Upload

Apply images to 3D models

UV mapping

Before adding the "Upload" block to the list of blocks, it is mandatory that you have the correct UV coordinates applied to your 3D model. The UV coordinates or UV map helps determine the location (area) in the 3D model (the 3D part) where you want customers to upload their image.

The UV map is applied to 3D models to correctly apply materials, discussed in more detail in the 'Prepare 3D models' chapter, but it also helps determine the area where you want your customers to upload an image.

If you are not familiar with these concepts and do not have someone on your staff who can help you, you will most likely need to hire an artist or 3D modeler to help you with this work.

For example, you have a 3D jersey shirt and you have some areas on the surface where you allow customers to upload their images. In a 3D editor (i.e. Blender, 3D Studio Max, Rhino, etc.) you can set this by creating an UV map for your 3D model as shown in in the image below. The UV map must be square (1:1 ratio) so that the loaded images do not appear flattened.

For the jersey, you can see an yellow square applied on chest, this means that the UV coordinates for applying the upload image are set in that area. But, you can set a UV map in any location you want, it all depends on your configurator. The UV coordinates also represent the size of the image that will fit best when the client uploads one. You may need to go back and forth with the 3D model until you have the desired UV map and then proceed to complete the product configurator.

Add 'Upload' block

Once you have your 3D model ready, go to the "Create Options" tab and select the "Upload" block from the drop-down button on the top right screen and click the "Add Block" blue button.

Before adding to the block list, the platform prompts you to define the "Upload" block by giving a title and adding the first variant.

Adding a variant to the "Upload" block is done almost the same as the other types of option sets except for the "Upload Settings" step. Each variant needs a Title, Variant Name, Select the 3D Model and 3D part.

After selecting the 3D model, as with the other types of option set, you can select the 3D part where the image will be applied. If the 3D model has more than 1 part, you must select that part where the UV map is created in the 3D editor. In our case, our UV map is located on the "front" side, and the UV map is located around the chest.

In the 'Upload Settings' the platform allows you to enable/disable 3 features in the front configurator:

Move - add 4 arrow buttons in front to move the image on the surface
Scale - add 2 (+/-) buttons in front for customers to scale the image
Rotate - add 2 buttons in front (rotate left and right) for customers to rotate the image