Unwrap UVW is a way of getting photo realistic renders of objects in 3ds Max, and other 3d applications.

It was my first time trying the Unwrap UVW modifier yesterday, I chose a very simple shape to unwrap – a box. The box was made using the dimensions of my Sandisk compact flash card. 3ds Max then mapped the faces of my “box” to make a template that looks like lots of rectangles, one for each face of my box. I could then open this template in Photoshop, and anything I put in those rectangle faces, would show up on my final image as a “skin”.

I photographed my compact flash card from all sides. I then, in Photoshop, pasted the photos where they were supposed to go on the template. I imported the template back into max, and 3ds Max applied this “skin” I made for my compact flash card to the box. Since 3ds Max made the template for the skin, it knew how to apply it, so instantly my compact flash card looked like it does in real life. Well, except that the photos are a little grainy because of low light, and I couldn’t be bothered looking for the batteries for my good flash.

Here it is, I hope you can see what I was talking about:

Now it is a 3d model, and can be used in a 3d environment, like Igor could carry it around, or it could be in a Harry Potter film. I always felt the Harry Potter films could have used a Sandisk compact flash card somewhere. Once they realise they need it, they are welcome to buy it from me for $1. For everyone else, it will be free at somewhere like Turbosquid.

That’ll be all.