Materials and Mapping Tutorials >
Spline Mapping

This tutorial shows you how to map a material to a curved surface, such as a road or a garden hose.

You will start with the same pawnshop model featured in the Composite Map tutorial, and use a spline to map a brick-like material onto the building’s arched entrance.

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:

- Choose a mapping method for an object
- Create a spline and use it as a guide when mapping a texture to the object
- Adjust the mapping through manipulation of the object’s UVW coordinates

Skill level: Intermediate

Time to complete: 1 hour

Preparation for This Tutorial

- If you have not already downloaded the tutorial files (MAX scenes and other assets), download them now and unzip them into a project folder called \Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2012 tutorials. See Where to Find Tutorial Files.
- On the Quick Access toolbar, click (Project Folder) and set your current project to Autodesk 3ds Max Design 2012 Tutorials.

#### Topics in this section

- Prepare the Scene
- Fine-Tune the Mapping