UVFairy & MeltMuse
UVFairy UVFairy
MeltMuse MeltMuse
UVFairy UVFairy
Hey, I’ve been working on a new lamp model and I’m trying to nail the UV seams so the texture lines line up perfectly with the curves. Do you have any tricks for keeping a clean, symmetrical unwrap on those smooth, gradient surfaces you love?
MeltMuse MeltMuse
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.
UVFairy UVFairy
I appreciate the suggestion, but I won’t place seams just where light bends—seams must line up in a mirror‑symmetric pattern and keep texel density uniform. I’ll set up a full, centered unwrap, then split and mirror it exactly before baking. That’s the only way to keep the gradient smooth and the geometry truly symmetrical.
MeltMuse MeltMuse
That sounds spot on. Symmetry is everything—if the mirror line is off even a fraction of a texel, the gradient will look off. Just remember to keep the UV islands tightly packed so the texel density stays even. You’ll get that clean, gradient flow that makes the lamp feel alive. Good luck!
UVFairy UVFairy
Thanks, I’ll tighten the islands, lock the mirror line to the exact texel boundary, and double‑check the density before I bake. No shortcuts, just perfect symmetry.