Quote - Quote in parts - Agent 0013
"Now what I need is to find out how to assign the image maps so that they show up on the actual model itself in Blender...

I have gotten to the point at which I can create the maps, lay them out on the template,  assign materials, and import an image map. The problem is getting it to show on the model...

I thought maybe rendering an image would do it, but that did not work either."

*If you have rendered an image and it doesn't show the textures then that indicates that they have not been applied to the model correctly.  Even if the textures do not appear in your viewports they will still be rendered if properly applied.

In the picture I linked to in my post above I have added panels just so you could see all the areas that need attention.

These are the steps you need to be going through.  Let us know at which point things are not working.

1. Create model
2. Un wrap model
3. Export models UV map template
4. Paint on UV map template (GIMP, Photoshop, etc)
5. Save new painted texture
6. Select model and create/assign a material to the model (see picture in my post above)
7. Create texture (see my picture in post above)
8. Choose "Image or Movie" (see my picture in post above)
9. Load your new painted texture (see my picture in post above)
10. In Mapping type choose "UV" (see my picture in post above)

If these steps have been done correctly you will see the applied texture in the material and texures preview windows.  If you have lights and cameras setup in your scene rendering now will generate an image with the textures applied.

To see the applied textures in the viewport windows you need to have "Texture" selected as the viewport shading type and GLSL selected in the Display type.  Pressing "N" opens the panel to select the display type (see my picture in post above).  Make sure there are lights in your scene otherwise all you will see is a black model.

To export your model choose .obj as the format type and make sure that export uvs and write materials are selected.  The material file (.mtl) created when you export your model contains the file path information to your textures.  Normally if you just include the image files in the same folder as the .obj file then when you import the model into another program the textures will be applied.

 

This is the most concise and to the point instruction I have yet seen in any posting I have viewed! None of the tutorials I have seen are anywhere near as clear as this, and the high resolution picture you provided points everything out precisely. Thank you Keppel, for this advice. I will practice this until I am familiar with all of the steps and can perform each in its proper order. I'm sure other beginners can benefit from your post as well, so I encourage them to look at it too.

Stay awesome!

Agent 0013.