Topic: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

I was wondering if there is a "Need/Demand" for a character texture painting tutorial.

Here is an example, this took me about 15 min to paint in Blender. Super easy to do anyone can paint there characters as good or better.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-FPFlrEtxyDM/Ui5w4O8I3uI/AAAAAAAAA6Y/ZgRUnlUd0BY/w960-h540-no/fighter.png

I can make tutorials for Blender, Mudbox and 3DCoat.

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

I'd say a big yes.

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

yeah that would be really helpfull zester smile .

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Please! This is what I have been doing for the longest. I finally found an understandable tutorial on head modeling for characters. I have been trying to use PROJECT FROM VIEW UV mapping in Blender to get a quick texture. I have a decent workflow now.

Please, I would like a tutorial (especially of its super easy)

Did you UV unwrap?

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Tutorial Doctor wrote:

Please! This is what I have been doing for the longest. I finally found an understandable tutorial on head modeling for characters. I have been trying to use PROJECT FROM VIEW UV mapping in Blender to get a quick texture. I have a decent workflow now.

Please, I would like a tutorial (especially of its super easy)

Did you UV unwrap?

Thats a makehuman proxy model 3000k poly and they come with there UV's already unwrapped, all I did here was the texture painting. But UV's are really easy also there are a couple of tricks you can do I would be happy to make a tutorials on UV's also.

Here was my first attempt, when I learned how the pros texture paint there models. This took me about 5-10 mins to do. But the tutorial I am writing right now will apply to texture painting any type of object.

I use Projection Painting with Stencils for most things and Tile for hard to reach places.

But yes super easy and fast.

http://i46.tinypic.com/1o29au.png
http://i47.tinypic.com/n3lq82.png

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

I am going to dump the images here first then fill the tutorial in with instructions, its geared for those who only have limited blender experience. Note: I might have some of the images out of order on accident, there was a lot of pictures but I will fix them.

Project File to follow along with. https://zester.googlecode.com/files/Project.zip

Step 1
Open the UV/Image Editor
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/--uEegz-m6gk/UkxH3fNjqlI/AAAAAAAAA_s/3yaOAPHWvWI/w936-h693-no/snapshot1.png

Step 2
Create a new blank texture 2048x2048 and name it "Diffuse"
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-W5hNM-tSucI/UkxH6f1tvKI/AAAAAAAABAg/ZL8U9314nGU/w936-h693-no/snapshot2.png

Step 3
We are going to fill the blank texture with the UV Grid, this is useful in combination with blenders UV tools to look for any stretching with the UV's
Note: Blender has one of the most Advanced UV Editors that exists, if nothing else in Pro VFX work its used for that, ill show you how to use the advance UV editing features in another tutorial.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IJyP6euf49o/UkxH_Yn7vYI/AAAAAAAABBA/b-szJKhvPoc/w656-h486-no/snapshot3.png

Step 4
Create a new Material
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-gLlZ91DRucQ/UkxIAWiD9oI/AAAAAAAABBM/qA0PWBEpPsU/w262-h486-no/snapshot4.png

Step 5
Open the Texture Tab and create a new texture if one doesnt already exist.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-_3nspLGpCvw/UkxIA9JZkRI/AAAAAAAABBc/hOPtxnK5zGA/w261-h485-no/snapshot5.png

Step 6
Choose the "Diffuse texture we just created."
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-PhelQuq1RUs/UkxIA9iJ8dI/AAAAAAAABBk/RmKnCDhRR-4/w263-h486-no/snapshot6.png

Step 7
Change the mapping from "Generated" to "UV"
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-VblVhcx2r44/UkxIBnARuwI/AAAAAAAABB0/We128Vx58Rs/w263-h486-no/snapshot7.png

Step 8
With your mouse cursor over your modeling view press the "N" key to open up the "Viewport Properties" panel and scroll down to the "Display" tab and change that from "Multitexture" to "GLSL"
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-zcELQtC649Q/UkxICeyfakI/AAAAAAAABCA/MgK_f34dCVQ/w656-h486-no/snapshot8.png

Step 9
Note: This is out of order.
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-1U6ASi-thRw/UkxICM7vX0I/AAAAAAAABB8/nGQP2gm6-IM/w321-h485-no/snapshot9.png

Step 10
Create a new "Brush" and ...
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-4ln7-b26kVQ/UkxH2zUCXxI/AAAAAAAAA_Y/Et5eVkOBUxU/w321-h485-no/snapshot10.png

Step 11
Open the "HeadAndFaceReference.jpg" image
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-6SjJjAUac48/UkxH3jKZD3I/AAAAAAAAA_w/sh2ehaCxykQ/w727-h437-no/snapshot14.png

Step 12
Rename your Bush Image to "FaceReferance"
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-RkoJBcB4Y8Y/UkxH4PQGiqI/AAAAAAAAA_4/H2pWbJyQ5mE/w321-h486-no/snapshot15.png

