Hard Light Productions Forums
Modding, Mission Design, and Coding => The Modding Workshop => Topic started by: Swamp_Thing on September 17, 2004, 08:59:29 pm
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Ok, we have your modeling tutorials, we have your model texturing tutorials, the PCS user guide, the Truespace user tutorials, etc etc. But do we have any texture making tutorials?
I mean tuts that teach you how to make kool looking hull panels, windows, shiny pipes, (did i mentioned hull panels?) shine maps, glow maps, and everything else needed to give a ship a good paint job?
I really need to learn how to make these things, to start mapping my own models.
I would prefer if those tutorials were for use with PaintShopPro 8.
But for any other graphics program will do just fine.
In short, i want to learn how to do those awesome things Lightspeed does, with so little effort...
:p
Leave links, please.
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Get, max. Use unwrap UVW modifier. Print screen. Cut and paste part you want into GIMP. Texture.
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Oh and just make semi random lines that might make sense and serve a function. Have them overlay a general "mottled" texture.
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Out of curiosity, can you UV map? That's one fo the harder parts of texturing I've found.
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Now see, I can get a general UV map out pretty easily. I don't know how useful they are, because I can't photoshop to save my life. But making the initial UV, while time consuming and not very fun, isn't something I find difficult. Actually making a texture that doesn't look like it was drawn in paint, that's hard.
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UV mapping is easy, for me it's the easiest part, the actual texture is hard as hell though.
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Hmmm... Maybe I should do up a tut. My style of mapping isn't the prettiest in the community but it is fairly easy...
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UV map tuts are available, but truly new texture making tuts aren't, AFAIK.
I always wanted to experiment with printing a UV map and drawing into it.
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I texture. :p But I hate UV Mapping. :p
Why am I always the opposite of everyone else? :p
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Originally posted by Deepblue
Get, max. Use unwrap UVW modifier. Print screen. Cut and paste part you want into GIMP. Texture.
Max has an unwrapper plugin, BTW. Think the newer (post 4) versions should include it, too. I might do a tut next time I make something, depends on demand.
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Thats what I'm talking about, it does.
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Originally posted by Deepblue
Thats what I'm talking about, it does.
I mean, one which exports the map. Print screen is iffy, because you need to re-align the created map to the UV. (amongst other things)
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That reminds me of things I want to ask you, aldo... Guess I'll have to get a comprehensive list in my head, first, though.
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none of you guys bother with Lith or Mapper ?
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Why use extra programs when what we use to make the models has a mapper in it? And a fairly descent one at that?
Hell, even TS's UVMapper isn't half bad...
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I use Lith
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Damnit. I wanted to look at your archives of mediocrity, but swooh is timing out.. :hopping:
I need ideas to steal from for my mapping the dolphin...
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There's not that much good stuff up there. It's all... well, mediocre basically. My good stuff is locked up in use by campaigns and stuff.
EDIT: If you're interested, I can probably get you some pics of the Draco at least, which is probably my best work so far.
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I've actually got some in-game screens that would be pretty good at showing off your mapping skills. Lets see...
Pictures removed pending exclusivity determination.
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Maybe i should have mentioned, i have the UV maps part covered already. My very first map didn´t come out half bad actually. Especially considering it was made with TS... :D
Now all i need is a good tut on hull making. Wich reminds me, 18 replies and not a single link??? :confused:
Common guys, spill the beans here, don´t hogg all the action!!
:p
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This gets posted a lot when people ask for help
http://www.xwaupgrade.com/tutorials/tutorial.htm
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there were loads of walkthroughs via google (there was a really good BF1942 [IIRC] tut that involved painting a tank. Can't for the life of me find now though.
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He doesn't want a tutorial on how to UV map, guys. He wants a tutorial on how to make good looking bitmaps.
The answer is that there is no real tutorial, Swamp_Thing. Creativity is not something taught in a tutorial. People can give you tutorials on how to use graphic design programs, but not on how to be creative in your use of those tools. Just play, try things out, and be patient.
Two pieces of advice:[list=1]- Use subtle shifts of colour on your textures. Solid blocks of colour or even simple linear gradients look dull and unconvincing.
Look at the texture for the Herc 2 for example: It seems to the eye that those side pods are simply grey, but in reality there is a lot of colour variation on them, so that some bits are actually purple and some are green.
- Don't go overboard with little fiddly bits in the textures. Too many bumps, buttons, vents, glowy bits, etc., will make the texture too busy, and therefore less pretty.
Think of it as a background with some accents. In all good design, there has to be a backgroud, and there have to be some accents. If you put on too many accents, it becomes hard to tell which is background and which is accent, and that makes for an ugly design.
For an example compare the Bakha with the Sekhmet: The Bakha is nicer to look because the Sekhmet has too many little glowy bits and vents stuck on it. The accents and the background are at war with each other for dominance, and the Sekhment cannot decide whether it is a tan ship with glowy and venty accents (yes I made up the word venty), or a glowy and venty ship with tan accents. On the Bakha, there is no war, and it is quite clear which part is the background, and which parts are the accents.[/list=1]