Texture progress

[poopinmymouth]

This is a sword i have been working on for 2 days now. I wanted to start painting textures in true color, and not relying on photographs. Here is where I was yesterday.
http://www.poopinmymouth.com/net/pcount/wip_1.jpg

and today
http://www.poopinmymouth.com/net/pcount/wip_2.jpg

Still an extreme WIP, but i figured I had enough of it done to post. Look for more tomorrow.

[Drone]

It comes up really well. If I were you, I'd put the green leaf separately in the free space right of the hilt projection and give it a bit more detail (but this obviously depends on the poly distribution and on the presence/absence of Alpha cuts). If this is impossible, you can utilise the free space above the hilt with making the grey hexes a bit bigger and putting one above and one below the green leaf of the hilt. Also, you can make the pinky thingies a bit bigger, you have the free space -- after all, each pixel counts and it stays in the memory -- with or without carying useful information :)

Otherwise, it's as close to prefect optimal sword texture distribution as possible.

Best,
Drone

[poopinmymouth]

I think I need to post the wireframe. the apparent "free areas" are really geometry, and is being alpha'd out for the details. all put it up soon.

[poopinmymouth]

update
http://www.poopinmymouth.com/net/pcount/wip_3.jpg

[Mysen]

hey man.. i like it.. mind if i do a paintover?

[poopinmymouth]

please please do. I have already had several, this is a huge learning experience for me. I would greatly appreciate it.

[Neox]

well working on one texture for one sword in 2 days, is really inefficient in my opinion, try to get faster, working with that speed can't be good for a real production ;)

basicly the texture is not bad, but i'm missing details and contrast, and use the color of the roots instead of the grey-tone for the backgorund of that alphamask :)

[poopinmymouth]

I agree neox. However, in my defense I do have an 8-12 hour a day job at a game studio, and i get stuff done a ton faster. this is personal portfolio doing it in what free time I can grab in the evenings. Im just having fun and experimenting. And I will change background to that root color, and working on more contrast. thanks!

[Neox]

ok, great defense, i know exactly your problems :D

arguments accepted ;)
go on, and don't waste all your freetime for your portfolio!

[poopinmymouth]

update!
http://www.poopinmymouth.com/net/pcount/wip_4.jpg

[poopinmymouth]

ok, been working on a character sketch, and been in crunch time at the studio, so havent had time to work on this, but here is pretty much the finished state. I might tweak a little, but it will have to wait. It was such a great learning experience, between painting in true color, learning about reflected light and colored shadows. Painting reflected objects (diffuse reflections at that!) painting in ambient occlusion, upping the contrast time and time again, and just generally having a good time.
http://www.poopinmymouth.com/net/pcount/wip_6.jpg

[benzo]

This is great shit poopinmymouth!

I've learned a lot just from reading this thread. The energy you're putting into this section is much appreciated.

The sword looks good. The only thing is I wish the shadows on the vines weren't as muddy....if they were darker it would be much more convincing.

You could also play with casts shadows more and add a transition on the hilt where the red bulbs are attached....make it darker along the edge of contact on the hilt.

Hope that makes sense!

[poopinmymouth]

thank you very much benzo. Its nice to see that my efforts are noticed. i agree on the muddy ness. originally it was supposed to be an underlight, but I think i need to go back and clarify. the oclusing from the bulbs is a great idea and I will work on that. Thanks man!!

[Mysen]

okay i said i woul do this and only had the time today to do it.
Please for give the chopyness .. i stretched yer last image to do the PO

http://www.innersaga.com/temp/wip_a6.jpg


I added some blue under tones to cool the texture down a bit. I also uppeed the contrrast and made the red more vibrant. The leaf i added deeper veins and also some wamr colors to the top. I also added a bit of texture to hw sword to spice it up.

oh and also added a bit of a blue underlight on the cherry things
Just some suggestions. though the contrast might be a bit much.

[The_Dude_Abidin]

yo man, I have seen this sword through the stages. Its looking awesome. I love it. Keep the crazy texturing up man.
Rock hard and stuff.


The_Dude