Starting Basic

So really I thought I would start with the most basic method of hand painting textures that I know of and that’s just making a basic model in a 3d modeler program (maya, in this case). From there I will take a snapshot of the UVs and paint in the texture in Photoshop.

However, since I really had no clue what some tips and tricks of how to go about designing models and then painting them were (yes, even rocks), the first thing i did was go find tutorials to watch.

After google searching how to hand paint 3D objects, i came across a tutorial on Udemy.com called “Hand Painted Weapon”. Its a tutorial by Tyson Murphy (lucky for me, someone who used to work on World of Warcraft), that I took a bunch of notes from which ill post here;

     “Hand Painted Weapon – by Tyson Murphy

Maya, Photoshop

Tools

• Create Polygon tool
• Multicut tool
• Insert edgeloop
• Merge
• Mirror
• Collapse
• Extrude

Modelling

• As low poly as possible
• Outline silhouette
• Include edges -> raise them out for depth
• Mirror Half of objects, saves texture space

UVS

• Keep uvs economical, uv space used as widely as possible
• Set up so its easy to paint *MOST IMPORTANT* is ease of painting
• Align uvs to straight lines (align tool edges)
• This saves space and makes it easier to paint
• Smooth Uvs, relax/unfold
• Don’t overlap some things; light affects them differently if they are in different areas from each other (example, little spikes on sword)
• Little bit of stretching is ok when its on a non focal point, and is going to be mostly hidden
• Keep shells in direction object faces
• Small objects can be a little bigger for ease of painting, wont notice texel density difference on smaller objects
• Allows for more detail to be seen anyway
• Don’t place objects too close together, paint will bleed onto other shells
• Add uvs as material in maya and turn up ambient light so you can see how your painted texture is working without default lighting

 Painting

• Take uvs to photoshop
• Invert layer
• Blend mode to multiply
• Select empty space, invert (so all islands are selected), fill islands,
• Then go to Select, Modify, Expand (by 5 pixels)
• This allows space around your island selections so your edges don’t show in-engine
• New Layer underneath Uvs, fill with warm gray
• Add psd file to maya model so you can update regularly and see how it looks in 3D

Setting up Brush

• Use normal, round hard brush
• Pressure sensitivity -> pen pressure, minimum diameter ~45% (so brush doesn’t get too small when painting lightly)
• Use Mask Layer to keep w/in border
• Control H to hide selection ants, keeps object selected
• Uv layer opacity low, so lines don’t get in the way (~20%)

Values

• Use values to trick mind it’s a 3D object
• Think up imaginary light source, with a sword its easy to use top-down
• Planes facing light – lighter, facing dark – darker
• Blend as you go using eyedropper, or can use smudge tool
• Use darker colours first for awhile to bring out base values
• **Need a large range of value to be able to sell the object as believable**
• Switch to high value light, use navigator to see entire object
• If texture looks good flat, with no lighting, it will look good in game
• If your value changes, you want your hue/saturation to change
• Don’t just change a colour from light, and go straight down to the dark version of it. Change its hue a bit while darkening. Its more realistic and dynamic.
• Don’t value everything the same, imagine LIGHT FALLOFF
• Gives you gradients on same planes. More dynamic
• If your values are wrong/not working, adding details wont help

Edges

• Usually lightest spots
• Highlights are not always where light source is directly hitting first, its offset
• Don’t rely entirely on the colours on the canvas/concept. Sometimes a bit of spontaneity, or splash of colour, is good
• Paint Occlusion
• Darken edges where object meet
• Stay with LOOSE STROKES -> keeps values on point
• Add some wear to edges

Details

• Small, dark brush, add scratches
• Small details are good to further define light source
• Highlight edges of scratches/details
• Smudge dark colours in, looks like dents and it adds colour variation. Highlight lightly
• Make sure not to over detail, keep areas of focus
• Overlay Layers
• Gives variance in highlights (not all highlights are same)
• Multiply Layers
• Gives variance in shadows, darker right next to where light hits
• Add extra bright highlights to increase shine in metal objects (small touches)
• Colour Dodge Layer
• Brings out light areas, pops highlights
• Rough strokes
• You have to guess where objects are sticking in for ambient occlusion/ trial n error
• Filter -> blur -> Gaussian blur
• Some faces would technically be lit the same; still good to slightly change it for variation

Final Touches

Check Forms

Check Highlights

Direct reflection of light source from surface mat to eyes

Highlights located on ~45% angle between viewer and light source

Check Shadows

Define depth

Deep spots get no light; darkest moments

Detail; add more if needed

Bounce Light

Bounce colours between objects to show connection

Looks pretty good to me. Moving forward, I tried to really keep these tips in mind when modeling (low poly), setting up the uv’s (this really matters, as i find out later), and of course painting everything.