[Grimloq]

i need to learn to make and apply my own textures, so first off, someone please point me to a tutorial about lithunwrapper.

also, hwat programs should i use for making the textures? i have MS paint (whihc im actually quite handy at, beleive it or not ) and this program called 'adobe photodeluxe buisness edition', which has some pretty useful tools in it. i also have PSP 4, but thats basicly a glorified MS paint i may have a nicer version somewhere, but i might not.

so, are any of those any good? or should i look around for other better stuff?

also, i would use textures and truespace 5s rendering capabilities to make ultra-cool textures, ie better blended, or add little scratches etc in that.

sooo... yeah. what about all that?

[MatthewPapa]

It takes a long time for me to orderly unwrap complex models. I have been unwrapping some ships for the Robotech mod for a while now and havent made as much progress as I would like.

[aldo_14]

MS paint is ok for breaking textures into different-coloured bits, but that's about it.  Photoshop is the best program - but very, very expensive - IIRC there's a freeware clone available (Gimp, I think).

One thing about texture drawing - it takes a lot of repetition to get 'good'.  Certainly has taken me a long time to get to a reasonably decent level, and even then I'm still far off where I want to be.

So be prepared for that, and be willing to restart & look at other examples for inspiration & to try and figure out how they do their textures.

[Roanoke]

try modifying existing textures before doing all new ones.

[aldo_14]

Nah.  Doesn't help, because you will find a tendency to only add 'skin deep' features rather than learn to work upon the base.

 Best way to learn is probably to try and redraw an existing texture from scratch, IMO.

[Black Wolf]

Go to www.jasc.com and DL PSP 7 or PSP 8. You get a free 30 day trial, during which you can do...thing... to the program. Make the trial go away, so to speak.*

PSP is what me and VA use, so we may be able to help yopu ourt with some stuff.





*By this, I mean buy it, of course

[KARMA]

don't let him fool you, and go get photoshop;)

[Grimloq]

using lith for like, turrets and small fighters, etc. not big ships. it just doesnt work, and using tiling on turrets can produce cheesey results.

modifying exsisting textures isnt a bad idea at all, IE i could add little engine component things to one and use that. it wouldnt look original, but it would work.

(i use MS picture it 9 and MS paint to do my bumpmaps.)

adobe photodeluxe has some incredably useful tools, like an oddly well-done smudge effect, where you can choose options on it etc, and an auto-smoothing paintbrush. i may experiment with that somewhat. its also got some nice tools for making little 'specks' of metal or rust or blood or whatever