PaintingAcrossSeams

Painting Across Seams

When a 2D texture is applied to a 3D model, the TextureCoordinates often need to be split into multiple UV islands or chunks, to minimize distortion. These splits cause seams in the texture, which need to be removed by an artist.

Here are some common workflows for solving texture seams. It is often easier if the seams can be painted non-destructively, on a separate layer with transparency.

2D Paint

1. Paint & save in your 2D painting app (Photoshop, GiMP, etc.)
2. Reload the texture in your 3D app (3ds Max, Maya, etc.) to examine
3. Repeat until seams are solved

Integrated 3D Paint

Use a 3D paint tool or plugin inside your main 3D software to paint directly across the seams.

3ds Max Painting Tools

• Viewport Canvas for Max 2010 and later. Layers are only supported in Max 2011 and later. See the tutorial Creating a Tileable Texture from a Photo by Shawn Olson.
• TexTools is a free set of tools. Camera Map allows projection painting in conjunction with your 2D painting app, via the Windows clipboard. Does not isolate the painted details on a transparent layer.
• PolyBoost was the genesis of Viewport Canvas. It works in older versions of Max, but is not free. Does not isolate the painted details on a transparent layer.
• TexPaint3D is a free painting plugin, but does not isolate the painted details on a transparent layer.

Maya Painting Tools

Maya has various painting methods available. See the Maya 2011 Help.

Dedicated 3D Paint

You can use a dedicated 3D painting program to paint directly across the seams. See the Tools page for a list of 3D Paint software.

Multiple UV Channels

Use your 3D app's texture-baking tool and multiple UV channels:

1. Apply a 2nd UV layout that is setup to be seamless where the original seam was.
2. Bake it out to a new texture.
3. Fix the seam in your 2D painting app.
4. Apply the new map in your 3D app, and bake it back into the original UV layout.
5. 3ds Max Tutorial for this process - by Peter Kojesta

More Information

• = Texturing techniques commonly used in game development.
• = The basics of concept drawing and painting.
• TexturingTutorials = Tutorials for creating game textures.

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