I created this really cool (IMO) German paratrooper set. I created a jumpsuit smock (shown above) and it seems to have turned out reasonably well. I am just not any good at texturing. I mean sometimes I can do an OK job, depending, but texturing is just not my strength. So I'm thinking maybe I could partner with someone who is good at texturing and maybe some of my 3D creations might come out better.

 Nice collar.  I have the darnedest time when I try to model them. Sorry I can't help you. I suck at texturing.

 Nice collar.  I have the darnedest time when I try to model them. Sorry I can't help you. I suck at texturing.

Thanks EClark1894! It took me a while to do it. But I'm reasonably happy with the way it turned out. :)

 Here's a little better pic of the jump smock. Unfortunately lighting in Poser is something I'm still learning too. :)

It looks good. Do you have it UV mapped? 

Oh and don't worry about lighting. I'm still learning that myself.

Nice job. Those German camo patterns are among my favourites, particularly the spotty one, I think it's called dot 44 - not sure if the paratroopers ever wore it.

I have never understood the point of that rather quirky item of clothing. There's no just 'dropping your pants' in a hurry, if you want to take a dump you have to strip off everything on your top half as well, including your webbing equipment - not ideal for a combat soldier and not great in very cold weather, and certainly not good if you have the runs.

It looks good. Do you have it UV mapped? 

Oh and don't worry about lighting. I'm still learning that myself.

Thanks. Yes. I UV Mapped it. I made it in Wings3D.  

@OBM8890: I never thought of that but you have a good point. It's not like long johns where you just drop a flap. And if landing from a parachute drop doesn't jar the stuff out of you I don't know what would. Maybe another reason they lost the war?

"Texturing" a model always starts with the UV map. Nine times out ten, the reason a model is difficult to texture is because the UV map and/or material zones are not created well. With good material zone creation, you can virtually automate texture mapping with seamless textures and a few brush strokes in some cases.

I'm not a good texturer, but can do a decent UV Map, from time to time. That makes texturing models, myself, a heck of a lot easier.

"Texturing" a model always starts with the UV map. Nine times out ten, the reason a model is difficult to texture is because the UV map and/or material zones are not created well. With good material zone creation, you can virtually automate texture mapping with seamless textures and a few brush strokes in some cases.

I'm not a good texturer, but can do a decent UV Map, from time to time. That makes texturing models, myself, a heck of a lot easier.

 

I can UV map OK. It's just creating realistic looking textures that I'm not good at. I've seen some of the textures from items in the marketplace here and elsewhere and they are amazing. Wish I could create textures like that.

I can UV map OK. It's just creating realistic looking textures that I'm not good at. I've seen some of the textures from items in the marketplace here and elsewhere and they are amazing. Wish I could create textures like that.

There's a reason why, in professional production lines, there are separate job descriptions for 3D Artist and 3D Texture Artist... :) It ain't easy, especially when you have to deal with licensing rights and derivative works issues.

I just came across this, downloading now. It looks pretty promising and it's "free" - http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/index.php (Not sure what its export options are, atm. But, bitmaps were mentioned.)

GIMP is a free graphics program and has its own plugin system, so there should be some things available out there that could help generate textures, if you don't have such an artistic hand.

For myself, an old copy of Photoshop does fairly well. "Well", that is, compared to my lackluster texturing abilities. :)

I think Red Phantom does a pretty good job of texturing.

Your tools make a big difference with 3D texturing, the better the tools, the easier it is to get good results which would otherwise require a lot of skill, experience and time. I use modo to model, UV and do most of my texturing, with a bit of work in photoshop. The ability to bake textures is a really huge help, you can use lots of different types of mapping to get textures onto the model and procedurals (like noise and occlusion) to add wear and dirt, and then bake the results to a single texture image. It means the texture is 80% done before you even start painting on it by hand to make small adjustments. Being able to paint directly on the model in the 3D viewport is really nice too, it's so much easier than painting over your UV templates in 2D photoshop and then jumping back to 3D to check the results all the time.

Modo is getting really pricey now, but there are other programs that might be worth a look to see what they can do for you, 3DCoat, Blacksmith, Zbrush, Blender etc.

I just came across this, downloading now. It looks pretty promising and it's "free" - http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/index.php (Not sure what its export options are, atm. But, bitmaps were mentioned.)

I got an earlier version of that included in a magazine cover CD once. I clicked around in it a bit trying to follow a tutorial and found it crazy-complicated, features seem to be hidden in odd places all over - sorta like Bryce. I didn't really apply myself to it long enough to really get it, but I'm sure it's very powerful once you know what you're doing. And free is always good while you're poking around looking for a tool that fits you.

eclark: thanks for the endorsement. (I think)

garychildress: I can make texturemaps, but I'm just getting started. I've never done anything that needed to look like something specific. If you want me to try, site mail me.

Well, it was an endorsement, but also I like your work. :)

I took it as an endorsement. It's just, like I said. I'm just starting out. It can be a little intimidating that someone is making recommendations already.

I took it as an endorsement. It's just, like I said. I'm just starting out. It can be a little intimidating that someone is making recommendations already.

Good work is good work, no matter your experience. :)