Jump to content
The Dark Mod Forums

Blender: Combining Multiple UV Channels


R Soul

Recommended Posts

I've noticed that some .lwo models I import into Blender have their texture mapping split into multiple UV channels. It makes editing hard and re-exporting impossible because only one UV channel will be considered. Here's a simple way to combine all the UV channels:

Here's an example of a door, where some faces have visible UV mapping and others appear to be solid colour only:
post-2153-0-63621800-1515449308_thumb.jpg

When looking in the Object Data you can see it has 3 UV channels:
post-2153-0-27853200-1515449450.jpg

Selecting the other two channels shows that the plain faces do in fact have mapping:
post-2153-0-87774200-1515449858_thumb.jpg post-2153-0-06329700-1515449871_thumb.jpg

To combine the three of them so you can see and export all of the UV mapping, you have to split the object by the UV channel, delete the unused channels from each object and then give each object's UV channel the same name, before combining the object again.

You can leave the first channel alone.

Select the second channel, go into Edit mode and also open the UV mapping panel. Click on the button shown here to ensure it's active:
post-2153-0-63031300-1515450645_thumb.jpg

In the UV panel, select everything (A to toggle). In the lower left corner (or perhaps somewhere else) you'll see what looks like a single vertex:
post-2153-0-06137600-1515451017.jpg

This is actually all of the vertices belonging to the other UV channels. Use the box ( B ) or circle ( C ) select tools to deselect them (Middle mouse click/drag).

That will limit the selection solely to the faces that are mapped in the current UV channel:
post-2153-0-09851400-1515451243_thumb.jpg

In the 3D panel, you can now split the selected faces (P) to make a new mesh:
post-2153-0-09727000-1515451480_thumb.jpg

If there are more UV channels, select the original mesh, select the next UV channel in the list, and repeat the above process.

Continued in the next post due to attachment limit being reached...

Edited by R Soul
Link to comment
Share on other sites

You will now have one mesh for each mapped UV channel. For each mesh:

 

Delete all of the unmapped UV channels so you are left with just one per mesh.

 

Give each object's remaining UV map the same name. It doesn't matter what it is (I prefer to keep it simple):

post-2153-0-77481700-1515452357_thumb.jpg post-2153-0-07325800-1515452363_thumb.jpg post-2153-0-89480600-1515452367_thumb.jpg

 

Now the meshes can be recombined. Select them all and press Ctrl J:

post-2153-0-64821400-1515452517_thumb.jpg

 

All UV mapping is now visible. :D

  • Like 2
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

  • Recent Status Updates

    • The Black Arrow

      Hope everyone has the blessing of undying motivation for "The Dark Mod 15th Anniversary Contest". Can't wait to see the many magnificent missions you all may have planned. Good luck, with an Ace!
      · 0 replies
    • Ansome

      Finally got my PC back from the shop after my SSD got corrupted a week ago and damaged my motherboard. Scary stuff, but thank goodness it happened right after two months of FM development instead of wiping all my work before I could release it. New SSD, repaired Motherboard and BIOS, and we're ready to start working on my second FM with some added version control in the cloud just to be safe!
      · 2 replies
    • Petike the Taffer  »  DeTeEff

      I've updated the articles for your FMs and your author category at the wiki. Your newer nickname (DeTeEff) now comes first, and the one in parentheses is your older nickname (Fieldmedic). Just to avoid confusing people who played your FMs years ago and remember your older nickname. I've added a wiki article for your latest FM, Who Watches the Watcher?, as part of my current updating efforts. Unless I overlooked something, you have five different FMs so far.
      · 0 replies
    • Petike the Taffer

      I've finally managed to log in to The Dark Mod Wiki. I'm back in the saddle and before the holidays start in full, I'll be adding a few new FM articles and doing other updates. Written in Stone is already done.
      · 4 replies
    • nbohr1more

      TDM 15th Anniversary Contest is now active! Please declare your participation: https://forums.thedarkmod.com/index.php?/topic/22413-the-dark-mod-15th-anniversary-contest-entry-thread/
       
      · 0 replies
×
×
  • Create New...