: Go to the Create tab > Geometry > TextPlus . This tool is better for long text as it handles paragraphs and layout more effectively than the older spline-based text.
: It has been used by major studios such as id Software and Firaxis Games for high-quality asset creation.
If you have ever spent hours fighting with pelt mapping, trying to fix distorted checker patterns, or manually cutting seams on a complex organic model, you know the pain. Enter – a third-party plugin for Autodesk 3ds Max that promises to revolutionize your UV workflow.
Getting started with Wrapit is straightforward. Here is how a typical retopology workflow looks inside 3ds Max: Step 1: Set Up Your Scene
Wrapit is a high-performance retopology tool for 3ds Max that has become an industry standard for artists working with high-poly scans and complex sculpts. By allowing users to "wrap" a low-polygon mesh over high-density geometry, it bridges the gap between raw digital sculpting and production-ready assets. wrapit 3ds max
To maximize efficiency and avoid common pitfalls when using Wrapit, implement these professional pipeline practices:
Allows freehand placement of polygon strips for manual topology.
: If you plan to wrap this text around a curved surface, you need enough "geometry" (quads) to bend without stretching. Use a Quadify Mesh modifier or adjust the TextPlus subdivision settings to create an even grid of polygons. Step 2: Set Up the Target Surface
For hard-surface models where specific, clean edge flow is required, manual retopology with Wrapit allows you to control the exact placement of polygons. : Go to the Create tab > Geometry > TextPlus
: In the Modify panel, type your long text into the text box.
Once your low-poly retopology is complete, your mesh is ready for UV unwrapping. Because it perfectly hugs the high-poly surface, you can seamlessly bake normal maps, ambient occlusion, and displacement maps using Substance Painter, Marmoset Toolbag, or 3ds Max's native baking tools. Wrapit vs. Native 3ds Max Retopology Tools
Wrapit extends 3ds Max's native toolset with specialized polygon modeling features:
These tools function like a specialized PolyBoost for retopology. If you have ever spent hours fighting with
When you import high-resolution assets into 3ds Max—such as millions-of-polygons digital sculptures from ZBrush, highly fragmented 3D scan data, or raw CAD models—the native viewport struggles, and the geometry is completely unoptimized for rigging, UV unwrapping, or animation.
Using the , draw the primary structural loops. For a character face, plot rings around the eyes, mouth, and jawline. These loops define how the mesh will deform during animation. Step 4: Fill the Gaps
WrapIt includes a peel unwrapping method similar to what you find in UVLayout or RizomUV. It progressively flattens shells while maintaining relative surface area, ideal for organic shapes like characters, creatures, or terrain patches.
Developed by Matt Clark at The Pixel Hive, this classic plugin has been a staple in the pipelines of top-tier game development and VFX houses like id Software, Firaxis Games, MPC, and The Mill. Originally released as a commercial tool, the developer transitioned Wrapit into a completely free plugin under the Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 license. This shift makes it accessible to indie developers, 3D printing enthusiasts, and digital sculptors everywhere. What is Wrapit?
For many artists, a hybrid approach works best: using Wrapit for its unique auto-wrapping and painting features, then refining the result with native 3ds Max tools for maximum control.
Wrapit for 3ds Max bridges the gap between high-fidelity digital sculpting and optimized, production-ready asset creation. By providing an optimized projection engine, intuitive strip-modelling tools, and surface-constrained sculpting brushes, it transforms a notoriously painful task into a fluid, creative process.