hi
can anyone tell me how i can achieve high quality work like shahara.
I still really only new to poser and i dont know how to texture characters such as skin, eyebrows, lips etc. I know i need photoshop and UV mapping but thats all i really know.
I dont know where to start.
Also i would like to use levius' nude resources but how do you use them?
Could someone link me to a site or give their own info.
Thanks for any help!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Forgive me for saying so, Aerithflower, but there is a heck of a lot to learn before you can produce work like Shahara - it's far to much for someone to just "tell you" how to do it! It comes from months and months of posing, rendering, reading tutorials, posing rendering, postwork.... etc. etc...  I'm a 2 months old baby here at Rendo, and I'm only just getting started myself.

Having said all that, it's great fun learning, and you'll get loads of help from all sorts of kind and wonderful and knowledgeable people.

Just don't expect to be able to produce work like the top artists here within a few weeks - or you'll be very disappointed...

There are threads with lots of pointers to all sorts of tutorials, and I'll post a link when I find them... but I expect a good egg will do that before I get home this evening and have a chance to do so.

thanks for your response IsaoShi LOL
I do know i wont be able to produce work as great as shahara anytime soon but I want to start texturing now and build my way up and would like poinrers to help me  to eventually get to the standards of high quality artists. I would like to know which product would be best to use photo resources like photoshop or something similiar as i want to purchase one now.

In terms of what programs you need, there isn't much point in jumping straight in with two feet and then floundering. Photoshop is overkill for what most people need, especially if you're just getting started. Start with something like Paint Shop Pro until you get the basics (and it's a damn sight cheaper!)

As for the texturing part - skin textures are incredibly difficult. Different tonal variations, different lights, and then the seams to deal with. Again, start out with something easy like some freebie clothing textures, to get the hang of dealing with seams, patterns, bump maps, etc..

That's all I can think of right now! Hope it helps. And good luck :)

Attached Link: Acadia's Materials links

Yes, or Photoshop Elements, which I use; or even a free one such as The Gimp. As long as it handles layers.

I attach a link to Acadia's Materials links thread - loads of stuff to read and follow to get you started using Poser...

Izi

I suggest instead of getting Paint shop or Photoshop start off with either Gimp or Paint.net. Both are free and very good programs for image editing.  Also a good resource is tutorials, I suggest looking here in the tutorial area and at 3dlinks.

Quote - thanks for your response IsaoShi LOL
I do know i wont be able to produce work as great as shahara anytime soon but I want to start texturing now and build my way up and would like poinrers to help me  to eventually get to the standards of high quality artists. I would like to know which product would be best to use photo resources like photoshop or something similiar as i want to purchase one now.

The best resource is the one that fits into your workflow.  Just because Photoshop is the "industry standard" doesn't make it the absolute be all end all of image editors.  Gimp is free and can be just as powerful.  I agree with the recommendation of PaintShop Pro.  I used it for many years and still find myself going back to it when I need to do something in a hurry. 

As for skin texturing, there is a whole lot more to it than just what image editor to use.  Even with the large number of merchant resources available, you will still need to invest in high res reference photos from a subscription site like 3dsk.  You can't just take a merchant resource, slap it on a figure, twist a few dials, and call it yours.  Most merchant resources require at least 50%, some as much as 90%, alteration before you can claim it as your own. 

The map is only one part of it.  At one time it was the norm to create a texture map, add a bump map and call it done.  Do that today and you won't make many sales.  Take a look at the standard res texture of V4 in the Poser material room.  That node set up is simple compared to some I've used and created.

You're going to need a good working knowledge of the material room and learn how to create and use not just bump maps but displacement, specular, and even SSS maps. 

This is just off the top of my head and I'm sure there's more I'm not covering on the ins and outs of skin texturing but these are some of them.

ok thanks everyone,
It all sounds so difficult now!!! LOL. By the way i have no plans of putting my character for sale or anything> i just want to create my own. Thanks for all your help. Also does anyone know where else I can purchase high quality characters similiar to shahara's and plus 3d's.

**There are many high quality characters for sale right here at Rendo. Browse through the V4 category in the MP. Or any model you prefer to use.  Vendors such as Freja, Rebelmommy, Mariny, CBro........so many of them to choose from. If you want male characters, feel free to check my store. grin

The MP can look daunting as there are so many products to be found, but you can narrow it down quite easily. Just go to Poser or DazStudio and then select the model you want from there and then select character sets.

As for using a site such as 3dsk or levius photo resources, I believe Rebelmommy uploaded a free tutorial. Check the tutorial section here at Rendo and the Free Stuff. Rebelmommy is who I learned the most from on using photo resources. Or jsut copntact her if you can't find it. Very nice lady who is always willing to help out.
**

Thanks Unicornst I'll do that!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks guys for all the help.

You're quite welcome.

I have another question!!!
Do the texture maps from 3d.sk.com fit the poser figures and is there any conversion system to make them fit if they dont?  Also how much is it to subscribe to the site. Is it really expensive..........hope not!!!!!

**It's not exactly texture maps. You're using photos of people and taking bits and pieces and converting them to fit the templates of the model.

The pricing varies according to the type of subscription you want. Just click on the big question mark on their Home page and follow the instructions. Pricing is given in EU until you actually get to the subscription page.
**

Attached Link: http://www.3d.sk/?id=10&search_query=&gender=Man&age=&body=&body_type=&race=&special=&poses=&emotions=&weapons=&animals=&videos=&premade=Head+textures&thumbnail=sm&sf=p&mi=1&mv=1&bs=1&bp=1

Firstly, from a quick look at the 3d.sk site, those textures are premium content, and aimed primarily at game developers. They won't fit the standard poser figures. Also, it would cost you $1290 for the privilege.

