UVW-mapping process for a model containing lots of separate parts

[Hagroth]

Hello,

 

I'm and I'm making a Viking ship (my first complete model) in 3ds Max 2012, and before UVW-mapping it I'd like to know a few things regarding the process:

 

1. For the hull and the benches, I'm considering simply cutting it in half, duplicating one half and mirroring it so it becomes completely symmetrical. But before duplicating it, I'll UVW-map that half so I'll only need to do half the work. Is this possible? I'll have to separate but identical parts with the same UVW-map, albeit one of the parts is mirrored. Then I'm going to merge them together. What will happen?

 

2. A similar question. On the ship, there are various ropes, "gadgets", a sail and, of course, a mast. They are all separate parts as of now. Should I UVW-map them separately and then merge them with the rest of the ship? Does it matter if I merge them and the ship into one single object or can I leave them as separate objects?

 

I'm going to export it for use in Skyrim later on.

 

Thanks in advance!

Edited August 18, 2012 by Hagroth

[asdgora]

For the first part, yes you can do it. I don't know what program you're using, but in 3ds max, you would cut the model in half, then unwrap the UVW map, then when you add a symmetry modifier.

For the second part, I never tried it myself , but a lot of the original skyrim nifs contain seperate object, so I'm positive it can be done.