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Question for the 3D Studio forum. Mapping Plug-in for 3D Studio. We use 3D Studio to produce animation and visualisation for architects and other design based professions. 3D Studio performs wonderfully, however it is at times a little arduous to use. We often receive geometry from our clients in the form of DXF files. These models are created using a variety of CAD packages, AutoCAD, ArchiCAD and Microstation being the most common. Having imported a DXF into 3D Studio one encounters the time consuming task of mapping and texturing the surfaces of the model. This involves grouping the similar surfaces together and then sorting them into objects according to the surface normal angle of the constituent faces. This seems like a function that the computer could perform for us. In fact another commercially available rendering package has the ability to do something along these lines. It offers 3 types of mapping similar to these available in the 3D Studio editor, namely: Cylindrical; Spherical and Planar. However it has 2 other mapping types, TILED and FOLDED, that are extremely useful. TILED WRAP: Applies mapping coordinates to an object such that the image map is not sheared or distorted. This is acheived by each face, or set of faces that have parallel normals, being automatically mapped perpendicular to its normal. The image map is continuous on faces that share the same normal and is repeated from the starting point for each set of parallel faces. In other words the mapping plane is reset so as to be parallel to each of the faces to which is is mapped. UNFOLDED WRAP: Wraps an image onto each of the faces of the object such that the image is not sheared or distorted during application, and the image continues over each face of the object. This method is similar to using wrapping paper to cover the object, if the paper could be contoured to each of the facets of the object. Each face in the object is mapped perpendicular to its normal, and the mapping plane is reset such that it is parallel to each of the faces on which it is mapped. Does a 3D Studio Plug-in exist that would allow us to generate mapping coordinates in a fashion similar to the above descriptions? I imagine the Plug-in would function within the 3D editor. Any information regarding this would be much appreciated. Regards Anthony Buntine Animated Design Pty Ltd Melb. Vic Australia