UV Mapping Workflows in Maya

Intro to UVs
uv editor and 0-1 space I already know.
NURBS and poly are different when it comes to UVs. You cant edit UVs on NURBS

Using Planar Mapping 
Planar Mapping is used for just flat surfaces.
The projection manipulator will pop up on the object and you can scale and distort the UVs using that.
Also using the red 'T' at the bottom.
You can select the faces the you want and then use best faces which will lead to little to no distortions.

Using a Cylindrical Mapping
When it pops up you will have to close it yourself.

Using Spherical Mapping
You will sill have to close it again. But you have to close the top part as well.
The red 'T' still still there as well.

Using Automatic Mapping 

Each projection face is called a shell in the UV editor. 

There are many things you can change in the Options such as the shell layout and if you want the 

bounding boxes or if you want it to just use the shape of the shell itself. 

Using Multiple Projections

Make sure to get the scaling right and the same for each part. 

Using Unfold

Preparing Asset for UV Layout

Used planar mapping

Mapping the Arm

Used Cylindrical Mapping for the arm. Had to sew and cut the edges to make a better seem. 

Mapping other Arm

Mapping with Symmetry

 If you have symmetry on it makes thing alot easier and quicker.

Unwrapping the Head 

First cut down the forhead and then cut out and unfold the ears.

Cut out the jaw and the nose and unfolded them. Also made some cuts to the main face. 

The clothes!

First separate them for one another.

Then dealt with the thinner mesh first by splitting it from the back and then dealing with the cut outs.you cut out the small loops which is shown at the bottom and then dealing with the thicker one is just putting a seem at the side. 

Unwrapping the Nails

So I unwrapped the first one and since the others are pretty much like copies I can transfer the maps and be fine. saves me alot of work. 

To make the other side of the body I made and copy and then changed the scale x to '-1'

Unwrapping the Teeth

Used the same process as above.

Unwrapping the Eyes

I cut it in half and the selected all but the outer edges and then clicked 'move and sew' and then Unfloded and did the same to the other side of the eye and the other eye. 

Laying out the Finished UVs

polygons> layout