Painting >
View painted images with UVs

When you paint on your model you can preview the resulting 2D image in relation to the model’s UV texture coordinates (UVs) using the UV View.

1. Apply paint to your model. For more information, see Painting basics.
2. Click the UV View tab at the top of the 3D View to preview your painted image in 2D and the UV texture coordinates for the model.
   NoteIf the UV mesh appears too dense in the UV View, press the Page Down key to display a lower subdivision level for the model. The UV display appears less dense and the painted image on the active paint layer is more visible as a result.
   NoteWhen multiple UV tiles exists on a model, only the paint associated with the currently loaded tile(s) appear in the UV View.

The grid spacing in the UV View represents a one by one UV tile area. That is, u1-v1, u2-v1, or u3-v1, and so on. You can dolly and track in the UV View using the similar keyboard shortcuts as in the 3D View.

To: | Keyboard shortcut: (Windows) | Keyboard shortcut: (Mac OS X) | Action/Results
--- | --- | --- | ---
Track the camera | Alt + Middle button | Option + Middle button Command + Middle button | Press the required key then drag in the 3D View while pressing the middle button on the mouse/stylus to move the UV View.
Dolly the camera | Alt + Right button | Option + Right button Command + Right button | Press the required key then drag in the 3D View while pressing the right button on the mouse/stylus to move into or out of the UV View.

NoteYou cannot paint on a model in Mudbox unless it has UVs. For more information, see Prepare a model for painting. If UVs do not appear in the UV View it means either your model does not contain UV texture coordinates or that no UVs exist for that particular subdivision level. If UVs do not exist on the model you’ll need to create and arrange them using a 3D modeling or UV editing application equipped with UV creation and editing tools. Maya and 3ds Max have tools for this purpose. If UVs exist only at the base level of the model, you can recreate them for the current subdivision level by selecting Mesh > Recreate Level UVs.

Related topics

UVs overview

Paint across multiple UV tiles