment=0:kz9i3jbr]<!-- ia0 -->triangulateFaces.rb<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment:kz9i3jbr]

Im using this & seeing the UV mapping failing...is this the latest version?!