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3D Paint Mode


With 3D paint you can create texture maps directly on an object in one of two ways. You can paint images on a normal, flat canvas onto which the geometry of an object has been unfolded. The edges of the polygons are visible on the canvas, which helps you to orient yourself and your work with respect to the object. In 3D mode, you can use paint tools to draw directly onto an object in the Geometry window.


In this Chapter

In this chapter, we'll cover:


Using 3D Paint

3D Paint works in conjunction with N-Geometry. Menu options which control 3D paint modes are only visible when N-Geometry is running concurrently with N-Paint.

Figure 9.1 The 3D Paint modes menu

Using 3D Paint

To use 3D Paint, you must:

Map Mode

Figure 9.2 3D Paint, Map Mode menu

When map mode is selected, the currently selected object in the N-Geometry window is "unfolded" onto the paint canvas. The geometry of the 3D object is projected onto the 2D canvas, with polygon edges represented by blue lines. You can use these lines to orient yourself with respect to the object in the Geometry window.

Figure 9.3 A sphere "unfolded" onto the Paint canvas

Once this unfolding process is completed, any paint which you apply to the canvas is automatically applied to the maps on the object. These changes are immediately visible in the Geometry window.

Figure 9.4 Canvas changes are updated on objects immediately

Part Select

You can paint on selected faces or face parts of an objects as well. N-Paint creates a matte using the selected parts.

Note: This operation only creates the matte. To use or display the matte, you must toggle the appropriate controls in the Matte Modes menu. For more information about using mattes, see "Matte Commands," on page 3-4.
The Part Select pop-up menu appears, listing all defined face parts for the Geometry object:

Figure 9.5 The Select Face Part pop-up menu

(CLICK-L) on the part(s) you want to use.

3D Mode

3D mode allows you to paint directly onto an object. To select 3D Paint mode, (CLICK-L) on the 3D button in the Modes section of the Tools menu.

Figure 9.6 The 3D Paint, 3D mode menu

The 3D Paint Canvas

When you enter 3D mode, the Paint Canvas is replaced by the 3D Paint Canvas. The 3D Paint canvas reflects the current Geometry view. So, if you want to paint on a portion of your model that is hidden in the current view, just go to N-Geometry and move the camera until the parts you want to paint are visible.

Geometry

This button controls the current view mode for the Geometry window.

Update Maps

Use this control to save changes you've made to texture maps.



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