I was wondering about a question which I had never thought of before until someone mentioned this to me. Basically, I was trying to create my own custom character using a combination of morph dials and ZBrush sculpting to get the face I wanted. However, I was using another characters skin texture to try to get the skin tone and look just right. I tried various textures from some figures I had purchased for V4 here in the marketplace. The person I spoke with though said that I can't use another skin texture I bought to achieve a replica of an image I am trying to create because you have to create you own due to the fact the eyes and brows will never look OK unless you find an exact match.

So, my question is, what should I do to get an image I want? If I find one that fits I guess that would be OK but if I am trying to make a figure from a photo for example I will need to do my own texture for the face and body?

Also, I have a general question about textures and using them on your own figures. Say either I create my own character or use different ones I got in the market place here, can I change those textures on the figures OK without causing issues with the eyes, brows, etc. or is each texture specific to that charcter I bought to look the best/correct on? What about say I bought a character that has different looking eyes or eye color, can they be used on other characters too without issues or just the one it was designed for? The reason I ask is because I thought anything made for V4/M4 would fit those models OK.

Thanks for any replies on this.

 I think what you person who told you this meant was that.. let's say you're recreating a celebrity. Unless you get a high rez photo oof said celebrity, it will never look really real - because eyes, eyebrows, skin tone, moles ect are all poart of what we see, subconscious, when we look at a person. And you will notice if it's "off".

I've tried for years to make a believable replica of Alan Rickman. And although I HAVE several (like a few thousand...) pics of him.. it all strands on the fact that I do not have enough  high rez closeups that can be used together for a proper skin texture. And thus, it won't look right, even if I've got the morph pretty close by now.

But sure you can mix and match from several characters, as long as it's for your own use. You can't sell or give away such a texture of course, but I don't think that's what you're planning either, right?

AFAIK, M4 and V4 shares eyes, so one eye texture will work for them both. You may be lucky to find JUST the right eye in one pack, and a close-enough skin texture in another, and they can be mixed as you please :)

TrekkieGrrrl,

Thanks for letting me know. I thought it should work OK to use skin textures like that but was not sure. No, I do NOT plan to sell them, but I would like to make my own. Making a celebrity as you say can be hard. I have one I am working on and have seen others make some REALLY good ones from many different celebs that look very real. I plan to sculpt the head in another program, but need to make my own texture or maybe find one I have bought or could use that would be close match. I just wasn't sure if I could get the eyes or eye brows to look right though without making my own texture because I was told I could not. Also I was told that making your own texture was a must for a look alike model. As you say, you can't always get the photos you want but I was thinking as long as you got most of the face you can use photoshop to do the rest.

Can you suggest any good tutorials for making your own V4 skin textures using photoshop? I have never tried to make a custom skin texture before and thought there may be some good tutorials on it. Also, if I get the head done, I need a guide on how to make the rest of the body in photoshop to match the texture with the head part.

Thanks for the help.**
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Hi 3DNeo !

Rebelmommy has published a nice tutorial here:
http://www.daz3d.com/i/tutorial/tutorial?id=2123&_m=d

The easiest way to make a texture for V4 is to purchase a merchant ressource for V4 - so you won't be bothered with seams , they are really a  headache - then  use it as a base,  modify it with your own photo ressources (you don't necessarily need your photos , you may also purchase additional photos from 3d.sk for ex.) or add make-ups also available as merchant ressources .

Alizea