Step 13
Change to "Texture Paint Mode"
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-l_OgC0-z4uw/UkxH5c1JVjI/AAAAAAAABAY/0Q1dCy0Jxzo/w727-h437-no/snapshot16.png

Step 14
If the Texture Paint Mode side Panel isn't already open then open it by pressing the "T" key
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-jl6edAf48jQ/UkxH5boUSXI/AAAAAAAABAU/Mqx3Gq2_1co/w727-h437-no/snapshot17.png

Step 15
Turn the "Strength" of your "Brush" all the way up
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-izTcTu-CnJY/UkxH44azPUI/AAAAAAAABAA/DXYA0YPvM2Y/w202-h486-no/snapshot18.png

Step 16
Scroll down to the "Texture" tab and open it if its not already showing, choose the "FaceReferance" image if it isnt already selected and change the "Mode" to "Stencil"
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-106SpV5BdaY/UkxH5fP7w-I/AAAAAAAABAM/66qx_MWt_YM/w156-h485-no/snapshot19.png

Step 17
When you move your mouse cursor over the viewport you should now see the semi transparent "FaceReferance" image being projected over your model.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-pueDo9T3v1s/UkxH8-1A2uI/AAAAAAAABAw/bSv2MikPPjc/w727-h437-no/snapshot20.png

Projection Painting Controls

1. Right Mouse Button (RMB) down at the same time and moving your mouse will move the reference image around.

2. SHIFT + Right Mouse Button (RMB) down at the same time while moving your mouse will scale the image Up & Down.

3. CTRL + Right Mouse Button (RMB) down at the same time while moving your mouse will rotate the reference image.

4. SHIFT + Right Mouse Button (RMB) down at the same time and Click/Release Y or X key and moving your mouse will scale the reference image on the Y or X axis only.

Step 18
Our Characters Dimensions and the Dimensions of our reference image will more than likely be different so start small on key areas like the "Mouth" and just start painting.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-lvsALLz9OqI/UkxH9NoI7OI/AAAAAAAABA0/XPY6139N9Us/w727-h437-no/snapshot21.png

Step 19
When your "Mouse Cursor" leaves your viewport the "Reference Image" will disappear so you can see your progress more clearly
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-fW1qUBmEoXQ/UkxH82omf7I/AAAAAAAABA4/t9f3ZHgND7o/w727-h437-no/snapshot22.png

Step 20
Paint the "Eyes" an then "Nose" next.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-KCY-svmBuAM/UkxIAbhb-BI/AAAAAAAABBo/6603kL18vRs/w727-h437-no/snapshot23.png

Step 21
Its looking good
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-vkMkwgjpUgk/UkxIAM8J1nI/AAAAAAAABBg/v4ru-OWT0Kg/w727-h437-no/snapshot24.png


You will be hard pressed to find really high quality free reference images to use, what I do is look for individual photos of different parts of the body (Face, Chest, Back, Arms, Legs, ...) and then do color correction (Color Balance) and save those setting and apply that to the rest of my reference photo's.

Senshi Stock (Lots of free Reference Poses, mostly female some male)
Note: You need a deviantart account its free to create one.
http://senshistock.deviantart.com/gallery/

kristinkk (Both male and female models)
Note: You need a deviantart account its free to create one.
http://kristinkk.deviantart.com/gallery/

I will post more resources as I find them.

Last edited by zester (2013-10-02 19:08:30)

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Zester, it's trully awesome to have you back in the community ! big_smile

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

com3D wrote:

Zester, it's trully awesome to have you back in the community ! big_smile

Hee thanks I appreciate the love wink Good to be back I enjoy this community.

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

YES! Finally! Perhaps I can find some use for MakeHuman now! Get some characters goin'!

Tip: If you type "Face texture map'' in google, you can find some good things to use as a source image.

Thanks Zester!

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Tutorial Doctor wrote:

YES! Finally! Perhaps I can find some use for MakeHuman now! Get some characters goin'!

Tip: If you type "Face texture map'' in google, you can find some good things to use as a source image.

Thanks Zester!

Oh I have a tip for makehuman .....

The best way to get a lowpoly model out of makehuman without all the extra rigging and others stuff, is like so I do this because the makehuman importer for blender is flaky and never includes the proxy models.


Step 1
Click on "Geometries" then "Proxies"
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6Je1T2opFhk/Ukxyvo8akrI/AAAAAAAABC8/VtiMySPAkEk/w1106-h693-no/snapshot25.png

Step 2
In the right side panel choose the proxy you want to use there is 3 differant levels of detail from "Normal" to "Ultra Low Poly."
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-XYtlxBbxT2U/Ukxyv_aezYI/AAAAAAAABDA/5jW9jmR41Xs/w1106-h693-no/snapshot26.png

Step 3
In the "Toolbar" click on the save file icon, then in the "Left Side Panel" click on "Wavefront Obj" enter a new name for your file and click the export button.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-tjXlCpNPgG4/UkxyvwQqSCI/AAAAAAAABDE/0k2ad2kgDpM/w1106-h693-no/snapshot27.png

Then paint and rig in your favorite 3d package.




