UV Kit 2.1#

Installation#

Compatibility#

Maya	2022	2023	2024	2025
	✓	✓	✓	✓

How to install#

Extract the RS_Assets folder from the RS_Assets.zip
Extract RS_UV_Kit.pyc from RS_UV_Kit_MAYAVERSION.zip (depending on your Maya Version)
Copy RS_UV_Kit.pyc or RS_UV_Kit.py (Studio Version) and the RS_Assets folder to:

If an RS_Assets folder already exists in your folder

If an RS_Assets folder already exists in the location below, please copy the RS_UV_Kit folder (from inside the extracted RS_Assets folder) and paste it into the existing RS_Assets folder in the location.
WindowsLinuxMac
\Users\USERNAME\Documents\maya\MAYAVERSION\prefs\scripts
$HOME/maya/MAYAVERSION/prefs/scripts
$HOME/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/MAYAVERSION/prefs/scripts
Launch / Restart Maya
In Maya, open a Python Tab in the Script Editor and execute :
1 2 3 4
from importlib import reload import RS_UV_Kit reload(RS_UV_Kit) RS_UV_Kit.MainClass_UVKit.show_uvKit_dialog()
Attention

Please make sure that there are no Space characters in front of each code line.
Maintain settings during a Maya instance

The code above will load a new instance of the tool every time it is executed. To maintain the settings during a Maya session, even if the tool is closed, use the code below:
1 2
import RS_UV_Kit RS_UV_Kit.MainClass_UVKit.show_uvKit_dialog()

Environment Variables#

To set and use a custom folder location, please open the Maya.env file.

The Maya.env file is located here

WindowsLinuxMac

\Users\USERNAME\Documents\maya\MAYAVERSION

$HOME/maya/MAYAVERSION

$HOME/Library/Preferences/Autodesk/maya/MAYAVERSION

Add the following lines to the Maya.env file:
```
MAYA_SCRIPT_PATH = path\to\your\custom\script\folder
PYTHONPATH = path\to\your\custom\script\folder
RS_TOOLS_PATH = path\to\your\custom\script\folder
```
Attention
1. Replace path\to\your\custom\script\folder with the actual path to your scripts.
2. Make sure there is no forward slash (/) or backward slash (\) at the end of the path.

Interface Basics#

Screenshot UV Tools

Screenshot UV Editor / UV Set Editor

Screenshot UV Grid Options

Screenshot About / Links / Shortcuts

UV Editor / UV Sets Editor#

Open UV Editor: LMB ¹ click Screenshot

Open UV Set Editor: Alt click Screenshot

UV Grid Options#

Toggle Tile Labels: LMB ¹ click Screenshot

Toggle Texture Borders: Alt click Screenshot

Tool Settings#

How to open?

Open the settings with a RMB ² click.

Indicator

A blue line underneath an icon indicates that optional tool settings are available.
Screenshot

Position & What settings are open?

The settings widget will appear at the bottom of the tool.
The background of an icon button turns dark gray to indicate it's settings are currently open.

Screenshot

How to close?

To close the settings page RMB ² click the active button again.

Tooltips#

Screenshot

How to access?

Make sure the UV Kit tool window has focus (click on tool title)
Hover over a button and keep the pointer still until a tooltip shows up.
Tooltips include information about available Modifier like Alt Ctrl Shift and RMB ² settings options.

Please make sure tooltips are enabled

In Maya's main menu go to:
Windows > Settings / Preferences > Preferences > Interface > Help
and check DisplayToolClips under PopupHelp

Expand / Collapse tabs#

It is possible to expand or collapse all tabs on an active page.

Expand

Ctrl click on Screenshot or

Collapse

Alt click on Screenshot or

Info

A settings page will automatically close when expand or collapse all tabs is used.

Keyboard Shortcuts#

It is possible to control aspects of the tools interface with keyboard shortcuts.

Access pages

1 - UV Tools Page
2 - About Page
3 - Toggle Tool Menu Visibility

Requirements

The tool needs to have focus, for the shortcuts to work.

Expand / collapse tabs

Ctrl + 1 to expand all tabs on the UV Tools Page
Alt + 1 to collapse all tabs on the UV Tools Page

Attention

This only works on the currently active page.

Minimize to main menu

Alt + 3 to minimize the tool

Screenshot

About Page#

Access the About page by clicking on Screenshot

The page contains information about the tool, web links and an option to set up hotkey shortcuts.

Interface - About Page#

Screenshot

Create Hotkey Shortcuts#

Click on the Create Hotkey Shortcuts button to make a UV Kit launch function available within Maya's hotkey editor.

