I've been trying to teach myself how to model props and such for Poser. I decided to make a toy mouse for my Millennium cat, thinking it would be a simple project. (Famous last words...) Anyway, after struggling with it all day, I finally got something that looks vaguely mouse-like. (If anyone's wondering, Anim8or is the only program I managed to figure out, at least on my own.)

But I have no clue how to make a texture for it. I tried generating a template with UV Mapper, but it didn't look anything like other templates I've seen. (Probably something to do my clueless modeling.) And how do people do those material zones, that let you put different colors on different parts of the model? Are those something that have to be done while modeling, or are they added later, like texture maps?

Material groups can be added during modeling, or they can be added afterward with a utility like UVMapper or LithUnwrap.

In UVMapper, select those parts of the model for which you want to create a new material. Then ...

Edit menu --> Assign --> to Material

... and enter a new material name, rather than selecting an existing material.

When you made the template in UVMapper, what type of map did you use? Planar? And on which axis? Oh and it's a VERY nice mouse!!!!

That's a great mouse! I don't know how exports work from Anim8or; if you paint different parts of the model with different colors, does the object retain these colors upon export? If yes, then open the object in UVMapper, and go to Select/Select by/Material (or Group). Select one of the colors. Now only that part of the mesh will be selected and you can assign it to a Material zone like L.D. said. For UV mapping, I'd first select everything (Select/All), might give it a planar mapping to see what is what, then again do a Select by group or material. Now, with one area selected, I'd move it to an empty area of the map and try different mapping methods on it to see which one would make more sense and would be easiest to make textures for. Then do it with the other parts of the mesh, too. When you have all the parts mapped and arranged, save the texture template and the object, then open the texture template and color over it in a paint program. If the colors of the mesh aren't retained when you export from Anim8or, then when you import the mesh into UVMapper, map it in a way that would show you which part is what and select areas (e.g. the eyes, the ears, etc.) manually and do the assigning that way.

Attached Link: http://webpages.charter.net/chawkins2/Tutorials/posertut.htm

Here's a basic "get-ya-started" Tutorial for UVMapper - click on the link to "Module 2 - UVMapper" Also, Spike here on Renderosity had a "Rhino to Poser" character creation tutorial that had a pretty good section on UVMapper in it, too. However, I can't find his tutorial anymore. If anyone knows where it is...

Death stalks the toy rodent...

Thank you all very much for the replies. They have been very useful.

I gave UVMapper another try, and did manage to get reasonable-looking UV maps in planar and cylindrical mode, but they didn't wrap correctly. The colors weren't where they should be, and I have no clue why.

But I have gotten the material zones set. I was very confused, because Anim8or has a materials editor, but none of the files I exported kept the color info. Turns out that was because I was exporting them as OBJs. I guess you have to export in 3DS if you want to keep the color info. The 3DS imported into Poser fine, colors intact.

I will definitely check out that UVMapper tutorial. I doubt I'll ever be a great texturist; I was one of those kids who hating coloring books, and could never stay in the lines. :-) But I want to understand how it works, just as a matter of principle.

Remember to save the obj from UVMapper, or the colours will end up in strange places :o) And of course you need to save the template too. Then load the NEW obj into Poser, I usually name my stuff mouseUV (or something similar) to distingusih them from the non mapped version. Of course you can also choose to overwrite. I usually save as a new version though. I don't know your modeling skills, though looking at that mouse they're not bad at all. What I was thinking was that it just needed a little wind-up key and some small wheels underneath :o) then it would go from "very nice" to PERFECT ;o)

Thank you, Ernyoka. I didn't realize you had to save the OBJ in UVMapper. Duh!

All of my modeling experience was yesterday, unless you count Play-Doh. However, I like the idea of making it into a wind-up mouse, and will try it. No clue how long it will take me, though. (I do have a model to work from, somewhere around here. I bought it for my cats, but they are terrified of it.)

And I just realized who you are! I know you in my runtime folder as TrekkieGrrrl. You've done some fantastic stuff for Poser. I hope I'm half as good as you, some day.

Here's the mouse as a tin wind-up toy. (And a cat reacting the way my cats usually do. ;-)

It was easier than I thought it would be. I made the mouse a little rounder and cuter, since that's what the wind-up mice I've seen look like.

What would be the best way to make the key posable (so you could turn it)? Maybe I should just make it a separate prop. That way, it could be positioned at the best angle for any render, even on the side, as many mechanical mice are designed.

Tomorrow, I'll give texture maps another try....

This is great!!! Please keep up the good work!