Hi, Does anyone know of a way, short of purchasing 3D Studio, to map image textures to a 3D Studio file. I know it can be done in 3DS but is there a stand alone program like UVmapper, not nescessarily free either, that can do the same thing with Studio files? I ask because 3ds imports, even mapped ones, tend to be exponentially smaller the .obj files. Thanks even if the answer is "Going to have to buy Max."

Attached Link: http://www.unwrap3d.com/

No you can do it. I think maybe look at Unwrap 3d.I think it's $10, Reasonable anyway and way more powerfull than UVmapper. There is also other programs around and if you can't do it direct then do it indirect as in convert paint, convert back. What kinda files you trying to paint? The only one that is a pain is .max files and one other one that's sorta weird but can be done is .3dmf files

Thanks. I'll check this out. I model most of my objects in Rhino. So far they've been mainly organics which are really tough to get the map right on in the first place and then to top it off the file size for .obj vs .3ds is about 10 times greater for .obj

Well that program will work just fine. It will import and export 3ds files. I got it here and it not to shabby. It blows UVmapper away. It all depend how they make the object files. Some programs can make them really tiny. Other programs they explode. The easiest way to texture object file is Z-Brush but the files end up being rather large. It is the best by far way. You can paint on them directly. I also have that program here. Unwrap 3d is the most powerful way to work on such files for it's price. It's cheap and if there is no uv data it will unwrap the polys making it easier to paint the old fashioned way.