Now we deviate with 2 possible directions. One is making a new image map, the other is to use an existing image. If you are making a new image map, your best approach is to use a positioning image to make sure your map will wrap smoothly around your model. CroTeam has recommended using a checkerboard image to accomplish this. In your favorite image editor, create a new image 1024x1024 and draw a 2-color checkerboard of 16-pixel squares or download the one here. The checkerboard image is used as a temporary image for setting up the UV map, and is then replaced with the final image.

The first approach is a quick version using Lightwave's mapping tools to generate our map, then the checkerboard image will be used to cleanup the UV placement. The second approach will focus on more extensive control over UV placement and allow for fine detail manipulation. For this approach, we will use an existing image map (from CroTeam's game Serious Sam) and we will mold our UV map to work with this image map.