I got pelt mapping working tonight and was so amazed at the results I figured I would write a little tutorial for you dudes.
I was making a model of a hookah, and dreading making a UVW map for the tube. This is what I have after doing an unfold.
[Blocked Image: http://beancitynights.org/gamedev/tutorial-pelt/1.jpg]
Step 1:
in the Unwrap UVW modifier, click Edit Seams at the bottom.
[Blocked Image: http://beancitynights.org/gamedev/tutorial-pelt/2.jpg]
Step 2:
draw a closed line where you want the seam to be. I drew it around the cap and up one edge to the other end.
[Blocked Image: http://beancitynights.org/gamedev/tutorial-pelt/3.jpg]
[Blocked Image: http://beancitynights.org/gamedev/tutorial-pelt/4.jpg]
Step 3:
Go into face sub-object mode and select all the faces on your model
Click Pelt, then Edit Pelt Map
[Blocked Image: http://beancitynights.org/gamedev/tutorial-pelt/5.jpg]
Step 4:
Make the blue circle really fuckin big, and rotate it to get the least amount of overlaps in the spokes.
[Blocked Image: http://beancitynights.org/gamedev/tutorial-pelt/6.jpg]
Step 5:
Click Simulate Pelt Pulling 3 times, and Relax(Light) twice.
Resize and rotate the mesh to fit in the blue box.
[Blocked Image: http://beancitynights.org/gamedev/tutorial-pelt/7.jpg]
It's done! Now you can edit some of the vertices manually to fix small distribution errors, but most of the work is done for you.
this works on all kinds of organic surfaces, from face and body models to snakes and dicks if thats the kind of thing you like to make i guess.
