Adding Crest to existing model

[julianus heraclius]

Hi,

I need some advise on how to add a crest to an existing model. It is easy to merge the crest to a helmet. The problem is when I add the skin texture I get a funny finish. I assume I have to add the crest to the skin texture file but 1) I don't know how to do this and 2) I don't know how the skin texture file is linked to the model cas file.

Can anyone help please.

Thanks

[Thor the Bassist]

Are the textures skewed? You need to apply a set UVW maps to the helmet in max. This can be quite complicated. Here are the steps:
1. select sides that are parallel or almost parallel and press "detach"
2. in the dialogue check the "detach to element" box and click ok.
3. then select these sides in element view and add a "UVW map" modifier.
4. click on the modifier in the stack and then rotate the modifier box until it is parallel to your elements.
5. collapse the modifier in the stack (if you already have the skin modifier you will have to move the UVW map below the skin and collapse to.
6. repeat this for all sets of parallel sides.

[julianus heraclius]

Thanks for that, but what I am after is how to modify a tga.dds texture file so that I can colour the new attached hellemt crest, for example white. I have an existing tga.dds file for this model but to include a helmet crest.

How are the tga.dds texture skin file and the cas file linked in 3ds max?

Thanks

[Thor the Bassist]

Max basically peels away parts of the texture file and places it like stickers onto the model. You'll need to open the texture and add the texture you want for your crest somewhere in the black bits that are unused. Then you need to do the procedure I outlined above to find the part of the texture you want to use on the crest and put it on the crest.