The problem

Blenders UV mapping is pretty far behind. Everyone has trouble learning how to UV map and the core concepts behind it. A clunky UI/ UX makes that a whole lot harder than it has to be.

The solution

Improve the standard UV tools, user interface and workflow.

If you're thinking blenders UV workflow is totally fine, I've had no issues with it. That's cool, but you don't know what you're missing out on and how much faster and easier it can be.

Note: I can offer my 12+ years of graphic design experience, 4+ years experience UV unwrapping in 4 different softwares, etc.

Why prioritize this over other blender improvements?

1. Sometimes the boring stuff is the most important. For modelers, this is one of those things that can't be left behind and Blender is very competitive for modelers until it comes to UVing. Many pros are coming to blender for it's modeling capabilities but still have to find other options for UVs.

2. Beginners need a better experience with this. The concepts and process are naturally weird for UV unwrapping and the tools can make this a lot easier or harderfor them.

3. I know that we can get the UV job done for any project in 10x less time with a better setup system in place. We can even enjoy it.

Most important improvements to start:

1. Ditch the sync button system and have the objects geometry show in both the 3D and 2D views during the work. The geometry should not disappear in either view while you are working on it unless you intentionally hide it.

2. Add a toggle switch with a basic checker material which shows on both the model and it's islands. We need this to check distortion (the current way to enable this is clunky)

3. Be able to add custom texture material

4. Highlight flipped polygons/ islands by default in red

5. Make a consolidated tool panel in the 2D view that includes all the basic functions needed for any project

This panel should include:

• Set UV tile dimensions with presets for 1K, 2K, 3K, 4K etc.
• Set number of UV Tiles and make them quickly accessible (+ and - buttons or something)
• Pack UV islands with check box options (Set margins and padding)
• Align island rotation buttons
• Align islands with gravity
• Straighten UV's along Vertical and Horizontal
• Rectangulate - basically to square off UV islands AKA rectify
• Get and set texel density for UV islands
• Select back-facing islands/ faces
• Flip islands by X or Y
• export UV snapshot

6. There should also be a pie menu for UVing on the 3D side and on the 2D side with really repetitive tasks covered.

3D Pie menu / keyboard shortcuts:

• Apply transforms
• Project Islands from View
• Mark seam
• Cut seam
• Stitch and or Sew Seam

2D / keyboard shortcuts:

• Unfold/ unwrap
• Relax Islands
• Cut seam
• Stitch and or Sew Seam
• Align rotation
• Relax
• Pin
• Unwrap/ unfold

This kind of thing would greatly improve the process, make it more user friendly and bridge the wide gap with other softwares like maya and rizom.

Some features for the IDEAL UV workflow:

• Be able to group and organize UV islands.
• Pack UV groups together

Again I can offer graphic design expertise and UV unwraping experience in this as well to help get this done.