Also if you click on the little "Net" icon in the "Toolbar" you can enable "Wireframe" view to get a better idea what your characters mesh will look like.
https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-6SjylwiMPQc/Ukx2bJEMTcI/AAAAAAAABD0/8tpu6Ml9c_w/w1106-h693-no/snapshot30.png

Ultra Lowpoly
https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-K-By4F5gyU8/Ukx2aT61Y1I/AAAAAAAABDo/hgNNc8XkACU/w803-h593-no/snapshot29.png

Normal 16k Poly
https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-AyN_tmrDyUY/Ukx2bMQq1RI/AAAAAAAABDs/B54p9N5cFVg/w807-h596-no/snapshot28.png

Last edited by zester (2013-10-02 19:48:37)

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

I will cover "Projection Painting/Stenciling" the Transparent Ambient Occlusion Map(Shadows),  Specular or Gloss Map(Skin Oil) and Bump Map(Skin Texture, Pores, Facial Hair, Scars, ... ) a little later.

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Zester, what version of makehuman do you have? How do I get it? Because my version does not look anything like yours.

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Tutorial Doctor wrote:

Zester, what version of makehuman do you have? How do I get it? Because my version does not look anything like yours.

"Nightly" but more specifically r6001
http://www.makehuman.org/content/downlo … build.html

I am using the "Native Look" theme found by clicking on "Settings" and then in the right side
panel in the "Themes" groupbox.

https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-RQhhGc9Bse0/UkyBEeM1wtI/AAAAAAAABEY/OSTPUtl3kOg/w651-h408-no/snapshot31.png

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

I just found it! WOW! I can't believe that ALL THIS TIME I have been using the alpha version. I just downloaded the nightly build and WOW! haha

Thanks zester!

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Ok guys this isn't the "exact" look I wanted but it should give you an idea on what you can do when setting the "Paint Tools Brush Color" to something other than "White" and what painting a "Bump Map" can do.

Reminds me kind of a "Lord Voldemort". This is the 3k poly mesh. 

Now imagine waking up in the middle of the night with this guy hanging from your ceiling hissing at you, insisting he is going to eat your "face" !!!!!

https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-nf6NgqyOWc4/UkyBk2qx8II/AAAAAAAABFE/PXFKUiQV12s/w960-h540-no/snapshot32.png

Last edited by zester (2013-10-02 20:37:55)

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

HAHA! This is TOO EASY. Was able to do this in a matter of minutes:
PunBB bbcode test

Same model different texture:
PunBB bbcode test

Last edited by Tutorial Doctor (2013-10-02 21:14:42)

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Cool, looks great for your first attempt. Like I said easy easy easy.

Last edited by zester (2013-10-02 21:12:55)

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Okay, finished a full model. I just used a solid color that was sampled from the UV editor (from the face texture) and painted the rest of the body that color.
PunBB bbcode test

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Looks good and congratulations, your now producing GTA 4 quality characters.

http://media.gtanet.com/images/6526-gta-gay-tony-caught-with-your-pants-down.jpg

Last edited by zester (2013-10-02 23:15:33)

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

You're right! haha. That is exactly what I was thinking of. haha.

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Tutorial Doctor wrote:

You're right! haha. That is exactly what I was thinking of. haha.

lol wink

A little more practice and something like ....

http://aeportal.in/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/Skyrim-Characters-Orc.jpg

will be a piece of cake.

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

yikes! haha.

This does make not hate Blender so much now. hehe.

I still have issues with it, but at least I can actually do some stuff with Maratis now (stuff I have been working on)

I am trying to get it hooked up to some bvh files as I type.

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

Tutorial Doctor wrote:

yikes! haha.

This does make not hate Blender so much now. hehe.

I still have issues with it, but at least I can actually do some stuff with Maratis now (stuff I have been working on)

I am trying to get it hooked up to some bvh files as I type.

If you can follow my tutorial style then you will be a Blender game making god in no time. Do you know how to use the Texture Atlas plugin for Ambient Occlusion?

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

That Skyrim screenshot inspired me to speed model some armor, 60 secs. Once again something anyone with basic modeling skills can do.

https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-83QofyrIdRE/Uky1HBBbtmI/AAAAAAAABF8/D9lMcUEiMGI/w960-h540-no/snapshot32.png

Re: Should I make a Character Texture Painting Tutorial for the Wiki?

haha. This is the best topic I've seen so far. If only we could get normal maps into Maratis. I just downloaded 2,000 + bvh files, gonna see if I can use one to add to my character.

I have used texture atlas to bake some AO, but I still don't get how it works yet.