Just lay the UV out like a paper map – keep the seams in places where the light already bends, so the viewer never notices them. Use a centered, radial unwrap on the most curved parts and duplicate the map for the opposite side, then tweak the seam line so it follows the curvature exactly. That keeps the gradient smooth and the surface feels whole. And always preview in a 3‑point light setup to catch any subtle misalignments before you bake.