Screenshot

How to: Open Hotkey Editor

access the Hotkey Editor under Windows > Settings/Preferences > Hotkey Editor
Or Alt click on the Create Hotkey Shortcuts button

Scale UI#

Open About Page
Choose a UI scale size in the drop-down menu: 100%, 125%, 150%, 200%
Click the Set UI Scale button
Close and reload the tool

Unfold Tab#

Interface - Unfold Tools#

Screenshot

Unfold #

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Unfold#

Automatically cuts selected edges, unfolds and packs the shells.

Screenshot

How to use

Make a UV projection of your object. (LMB ¹ click )
Select your desired cutting edges
Set available options in the Settings
LMB ¹ click on to run the script

Tip

For best results make a Camera instead of an orthographical (X, Y, Z) projection.

Get rotation values#

Screenshot

How to use

Select 2 vertices, one at each end of a cylindrical cut line
Alt + Shift click on to run the script

Cylindrical Unfold#

Screenshot

How to use

Select cylindrical uv shells
Alt click on to run the script

Projection #

Create UV texture coordinates for the selected object using a planar projection shape.

How to use

Camera: LMB ¹ click
X-Axis: Alt click
Y-Axis: Ctrl click
Z-Axis: Shift click

U / V #

Unfolds UV selections horizontally, vertically or freely in both directions.

How to use

Horizontal Unfold: LMB ¹ click
Vertical Unfold: Alt click
Legacy Unfold Ctrl click
Pin selected UVs during Unfold: Add Shift

Gridify #

Automatically unfolds cylindrical shapes based on a cutting edge selection.

Cylindrical Shape#

How to use

Make an edge selection that serves as the cut line
Choose either Horizontal or Vertical unfold (depending on the result)
1. Horizontal: LMB ¹ click
2. Vertical: Alt click

Cable with caps#

How to use

Add Shift to the process above

Screenshot

Layout Tab#

Interface - Layout Tools#

Screenshot

Layout #

Arrange UV shells.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Legacy Mode	UV Packer Mode

Switch Mode#

MMB ³ click on
Or Choose mode within Settings

Legacy Mode#

How to use: Prep

Open Settings
Choose Mode: Legacy in Settings
Set preferred values for Rotation, stacking and shell spacing
Options:
1. Uniform Scale - Checked: scales all shells equally / Unchecked: maintains UV ratio
Select objects or groups

How to use: Layout

Layout all objects: LMB ¹ click
Layout each object individually: Alt click

UV Packer#

How To Use: Prep

Open Settings
Choose Mode: UV Packer in Settings
Set preferred values for UDIM, Padding, Tile Margin, Accuracy and Map Size
Choose Options:
1. Select Overflow - automatically selects all UV shells after packing, that don't fit into the specified UDIM
2. Pack to UDIM Center - ignores Tile Margin and packs the UVs to the center of the specified UDIM
Select groups, objects or components

How To Use: Packing

Pack to UDIM: LMB ¹ click
UDIM + (Next UDIM): Alt click
UDIM - (Previous UDIM): Alt + Shift click

Using UDIM + and UDIM -

Functions change the UDIM field value within the settings.
E.g. when the UDIM field was set to 1001 and you use UDIM +, the new value in the UDIM field will be 1002.

How To Use: Pack to Pivot

Adjust Pivot to preferred position
Pack to Pivot position: Shift click

How To Use: Spread

Set a Spread value within the Settings (the higher the value the further the shells will be spread out)
U (Horizontal): Ctrl click
V (Vertical): Ctrl + Shift click

Grid Arrange #

Arranges UV shells or UV layouts in a grid.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Arrange UV Shells#

How to use: Prep

Select components or objects
Open Settings
Set preferred column amount and spacing between shells value
Options:
1. Sort by height: Sorts shells by their height from largest to smallest
2. Reverse: Reverses the sorting order (Sort by height needs to be checked)

How to use: Arrange Shells

Arrange Shells: LMB ¹ click
Arrange Horizontally: Alt click
Arrange Vertically: Alt + Shift click

Arrange UV Layouts (Objects)#

How to use: Prep

Select objects
Open Settings
Under Arrange Objects set preferred Uniform scale size

How to use: Arrange

Grid Arrange: Ctrl click
Grid Arrange by Polygon Count: Ctrl + Alt click
Grid Arrange by Polygon Count within UDIMs: Ctrl + Alt + Shift click

Stack #

Stack UV layouts or UV shells.

