UV mapping both sides of a body

[asia]

Dear people,
I know maybe this is not the place to ask for something like this but I do not know where else to ask...
I am trying to map a texture on a car with something written on the body.
I only have a picture of one side of the car. I am using MilkShape. Is there a simple method to use the single side for both (left and right) mapping? Can UlimateUnwarp3d do this? (Just bought). Or a method to get, from a picture left view, an other picture with the right view? Note it is not just mirroring...

Fabio

[Shadowsong]

Normally, you define an UV map inside 3dsmax or whatever you use. And on this UV map you can place the UV coordinates on your texture. So you would simply place the "UV shape" of both sides of the car over the single image. This way you can use parts of your texture on multiple parts of the model. You can also "mirror" or do whatever you want to the UV coordinates.

This is actually more of a question to artists and I am not one

[Lenn]

Artists you say?
Ok then, well for example in 3D smax you can introduce planar UV map and set it right down the middle of the car vertically. It will set the UVs on all verts to depend on their XZ position. However this may lead the other side of the car to look backward or flipped if it's text or something. In that case what you do is separate the sides into two groups, apply the planar uv modifier normally to one side, and the other side you just click on the map to flip the U channel of the texture. That way both sides should be the same. This wont work however if your headlights and everything is on a single texture, so only if your entire car is of a single colour and you're only setting this for a texture with a decal (ie lettering).

I'm not sure how to explain it any better without showing you a complete tutorial, but it is possible.