Unwrap to UV space via 3D model in AE?

[Cedar]

One feature I miss a lot from Nuke is the possibility to bake a texture to UV space. Lots of great comp VFX are created this way.

http://www.xuanprada.com/blog/2016/2/22/bake-from-nuke-to-uvs

I'm wondering if anyone knows of a way to do this in AE. Plugin perhaps?

[foughtthelaw · Accepted solution]

This isn't possible in AE as it doesn't have any understanding of true 3d space or object space. The best way to achieve something like this is to export a UV pass from a 3d application and use a 3rd party plugin to apply a texture too it.

This one is my fav.

RE:Map - RE:Vision Effects

[ToolfarmJP]

Hello,

Mettle FreeForm might be another solution. It is a plug-in for After Effects.

FreeForm Pro | Mettle

[P.M.B]

Paint & Stick may also be an option depending on what exactly you need

Paint & Stick 2 - aescripts + aeplugins - aescripts.com

[angie_taylor]

Have you checked out the Multipass feature of Cineware? If you import a 3D object via Cineware you can import a UV pass into AE which may help you. There are also the old 3D effects which allow you to access UV tagging info from a 3D rendered RLA or RPF sequence. Let me know if you need more info on these.

Although this doesn't give you exactly what you want it may help with compositing UV info.

Substance Painter is worth checking out too;

Substance Painter - 3D Painting Software

And, have you tried BodyPaint?

hope this helps,

Angie Taylor | Creative Cabin

[Kevin-Monahan]

Hi Cedar,

Sorry for this issue. Did you ever find a solution? Please let us know if you have or if you still need help.

Thanks,

Kevin

[saqibh36184163]

Hi Kevin i am looking for the same Solution ,i will be thank full if you have Solution for this.

[Cedar]

Thanks for the input everyone. Sadly, screen space UV's (ST map) is not what I was looking for.

I was thinking more along these lines.

Digital Domain's use of NUKE on The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor - part 1 - YouTube

Perhaps unwrap via element 3D. Do some comp work. Wrap back to Geo.

Alas, not yet a possibility. Boot up another software for this problem...

Cheers,

[P.M.B]

I just happen to see this new script while downloading an update.  Not 100% if it will project onto UV data but it may be worth a look.  It's only $50  Projection 3D - aescripts + aeplugins - aescripts.com

[saqibh36184163]

hi Cedar did you Find the Solution yet?

[ericmlevy]

Yes, you can do this in AE with Element 3D.

 - Make two solids and put a Gradient Ramp on each.

 - Set top solid to Add blending mode.

 - For the top layer, the gradient ramp goes left to right and is the red channel.
 - For the bottom layer, it goes top to bottom, this is the green channel.

 - The blue channel doesn't matter, as long as its consistently set to either 0 or 1.

 - Add Expressions as pictured below.

- Precomp this, I call it STMAP.
- Add Element 3D to a solid, Add STMAP as a Custom texture map

- In E3D, add 3D model. Add STMAP to the Illumination channel. Turn off other channels.
- Back to AE, in the E3D plugin settings turn off all lighting, so it's just the self illumination.

- Unwrap using RE: Map Inverse UV and RE: Map plugins.