UberPages :: Tutorials :: 3D Studio Max :: Basic Texture Mapping pt. 3
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So you've made it this far: Congratulations and good work! :)
A final technique you should learn how to use is the UVW Modifier. Now you might be wondering where it is, because you haven't seen it in the Material Editor yet, but that's because it's not in there!
The UVW Modifier is a modifier added to an object with a material added to it: This is why I am showing you this last. Continue with the model you have already...
There are a couple of ways of adding the UVW Modifier to an object:
1. Clicking: Modifiers -> UV Coordinates -> UVW Map
2. You can also select UVW Map from the modifiers drop down list in the object pane
Instantly you will see something happen: The texture on the object will shift around, and you will see an orange box or plane going through your sphere.
That orange object is your "UVW Map Gizmo" and you can move it around by selecting the Gizmo from your object pane (also known as the "stack").
Also right below your stack you should notice that you have a whole long list of mapping Parameters, with Planar selected by default. Did you notice the connection between the orange plane being... a plane, and that default option being clicked to planar? :)
Try clicking different selections from the list and watch what happens to the orange...
Go ahead and click Gizmo from the stack and make sure you have your "Select and Move" arrows selected. You will see that the orange is actually your Gizmo!
Every option from the list has a different function, but as you can see, the orange plane (or whatever you have chosen) turns your Gizmo into a different shape.
Since you made a sphere to begin with, 3D Max gave you the default mapping for a sphere, which happens to be "Spherical" from the list. If you wanted to for any other reason change the mapping of it, or if you had an odd shaped model, like a face, changing the UVW Map would be an excellent way to get your hands in there!
