Texture mapping a multi-patch character

[greysirius]

How does one texture map a multipatch model? I am familiar with texturing a polygon and SUBD model by tweaking the UV map and then using a paint program to make textures using the UV map as a guide. But in the case of multipatch nurbs, I feel that I need a 3D paint program, or plugin, which I don't have.
Right now, I am converting the multipatch model to poly, and then combining the poly surfaces. Then, I am gonna make a cylindrical map like I usually would for a poly surface, and take the maps and project them over the nurb surface.
I really don't know if this will work, as I am using the "Maya Character Animation" book as a guide, and it has some major mistakes in it.
I was just wondering if there was a tutorial out there, or if someone can take the time to give me a fairly thorough process of texture mapping a multipatch character. Any help and advice is greatly appreciated.

[joojaa]

you dont need any of that... its even simpler than for polys and subds... All you need is to make a big square map... wich you then split up into individual patches (remeber every pach is perfectly square in uvs). I usualy work with 9 patches at a at a time cocentraing on the center area and then copy the next tile to another set to work on the next seam.

Sometimes its usefull to project and bake some detail and use that as a beggining!

[greysirius]

When you say "project and bake some detail", do you mean to use the 3D paint tool, draw in some minor guide lines on the surface, then save those textures, and then use them guides in a 2D paint program to make the textures?
Thank you so much. I was sitting there freaking out about how much work I'd have to do to tweak the UV's, and the prospect of doing it for more than one surface was intimidating me.

[joojaa]

No draw in photoshop and use the maya projection texturing! And bake textures! Texturing nurbs is in many ways easierthan makin a good uv for polys!

Because you dont tweak uvs!