# General 3D: Help on image to be wrapped around sphere for planet effect

**URL:** <https://forum.kirupa.com/t/general-3d-help-on-image-to-be-wrapped-around-sphere-for-planet-effect/207909>\
**Category:** design\
**Created:** [November 22, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/general-3d-help-on-image-to-be-wrapped-around-sphere-for-planet-effect/207909 "2006-11-22T17:56:41Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 1\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Lemuel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Lemuel](https://forum.kirupa.com/u/Lemuel)\
**Post date:** [November 22, 2006, 5:56pm UTC](https://forum.kirupa.com/t/general-3d-help-on-image-to-be-wrapped-around-sphere-for-planet-effect/207909/1 "2006-11-22T17:56:41Z")

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Hi

I Have Maya 8 and Swift 3D V3, but this question is pretty much universal to all 3D apps.  
(as well as Photoshop CS and CS2)

I will have to render a 3D sphere, with an image applied to it to show continents etc… of a fictional world.

I can apply images to spheres in both applications, thats not the problem.  
I need help creating the image that will be used as a texture.

The planet may be fictional, but it has to be displayed and rendered correctly and accurately nonetheless. Its not a task that simply calls for “a planet” in the background. The planet is the focus, and has a name.

My largest problem is the image dimensions. What would the width and hight ratio be? If I get it wrong I could see things like the ice-caps being displayed wrong. I’m not overly concerned about drawing techniques to make the continents etc… realistic. Just the dimensions.

I’d appreciate any help, or suggestions.

-Lem