Hard surface 3d vehicle [SOLVED]

Welcome to the forums Simbiosi .   You might want to check; www.youtube.com/watch?v=UTKGeDceABI&t=2s (I think there are 4 vids for it;  unfold3d.boards.net/thread/95/instruction-videos-beta ), and more tutorials, etc. here; www.youtube.com/channel/UCIeLTW-_QouhXYL1pL45Zug/videos

Just checking, but were you intending to post this here as a showcase piece?  I first created a thread outside of the Showcase thread, a W.I.P. thread (here; unfold3d.boards.net/thread/91/autoseams-pack-zbrush-import-export , feel free to check it out, hope it helps ).  Then, when I was at a fairly complete stage, I posted in the Showcase thread to show the results.  I defer to the Unfold 3D team, but I'm guessing they'd welcome you to do the same if it might help, etc. .   Hope that helps, & all my best!  -josh

Hi Simbiosi,

Thanks for your feedback.

Unfold3D does pretty good job with hard surface models too, providing that you tell it a good cutting line. Your mesh seems to be rather simple to be segmented / unfolded / packed with not so much actions.

Situations where you have to select polygons like you said are rare, usually a good cutting line is enough. To get a good cutting line Unfold3D VS offers you advanced automatic tools and semi-automatic tools for that.


With a mesh like this I would apply the following steps :

0- Download the last version of Unfold3D (current version is 0.10.32)
1- Load your mesh using "File->Load..."
2- Cut your mesh :
a. Open the panel "Autoselect Edges":



b. Set 79 degrees to "Angle Between Normals" and click on "Sharp Edges". This will select some edges.
c. Cut the selected edges using "Cut" by pressing key "C"
d. Launch the auto select algorithm "mosaic" to select more edges by clicking on that icon:

e. Cut the newly selected edges using "Cut" by pressing key "C"

3- Unfold your mesh by pressing key "U". This will unfold and pack all your islands.
4- You can then edit by hand the island that have some problem by cutting them by hand. Once finished, press "P" (pack), Unfold3D will pack all your islands in the unity square.


Coud you please tell me the 3D software that you use, I don't recognize that exporting panel.

Many thanks again.

Your recipe is working really well here an example even if my obj export is not right for Unfold it says Input polygon data has some topology errors I will send you the file if you want:


There are some things I would like to ask maybe they are already implemented.
1_When you weld (W) lets say the edge of two island one is getting crazy end get distort the cure is always U key that flat again in one single island.
Is there a way that the island get attached without loosing is shape(Shell).
2_The align island in orizontal or vertical I found it a little bit tedius, would not be easy if you select the edge and push align tool that it will rotate vertical or orizonatlly mantaining the shell so no distortion?
3_Can we have a Multi-Stitch?
I have used for years polyunwrapper tool that helpe me alot in those situation, here the tool I metion www.polytools3d.com/polyunwrapper/help/05_transform.html.
I not comparing your tool with polyunwrapper, your tool is a way more powerfull and the magick of pressing U and P is fantastic!!!!
Thank you

Hi Simbiosi,

I am glad you find a way to unwrap your model.

Your 3 requests are perfectly meaningful.
- Actually the first one is already in the TODO list.
- The second should be added also because you are not the first person who ask for it, but please, have a look at this post, It may answer to your needs: unfold3d.boards.net/post/344/thread
- For the third, it would be cool if you could explain me more what you need with that.


A tip: Select all the wheels, then press G. Then press P, then deselect, then press P again. You will have the wheels packed together and the others elements will be placed around them.


Thank you again for your feedback !

When you writte "scale", and "smaller island or the average", you talk about their texel density right ?