I'm trying to create a texture for Shadownet's unicorn (thanks, Shadownet!) and I'm not really liking it too much so far. It looks too.....flat, or something. I'm sure I need a bump map, but not quite sure what the best way to go about that would be. Any suggestions, advice? Thanks

You don't need a bump map, you need noise. Try adding a layer of noise, about 2-5% gaussian distribution. Set the layer to multiply and play with the opacity. This is just a start, but it will immediately add depth to the texture. Good luck.

Cyhiraeth, Actually, a more detailed texture map WILL help a lot. Look at the DAZ critters without their maps! (one click on the eagle, for example, will convince you) For this unicorn, I'd strongly suggest coloring the hooves and perhaps adding a bit of sheen to them. Don't forget the cloven bottoms!!! Around the nose and fetlocks (ankles), the hair is so short that the skin underneath shows through. Decide if your unicorn is an albino (pink skin, red eyes) or a pale grey (black skin, dark eyes). Then add a wash of pink or grey to the extremities and blend it so that there is no demarkation line. You can add a bit of glisten so that the inside of the nostrils looks damp. If a grey, then a hint of dappling on the flanks (butt) is very natural. What color is the inside of the ear? Is your horn going to be "bone" color? Metal, crystal, magical? A touch of Noise, as Gorodin says, works well to soften a texture. If you are using PhotoShop, add Noise (monochromatic!), then Fade it back. A tiny bit of Motion Blur at assorted angles within Selected areas is a fast approach to hair... then you can go in with the Brush tool. There are freebie Brush packs for making fur. (Bloodsong's site, or Lynn's?) Remember where hair is short (like the nose and the bony hocks), and where it is longer (the fetlocks and back). Don't paint the higlight on the eye... let your spotlight do it so that it matches the lighting on the rest of the unicorn. Once you have the paint job set... make the bump map. You'll want the hooves to be smooth, except that the line making them "cloven" needs to be emphasized. Now is the time to roughen up the edge of the hair where it meets them. The furry areas ought to match the painting that you've done, so copying your texture map and turning it into a grey scale is the fast way to begin. A bump map doesn't have to be applied at full strength, but you might still want to vary it in places. A different bump map on the horn will emphasize its boniness or sleekness. You'll probably also want a transparency map for the lashes, mane, and tail. Again, vary the brush work, and make the ends wispy. I prefer to work on many layers so that I can control the translucency and blending modes of the various layers and try different effects without ruining what I've already done. For this freedom to experiment, I'm eternally grateful to PhotoShop. :) BTW, Shadownet's unicorn is way cool. However, the head appears a little large in proportion to the delicate nature of the rest of him. You may wish to find the free Arabian Head morph targets (Daio or Bloodsong?) and apply the morph to trim the nose and dish the face, then tweak. I'm not sure that the morph will work on this head, but it is worth hunting down and trying. Anyway, you're on the right path, keep at it! :) Carolly

Where did you find the Unicorn?? I've been looking for a (hopefully free) one that's lightly-built like this one :)

Wow! Thanks, Hauksdottir, that's a lot to digest, but I'm going to work on it. I have PSP 7, which has layers, so I guess it is similar enough to Photoshop to work? I'm also going to look for the Arabian morph and try that as well. Patricia, You can find the unicorn at Shadownet's site, www.edgeofnever.com, click on "fun stuff"

all i can say is that the hord must be gold and if you are trying to make a TRUE unicorn you should do a little background research they tend to have beards it is from the goat part of them there is alot of diffrent animals in them but for a fantasy unicorn it is perfect reminds me of the one off of the last unicorn

Uh, it's edgeofnever.net, Cyhiraeth.

There's a lot of room for interpretation in the unicorn legend (silver alicorns, gold alicorns, candy-striped, etc.), although Olde Worlde unicorns are usually depicted with beards. shadownet's unicorn does come with a beard and fetlock props (at least, my copy did).

Lyne, bloodsong, and Kacia have an embarrassment of riches for the Poser horse at PlanIT 3D, including Arabian, thoroughbred, and Friesian morphs, a working mouth with interior parts, and other goodies. And don't forget that this unicorn will accept existing P4 horse textures, many of which can be found here in Free Stuff or at Pierian Piaffe.