Workflow for Headus’ UV Layout

This isn’t intended to be an in-depth tutorial about using UV Layout, but more of an overall look at the basic (and more useful) operations.

Note: Be aware that Headus UV Layout is a mouse-centric software: when you press a key on the keyboard, the corresponding action will be applied to the item just under your mouse cursor.

The Tmp 1 2 3 4 5 buttons are there to allow you to store tmp files of your progress. If the application crashes, you’ll be able to reopen it and start where you last saved by loading those tmp files.

Phase 1: Cut the edges

Hover your mouse cursor over an edge you want to cut and press C. The edge turns red.

If the suggested automatic cut path (yellow edges) is not to your liking, press W over an edge and it will weld it back.

When you want to slice some edges to create a seam without separating your mesh in two, press Shift+S. This will space out the edges and help with the unwrapping process.

Once your edge paths for cutting are defined, hover your mouse over a piece and press Enter. This will separate the piece. Do that for each piece.

Phase 2: Drop the pieces to the UV editor

Press D while hovering over a piece to drop it to the UV editor.

Once you dropped all the pieces, the view changes to a 3d view (which you can access anytime by pressing 3) where you can see the green lines on your object that indicate where the edges will be cut to create the UV islands.

Phase 3: Flatten the UVs

To get to the UV editor itself, press U. There you’ll find all the separated pieces stacked next to each-other, waiting to be flattened.

To move pieces around, press Spacebar+MMB.

To rotate pieces, press Spacebar+LMB.

To scale pieces, press Spacebar+RMB. You should avoid scaling pieces, as they’re all proportionnally sized by default.

To flatten a piece, press and hold F.

To relax some areas, press R.

To flatten and spread manually some areas of the islands, press B.

To collapse some UVs, press X (not very useful).

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