Stack UV Layouts#

How to use: Prep

Select objects or groups

How to use: Stack UV Layouts

Stack Objects: LMB ¹ click
Stack groups: Alt click

Stack or Unstack UV Shells#

How to use: Prep

Select objects, groups or components

How to use: Stack UV Shells

Stack UV Shells: Ctrl click
Unstack UV Shells: Ctrl + Shift click

Spread #

Precisely spread out overlapping UV layouts based on an input value. This operation works with objects and groups.

Screenshot

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Spread#

How to use: Prep

Select multiple objects or groups
Open Settings
Set preferred Move size

How to use: Spread

Spread:
1. Right: LMB ¹ click
2. Up: Alt click
3. Add Shift for opposite directions (Left, Down)

UDIM Tab#

Interface - UDIM Tools#

Screenshot

UDIM Packer #

Packs and sorts UV Shells or UV Layouts and distributes them across UDIMs. Packer maintains UV Ratio.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Packing#

How to use: Prep

Select objects, groups or components
Open Settings
Set preferred values for UDIM, Accuracy, Padding, Tile Margin and Map Size
Option:
1. Pack to Quad: Script will aim to pack shells into equally sided quads

How to use: Packer

Pack Shells: LMB ¹ click
Pack Shells individually for every Object: Alt click
Pack UV Layouts: Ctrl click

UDIM Move #

Move UVs from a source UDIM to a target UDIM. Features a range option.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Move UDIM UVs#

How to use: Prep

Select objects or groups
Open Settings
Set source and target UDIM
Set Range

Example: Range

Source is 1001. Target 1011. Range is 2.
This will move UVs from 1001 and 1002, to 1011 and 1012

How to use: UDIM Move

Move: LMB ¹ click
Swap Source and Target Values: Alt click

UDIM Select #

Select UVs within a UDIM. Features a range option.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Selecte UDIM UVs#

How to use: Prep

Select objects or groups
Open Settings
Set source and Range

Example: Select Range

Source is 1001. Range is 3.
This will select all UVs within UDIM 1001, 1002 and 1003

How to use: UDIM Select

Select: LMB ¹ click

UDIM Info #

Outputs UDIM information.

How many UDIMs are in use from the selected objects or groups.
What is the UV space coverage for each UDIM.

Information#

How to use: Prep

Select objects or groups

How to use: UDIM Information

UDIMs in use: LMB ¹ click
UDIM Coverage: Alt click

Information Output

The information displays either in the Command Line (bottom right corner of the UI)
and/or in the Script Editor.

Modify Tab#

Interface - Modify Tools#

Screenshot

Move #

Move selected components or object / group UVs.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Move UVs#

How to use: Prep

Select Objects, Groups or Components
Open Settings
Set Move value

How to use: Move

Right: LMB ¹ click
Up: Alt click
Add Shift for opposite directions (Left, Down)

Rotate #

Rotate UVs.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Rotate UVs#

How to use: Prep

Select Components
Open Settings
Set preferred Rotation value

How to use: Rotate

Clockwise: LMB ¹ click
Counterclockwise: Alt click

How to use: Rotate each shell individually

Add Shift to the process above

Scale #

Scale UVs by value or UV Shells from their local position.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Scale UVs#

How to use: Scale

Select Objects, Groups or Components
Open Settings
Set preferred Scale size
Scale: LMB ¹ click

How to use: Local Scale

Select only 1 UV from each UV Shell you want to scale
Local Scale: Alt click to launch the scale process
Within new window: Use the Slider to interactively scale the UV shells
Click the Done button to finish the process

Screenshot

Orient #

Orient selected UV Shells.

How to use

Select Components, Objects or Groups
Orient to closest U or V axis: LMB ¹ click
Orient Horizontal: Shift + Alt click
Orient Vertical: Shift + Ctrl click
Orient in X-Axis: Alt click
Orient in Y-Axis: Ctrl click
Orient in Z-Axis: Shift click

Straighten #

Straighten components or UV shells.

How to use: Straighten selected components

Select components
LMB ¹ click

How to use: Straighten UV Shell

Select an edge loop of your UV Shell
Alt click

Distribute #

Distribute UV Shells.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Distribute Shells#

How to use

Select Components
Open Settings
Set preferred Spacing value
Distribute:
1. Right: LMB ¹ click
2. Up: Alt click
3. Add Shift for opposite directions (Left, Down)

Equalizer #

Match Objects UV Layout scale or individual UV Shells Texel Density to the scale of a specified source.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Equalize#

How to use: Equalize Objects

Select a source object
Get scale size: Alt click
Select target objects
Set scale size: LMB ¹ click

How to use: Equalize UV Shells

Open Settings
Set Map Size
Select a UV Shell
Get scale size: Shift click or click the Get Button within the settings
Select target UV Shells
Set scale size: Ctrl click

Screenshot

Flip #

Flip components.