It's also important to remember that how 'good' a texture looks depends a lot of lighting, bump mapping, material settings, etc..

Thanks Nevare,
Now A new question- how do you do a bump map?

Oh sorry I forgot, Im using this photo as a texture source. Any ideas

A bump map is a grayscale map that shows the "height" of something, white being high, black being low. A cheap and cheerful way to do it would be to simply desaturate the colour map and maybe play with the contrast settings, then apply it in the poser material room.

Of course, if you want a really GOOD bump map, it needs a bit more work than that.

Lighting can make or break an image. Material room shaders are a big help. A link was given to you above to the material room bookmarks thread.

Here is one on lighting. There is a substantial learning curve to do lighting inside Poser, but it's worth the effort to learn.

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2734086

Basically what you need are:

1. a good texture to start with

2. a basic understanding of the material room. There are enough examples around that you can use or tweak to your needs

3. a working knowledge of lighting in your version of Poser. It's easier to make light sets in Poser 6 and Poser 7 than it is in earlier versions of Poser.

4.  a graphic program that you are familiar with.

Then of course in addition to the above you need a creative eye for composition and colour. That isn't so easy to teach.

Here are some post work tutorials. They are in .pdf format

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/tutorial/tutorial/-/?id=683&_m=d

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/tutorial/tutorial/-/?id=682&_m=d

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/tutorial/tutorial/-/?id=720&_m=d

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/tutorial/tutorial/-/?id=762&_m=d

http://www.daz3d.com/i.x/tutorial/tutorial/-/?id=681&_m=d

Quote - Sorry for triple post!!! the link didnt work as the file was too big. Heres a smaller pic of the Photo

Ok, it looks like you are wanting to make your own character and skin textures.

Check out this thread for bookmarks on how to do that:

http://market.renderosity.com/mod/forumpro/showthread.php?thread_id=2660658

You can also try this tute about going from a 3d.sk photo to a fully mapped texture using photoshop:

Texturing a face

The same method applies to the rest of the body as well

Thanks everyone!!!!!!!!!!!!
Acadia, I looked up your link that you provided in your post and am really interested in the one about skin texturing but you didnt go into detail alot. Where do you find the template for the head to what you add the photo texture to? Is this in the poser directory or is UV mapping necessary?

You can use UV Mapper to create it, or you can use the ones SnowSultan has  made. 

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/index.php?user_id=856

Thanks Acadia!
I'll probably have more questions later...hehe

Attached Link: FS SKIN TEXTURE TUTORIAL

Attached Link: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/gallery/index.php?image_id=1100639

The eyes are very likely a seperate map, as they usually are. Otherwise you couldn't open the lids etc, and that would be extremely limiting.

ok thanks,
In the link ( Thanks silke by the way for fixing the link) for the skin tutorial it shows the template map. Do you load the entire map into photoshop and add all the photograph all on the same map cause the eyes, the face and the lashes are shown in one image to the top right hand side of the image in the link. Or do they come on seperate maps. I hope im making sense!

Keep in mind that the tutorial that FS did was in building a texture for Vicky 2, which had a different UV map to the later versions. If you're using Vicky 3 or 4, then they have different UV maps, but the same technique still applies. Which model are you using? What would help us to help you. :)

Im either going to use hiro 3.0 or james. What lighting technique would show photorealistic results and are there any in the marketplace. Is baggins*** ( sorry cant remember name) VSS shader the best to use?

Decide first on what model you are going to use, because the two you mentioned both have different texture maps.

The picture you posted should be fine. The eyes will be on their own texture map, and the eyebrows will go on the main face/head map. Download SnowSultan's UV maps from his freestuff area here: http://www.renderosity.com/mod/freestuff/index.php?user_id=856

Basically, start by copying and pasting the pictures you want to use over the UV map in Photoshop, and use a soft eraser to get rid of the edges so they blend together smoothly. You'll probably need to use the transform tools as well to scale or rotate the bits you want as well.

ok thanks nevare, I'll give it a go!

new question when i try to copy and paste onto the template such as lips, the lips on the template are irregular shape. Im talking about the seam template of james by snowsultan. I also notice in FS' tiny skin tutorial his template is on the figure's face as he applies the textures from his photo onto his character. How is this done?

If you want the template above your texture, change the blending mode to multiply and drag it above your other layers.

What do you mean by irregular shape? Are you using James 1 or the G2 one?

To be blunt, all the tutorials in the world arent going to help you unless you're pretty damn good at Photoshop. Skin textures are a serious pain in the *** to build because you have so many variables to handle, not the least of whch is the jump from neck to body and adjusting the detail accordingly.

Just a word of caution.

Nevare, i mean the template map is flattened right, so everything is iiregular as regards to the photo. What I mean is the lips are in a sad expression ( cause the template map is flat) and the photo obviously isnt. If  you know what i mean? I know it sounds as if im talking alot of bull...
Im using james 1.0 by the way.

Quote - Nevare, i mean the template map is flattened right, so everything is iiregular as regards to the photo. What I mean is the lips are in a sad expression ( cause the template map is flat) and the photo obviously isnt. If  you know what i mean? I know it sounds as if im talking alot of bull...

That's what the warp tool of photoshop is for. It let's you take an image and move it's various parts around to fit them to your UV map. Dunno if other apps have something similar...

oh thanks nevare,I havent started yet as im too busy working!
could you possibly show how i could do the eyes?
thanks again, everyones being a great help

Hmmm there is something wrong with this thread i see.
I was told i got a message from a few members on this forum but none are being displayed.
Can someone else just reply on this thread to see if a post appear here,
thx!