Any 3DCoat users out there?...need a little advice.

Fungible User

I started a thread (https://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/408696/complete-guide-to-texturing-clothing-question#latest) to get some advice on a 3D mapping software that might be able to replace the capability for UV Mapper Pro (no longer available for newer mac os x versions). 'I've had a look at 3D Coat and downloaded the free demo, but it seems, like with any 3D software, there is a steep learning curve. So basically I just have two questions about this software. Will it allow me to to export the uv templates from a clothing .obj so that I can texture it in Photoshop, and will it allow me to update the newly textured templates back into 3DCoat in order to visualise the results of the texturing on the 3d model. My apologies if the question perhaps is too vague and noobish sounding, but I am still a bit in 'darkest Peru' whilst trying to learn all of this.

Richard Haseltine

I'm not sure what you mean by updating the templates in PS.

lilweep

Isnt the point of 3DCoat to allow you to do the texturing in 3DCoat (Not photoshop)?

Fungible User

Richard Haseltine said:

I'm not sure what you mean by updating the templates in PS.

Yeah I assumed I wasn't making myself quite clear. I've actually reached out to Esha to ask, but just to clear up confusion...basically, in her course, Esha was using UV Mapper Pro to make UV templates of a 3D garment and would then save them as a .bmp to use as a guide for texturing her clothes in Photoshop. She would paint or add textures she had created onto the file and then created a PS script to update the templates in UVMapper Pro. By 'updating' I was referring to the original UV template in UV Mapper Pro being replaced with the version that had been painted/textured on in PS. So, in the below example you can see she has textured a two-tone dress and in order to make sure that line between the colours is 'lined up' correctly across both UV's she switches between Photoshop and UV Mapper Pro to check that all is precise when it appears on the 3D garment. Since UV Mapper Pro is no longer functional on a mac I have been looking for software than can achieve this. I looked at 3DCoat, and out of all the software I have viewed this looked like it may be possible. I know there are much better software applications for texturing, and I own Substance Painter etc., but I was trying to start my learning curve by getting a grasp of a bit of the 'old school' methods that I am more familiar and comfortable with. Anyway, thanks for responding, I suppose I will wait and see if Esha answers.

 

Richard Haseltine

Well, you can check the alignment and so on in DS itself. 3D Coat is certainly a capable texturing tool - and unlike ZBrush or, until recently at least, Substance Painter it doesn't involve jujmping through hoops to handle items with multiple UV islands/UDIMs - but fro simple patterns a 2D editor may be better than any 3D projection tool (especially if the UVs are nice and flat).

Saxa -- SD

empty said:

 'I've had a look at 3D Coat and downloaded the free demo, but it seems, like with any 3D software, there is a steep learning curve. So basically I just have two questions about this software. Will it allow me to to export the uv templates from a clothing .obj so that I can texture it in Photoshop, and will it allow me to update the newly textured templates back into 3DCoat in order to visualise the results of the texturing on the 3d model.

3DCoat works very well with Photoshop.
You can 3d project a view into photoshop and paint there, and it bridges back into 3DC and updates the texture.
Or just usual send to photoshop as full uv and paint there and return to 3DCoat.
Texture & UV management and migration is really easy and powerful.

Downside is 3DCoat is a bit different with the rooms concept for handling workflow of sculpt, mesh, uv, and painting.
So learning curve on 3DCoat is probably at the highest end, and requires watching ALOT of tuts.
And several of the tuts are older, so some of the workflows are outdated.

As to why a person would use photoshop, and not do all in 3DCoat.  Answer is if you have a ton of brushes and you like fine detail, personally photoshop works just so much better.  Use 3DCoat for bigger painting, area delineation, and use photoshop for the quality fine work.

Fungible User

Saxa -- SD said:

empty said:

 'I've had a look at 3D Coat and downloaded the free demo, but it seems, like with any 3D software, there is a steep learning curve. So basically I just have two questions about this software. Will it allow me to to export the uv templates from a clothing .obj so that I can texture it in Photoshop, and will it allow me to update the newly textured templates back into 3DCoat in order to visualise the results of the texturing on the 3d model.

3DCoat works very well with Photoshop.
You can 3d project a view into photoshop and paint there, and it bridges back into 3DC and updates the texture.
Or just usual send to photoshop as full uv and paint there and return to 3DCoat.
Texture & UV management and migration is really easy and powerful.

Downside is 3DCoat is a bit different with the rooms concept for handling workflow of sculpt, mesh, uv, and painting.
So learning curve on 3DCoat is probably at the highest end, and requires watching ALOT of tuts.
And several of the tuts are older, so some of the workflows are outdated.

As to why a person would use photoshop, and not do all in 3DCoat.  Answer is if you have a ton of brushes and you like fine detail, personally photoshop works just so much better.  Use 3DCoat for bigger painting, area delineation, and use photoshop for the quality fine work.

Thanks very much Richard and Saxa. I really appreciate your responses. It's so frustrating when you are still just on the brink of understanding all of this that you can't put the right words to the questions you want to ask..but I think I got it across.