Trying to create a gift-wrapped box (first modeling project) - help, please?

[AlienBZ]

I'm still using the 3DS max modeling for games book, chapter 2 where they have you create a cardboard box and something else (I forgot what it was, can't think of it offhand) in the second project of this chapter. And I feel that if I use my own textures (Star Wars Yoda images) in place of the chapter's cardboard shipping box's textures, I'll be really learning the material from the book b/c I'm applying it to my own unique situation, so could you guys please bear with me?

Ok, so far, I've created a box in 3DS max, I've imported the Star Wars Yoda images (2 of them) into the 3DS max', I believe that might be the unwrap unwrap UVW interface IIRC, but I really think it was just the textures interface where these rows of balls are shown in the top part of that interface (this is where I'm stuck, I cannot advance thru the tut any farther), and I've tried in vain to place this Yoda image onto the 6 faces of this box that I've made. I'm following the instructions from chapter 2 in the book, which says to "select the material ID (from the material editor) and load the texture onto the 6 faces of the box" - how exactly do I do this?

Btw, that book from Philadelphia finally came the other day, its the "3DS max 6 animation and visual effects techniques" book from Barnes & Noble's website's used book store, and I resorted to trying to use the tut that's on pg. 455 "using unwrap uvw to make a map for a head" steps from the book from Philadelphia since I was stumped on how to apply the Yoda texture to my box faces using the tut from the 3DS max game modeling book, so in this max 6 animation book from Philly I tried following these steps from the tut on pg. 455 where it says "load the UV map file (whatever that is? ) > select the head in front view, click hide unselected (which I did) > open the modify tab panel (Where is this panel in my 3DS max, and how exactly do I get to it - searched everywhere for this in vain) and apply an unwrap uvw modifier to the head (which in my case, this is that box/gift-wrapped box I've made so far)"?

The parts from both books where I've tried applying the texture to my box model so far I've highlighted them in bold and underlined them so they'd be easy for you guys to spot.


Thanks in advance.

[Cad64]

I've moved your question to the 3Ds max section. This is the 2nd time I've had to do this for you. You really need to post your questions in the correct area of the forum. The Autocad guys don't know anything about Studio Max, so they're not going to be able to answer your questions. And I won't see your question if you don't post it in the Max section. I just happened to stumble on to it by accident, otherwise I wouldn't have known that you posted it.

[Cad64]

open the modify tab panel (Where is this panel in my 3DS max, and how exactly do I get to it - searched everywhere for this in vain) and apply an unwrap uvw modifier to the head

See below. This is the Modify panel

Scroll through the "Modifier List" to find the "unwrap uvw modifier".

[spittle]

Modifier tab is On the right by default. First one is create, next is modify and here you have the drop down menu to select a modifier.

If you're just mapping a box, try UV map modifier instead of the UVW unwrap.

Stick your bitmap image into diffuse of your Shader ( hit m to create new one), apply it to your box. Hit render, if you don't see your image mapped correctly then there's an option in box primitive, UV map modifier and material editor which says 'real world map size', pretty obvious what this does.

[Cad64]

Ok, so far, I've created a box in 3DS max, I've imported the Star Wars Yoda images (2 of them) into the 3DS max', I believe that might be the unwrap unwrap UVW interface IIRC, but I really think it was just the textures interface where these rows of balls are shown in the top part of that interface (this is where I'm stuck, I cannot advance thru the tut any farther), and I've tried in vain to place this Yoda image onto the 6 faces of this box that I've made. I'm following the instructions from chapter 2 in the book, which says to "select the material ID (from the material editor) and load the texture onto the 6 faces of the box" - how exactly do I do this?

You load textures through the Material Editor, not the Unwrap UVW interface. Once you have a texture loaded into a material slot, select your cardboard box and then hit the little "Assign Material to Selection" button. This will apply the material to your object. In order to see your material on the object in the viewport, hit the little "Show Standard Map in Viewport" button.

[Cad64]

This should have gone before my previous post.

Click the little button next to "Diffuse" to open the Material/Map Browser. Click "Bitmap" to load your texture.

[Cad64]

I feel that if I use my own textures (Star Wars Yoda images) in place of the chapter's cardboard shipping box's textures, I'll be really learning the material from the book b/c I'm applying it to my own unique situation

I would really recommend that you follow the tutorials in the book, word for word, before trying to freelance and do things your own way. It's very important that you learn the correct way to do things before venturing off on your own. And as you can see, trying to use your own textures has gotten you off track already.

I resorted to trying to use the tut that's on pg. 455 "using unwrap uvw to make a map for a head" steps from the book from Philadelphia since I was stumped on how to apply the Yoda texture to my box faces using the tut from the 3DS max game modeling book

Start at the beginning and work your way through each chapter. Don't skip ahead to advanced topics. You need to learn the basics first.

[AlienBZ]

Ok, will do. But what I don't understand is, I thought I was already posting in the 3DS max beginner's forum as I've never used 3DS max before so doesn't this make me a beginner, only started using it last week, so what's the difference, is there an AutoCAD beginner's forum and a 3DS max forum or what?

Since I'm new to this forum I don't really know my way around here.

EDIT - Oh, I see - by scrolling farther down the page I discovered that you're right, Cad64, I was posting in the AutoCAD beginner's forum and I've also found that yes, there is both an autoCAD beginner's forum and a 3DS max beginner's forum. So sorry I haven't discovered this before.

Also, I hope these 3DS max 6 books that I've ordered are still valid as per your recommendation that that I start at the beginning and work my way thru each chapter in each of these books, Cad64?

[Dadgad]

Ok, will do. But what I don't understand is, I thought I was already posting in the 3DS max beginner's forum as I've never used 3DS max before so doesn't this make me a beginner, only started using it last week, so what's the difference, is there an AutoCAD beginner's forum and a 3DS max forum or what?

Since I'm new to this forum I don't really know my way around here.

EDIT - Oh, I see - by scrolling farther down the page I discovered that you're right, Cad64, I was posting in the AutoCAD beginner's forum and I've also found that yes, there is both an autoCAD beginner's forum and a 3DS max beginner's forum. So sorry I haven't discovered this before.

Also, I hope these 3DS max 6 books that I've ordered are still valid as per your recommendation that that I start at the beginning and work my way thru each chapter in each of these books, Cad64?

Stand before you walk.
Walk before you run.
Glide before you soar.
In whatever field or endeavor, take it one step at a time.
Curiosity drives us, but there is no substitute for knowledge.

[AlienBZ]

found that the book from philly has a cd included in it that contains reference image and movie files for chapters 3 - 17 and chapter 16 contains an archive directory with 3 image sequences of over 1 thousand frames that are for use in the combustion 3 visual effects tut - does my 3ds max have combustion and reactor included in it?

Won't all these images/movies/image sequences (from the Philly book's CD) load into my 2011 version of 3ds max?