How to use

Flip selected components: LMB ¹ click
Flip each UV shell from their center point: Alt click
Flip all backfacing shells automatically (Select an object or UVs): Shift click

Align #

Align UV shells.

How to use

Select components
Align Top: LMB ¹ click
Align Left: Alt click
Align Horizontal: Ctrl click
Opposite Directions: Add Shift to the above

Utilities#

Interface - Utilities#

Screenshot

UV Shader #

Creates two UV Shader with custom texture maps (Map size: 1K).
Useful to check if your UVs are properly unfolded, oriented and equal in size.

Screenshot

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

UV Shader#

How to use: Create / Delete Shader

Create: Ctrl click
Delete: Ctrl + Shift click

How to use: Assign / Unassign

Assign Checker Pattern: LMB ¹ click
Assign UV Direction: Alt click
Unassign Shader: Shift click
Open Settings
Set Texture size

How to use: Change UV Set Link

Open UV Set Editor: Alt click
Select a UV set that is not the current one
Change Link: MMB ³ click

Transfer #

Transfer UV layouts from source to target objects.

Screenshot

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Transfer#

How to use

Open Settings
Set Sample Space and Scope
Set Source(s): Select Object(s) and click on the Set Sources button
Set Targets: Select Object(s) and click on the Set Targets button
Transfer: LMB ¹ click

Multiple Sources

If you have multiple source objects, the script will copy
from source 1 to target 1
from source 2 to target 2
and so on, until there are no sources left.

Shortcuts

Set Sources: Alt click
Set Targets: Ctrl click

Tiny Toolbox #

Small toolbox with fixes or batch processes for common things.

Settings#

RMB ² click Screenshot to open settings

Settings Interface

Screenshot

Tools and Fixes#

How to use: Fix Backfacing Face normals

Select objects
LMB ¹ click

How to use: Fix Backfacing UV Shells

Select objects
Alt click

How to use: Remove UV Sets

Open Settings
Enter the name of the UV Set you want to exclude into the first text field within the settings
Hit Enter to add it to the exclude list below (maps you don't want to delete in the process)
Select objects
Ctrl click

How to use: Create UV Sets

Open Settings
Enter the name of the new UV Set into the first text field within the settings (do not hit Enter )
Select objects
Shift click

UV Checks #

Multiple functions to check UV layouts for issues.

Checks#

How to use: Find Overlapping UVs

Select objects
LMB ¹ click

How to use: Find UVs that cross UDIM borders

Select objects
Alt click

How to use: Find UVs that are outside of UDIM space

Select objects
Ctrl click

How to use: Find meshes that have no UVs

Select objects
Shift click

Select last findings

Alt + Shift click

LMB - Left Mouse Button ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩
RMB - Right Mouse Button ↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩↩
MMB - Middle Mouse Button ↩↩

UV Kit 2.1#

Installation#

Compatibility#

How to install#

Environment Variables#

Interface Basics#

Tool Menu#

UV Editor / UV Sets Editor#

UV Grid Options#

Tool Settings#

Tooltips#

Expand / Collapse tabs#

Keyboard Shortcuts#

About Page#

Interface - About Page#

Create Hotkey Shortcuts#

Scale UI#

Unfold Tab#

Interface - Unfold Tools#

Unfold #

Settings#

Unfold#

Get rotation values#

Cylindrical Unfold#

Projection #

U / V #

Gridify #

Cylindrical Shape#

Cable with caps#

Layout Tab#

Interface - Layout Tools#

Layout #

Settings#

Switch Mode#

Legacy Mode#

UV Packer#

Grid Arrange #

Settings#

Arrange UV Shells#

Arrange UV Layouts (Objects)#

Stack #

Stack UV Layouts#

Stack or Unstack UV Shells#

Spread #

Settings#

Spread#

UDIM Tab#

Interface - UDIM Tools#

UDIM Packer #

Settings#

Packing#

UDIM Move #

Settings#

Move UDIM UVs#

UDIM Select #

Settings#

Selecte UDIM UVs#

UDIM Info #

Information#

Modify Tab#

Interface - Modify Tools#

Move #

Settings#

Move UVs#

Rotate #

Settings#

Rotate UVs#

Scale #

Settings#

Scale UVs#

Orient #

Straighten #

Distribute #

Settings#

Distribute Shells#

Equalizer #

Settings#

Equalize#

Flip #

Align #