I hate UV mapping. It is the bane of my cg modeling existence. I'm hoping someone can explain why this simple plate is not being mapped by Blender. As far as i know I've not done anything I've haven't done before, and while i may not always get a decent looking map before, I've always gotten one. Except for now.

Maybe I am wearing my dunce cap and not seeing what you are asking if you are saying why isn't the checkered texture showing up on 3D view port might because you are not in textured mode? Could be I am mistaken but that is the only thing I can spot from the screen shot

Yep, the UVs look good.

Actually, I think I've figured out what's wrong. I was in the wrong render engine mode. Should have been UV mapping under the Blender Engine mode, not Cycles.

As long as you have figured it out all is well then good luck on your project

I've never understood the concept of UV mapping

I will say that since coming to Blender UV Mapping has become somewhat easier for me to understand and learn always had trouble in Hexagon and Silo when first learning to UV Map not saying that I am expert by any means but the concepts and actually doing seem easier to me in Blender just my opinion

I really like UV mappng in Blender. I don't think I ever produced a nice UV map years ago when I was using UV Mapper Classic.

Since last year I've learned to UV map in Silo, but I still prefer the output I get with Blender, especially when I export the layout in EPS format. It comes out much nicer than PNG.

That's is an interesting tip about exporting the layout in EPS format Miss B can you give a little more detail as to what potential benefits you have found by doing that? I am just curious

Thanks in advance

Hey Lobo, long time no chat.

As far as exporting in EPS format, I have always found the PNG export comes out so light in color, I have to try and darken the lines of the map, which sometimes is frustrating and annoying to have to take the extra steps.

Once I tried exporting in EPS format, which Photoshop reads, I have found the quality of the maps are much nicer. I'm attaching here a part of a UV map I exported, first as PNG, and secondly as EPS. I wrote a helpful hint on the EPS format, as the EPS format imports into PS at a larger size than expected. It's basically just a matter of a nicer visual UV map.

Hi Miss B

Yes it has been a while since we have chatted since I have spent most of my time here at Renderosity especially while I was the Mod here but I do agree I like that EPS export and will keep it in mind the next time I I export a UV map. I would always have to darken the PNG maps from Blender all the time so I do understand what you mean about the PNG's always needing to be darkened

Yes, and it's strange that it defaults to only 25% Fill. The first couple of times I exported a UV map, I couldn't believe I could hardly see it. Then I looked at the options and saw it was only 25%, so now I'm very careful to up it to 100% right away.

The other thing that annoys me is, it defaults to PNG, and even though I choose to export in EPS format, the name has 2 extensions. IOW, it'll say UVMap.png.eps, so I have to go and delete out the .png before saving. You would think it would "change" the extension, instead of "adding" to it. ~shakes head~

I think the issue is that eps is not a file format recognized by Blender by default. That is why most eps files need to need to be converted to SVG which is a Inkscape format that Blender does recognized as far as for importing. I don't know if this link will provide any useful info https://www.blender.org/manual/data_system/files/media/image_formats.html

Sorry for the late reply. I didn't get another email that someone had posted to the thread.

I understand that EPS isn't a default export mode for the UV maps, but if Blender is offering it, then the .png, should automatically change to .eps if you choose to export in that format. That just seems strange to me.

I have Inkscape, but haven't really played with it, so I don't think I've tried exporting to SVG, and now I wonder if it will add the .svg to .png like it does when you choose to export in EPS format. Hmmmmmm . . . ~scratches head~

As far as the image formats listed on that page you linked to, I would assume that's for materials used to texture models. I don't think Blender needs to support EPS to "export" a UV map in that format. Then again, why does it export in that format if it doesn't support it? Texturing and exporting a UV map are two different processes. Oh well. I guess I'll put up with it until enough folks complain about it, and then the developers fix it . . . if ever. ~shrugs~

No - it just appends the extension for .svg as well, it doesn't remove the .png. I just tried it now.

Yes I tried it several times and as MDO2010 said it keeps appends it with the .png maybe that would be some thing to bring up to the developers because it is a bit annoying

MDO2010 posted at 12:07AM Wed, 05 October 2016 - #4285395

No - it just appends the extension for .svg as well, it doesn't remove the .png. I just tried it now.

Hey Mark, I didn't know you used Blender. Fancy seeing you here.

Anyway, thanks for testing the .SVG, since I haven't used Illustrator in years, and I've only just recently downloaded Inkscape, I haven't tried exporting a UV map in .SVG format.

I think you're right Lobo. If enough people complain (or suggest) to the Blender developers that it should be changed, maybe it would get changed. I've never seen another piece of software that's compatible with more than one format, actually behave that way. They all change the extension according to the format you choose, and yes, it's annoying.

It seems the only place you can change the out put format is during rendering and that is the only time it will not append the additional .png at the end of the file name

Miss B posted at 7:17PM Wed, 05 October 2016 - #4285668

Hey Mark, I didn't know you used Blender. Fancy seeing you here.

Anyway, thanks for testing the .SVG, since I haven't used Illustrator in years, and I've only just recently downloaded Inkscape, I haven't tried exporting a UV map in .SVG format.

I think you're right Lobo. If enough people complain (or suggest) to the Blender developers that it should be changed, maybe it would get changed. I've never seen another piece of software that's compatible with more than one format, actually behave that way. They all change the extension according to the format you choose, and yes, it's annoying.

Hi Miss B! Yes - I started playing around with Blender near the beginning of this year and now flip back and forth between Blender and Carrara about 50/50.

MDO2010 posted at 1:31PM Thu, 06 October 2016 - #4285776

Miss B posted at 7:17PM Wed, 05 October 2016 - #4285668

Hey Mark, I didn't know you used Blender. Fancy seeing you here.

Hi Miss B! Yes - I started playing around with Blender near the beginning of this year and now flip back and forth between Blender and Carrara about 50/50.

Well then, welcome to the Blender community.