hmmm having a 2nd think about it. I think you might want to go with the default uv map your uv-unwrap will give you.

It'll create a very clean and easy to draw on template in this case. (see attached image)

Just render a UV template, open the resulting image in photoshop, and draw ur lightning texture on it. I would draw the texture in another layeras the lightning texture though, beause you will want to be able to remove the uv wire template from your final lightning texture

Then bring the uv-mapped helix model into your render application of choise. apply the texture u drew, and voilá! I think in bryce u have to set the texture mapping to "parametric" to use the uvmapping of ur helix mesh...

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