How to UV Map a Human Head Model in Maya

Introduction and Stages 1-3

This is a video tutorial on the UV Mapping of a Human Head model in Maya.  This tutorial consists of three videos and is split into six stages that cover the following:

• Why we use UVs in Maya
• The use of Cylindrical Mapping
• Sewing the UV edges together
• Tidying up the UV Map using the relax tool
• Several methods of applying texture to a UV Map

If you need a human head model to practice this tutorial with, click here to download one. 

The first video of this tutorial introduces UVs and why we use them to texture in Maya.  This video also covers the creation of the UV Map with Cylindrical mapping, sewing the UVs together and flattening out the UV map with the Relax tool.

Stages 4-5

In this second video, I demonstrate how to retain each part of the face with the Relax tool set to World Space Edge Weights.  I also cover scaling the UV Map down so it fits within the texture.

Stage 6 and Conclusion

The final video covers creating a PSD Network for the UV map and then creating a texture from scratch in Adobe Photoshop.  This video also covers applying a photographic or pre-made texture to the head model, once it has been UV mapped.