I have been working as a modeler for a while now. having a lot of fun. We use 3ds max, and one thing I had to learn was how to make multiple UV channels. So that you could have different layouts for your UVs getting rird of that pesky issue where Occlusion makes it impossible to have overlapped UVs. just have your Occlusion UVs (not overlapped) on one channel. Diffuse on another channel (overlapped if you want). BUT to learn this I had to scrape the bottom of the bucket on google searches before finding how to do it. So here it is again for those that need to know. This works for 3ds Max 2010
Step One If you unwrapped in Max:After unwrapping your object, collapse it back into a poly (or mesh). Doing this locks in your first channel. Add another Unwrap UVW modifier.
Step One If you unwrapped in another program:Import your object then apply a unwrap UVW. Your channel 1 UVs should already be locked in.
Open up the edit box. In the Edit UVW screen go to File>Save Uvs and save out your UVs.
In the command panel change the channel to 2 (or whatever you want) then hit reset UVWs. Oh no! its a mess! No prob load those UVs you just saved, and you have something to work with.
Once you have these how you want. Collapse the stack and this will lock in your second channel UVs.
Last step! Double Check! apply another Unwrap UVW modifier, and go to edit. the UVs should look right for the channel you have selected. change it to the other channel you modified, and hit reset UVW. The UVs should be correct for that channel (not a mess). If all is good then delete or collapse the modifier and you're good to go.
Good Luck! If that makes no sense, email me with questions.
