This thread is for people to post tips and tricks of Photoshop, paintshop or Gimp. It's not for the basic how to use the program. That you'll need to learn yourself first. All programs have a help menu.

First trick... How to make a texture seamless. If you know what a seamless texture is and need to make one then this tip is for you.

Making a texture seamless in photoshop


Open a texture in photoshop. Crop and or size to 1024x1024. Or what ever size you need.

Then open filter/other/offset
yes this is a dumb spot for something so important.
Important check the box wrap around.
check the box preview
if your texture is 1024x1024 make the off set half. 512 x 512
hit okay.

Now go to your clone tool. it will look like a rubber stamp on the left side icon bar. Use the help menu to learn how to use it. stamp until the textures looks right and your done. Learn to change brush sizes, types and opacities.

You'll should find which ones you can work with and which are just none seamable. Just keep doing some everyday even if your not going to use the texture. So you'll get better at it.

If your using paintshop or gimp the controls will be different.

Sweet thanks for this Skydye, I'll link this to the official world tex thread.

EDIT: Ok first question. How do I fix this?

EDIT2: I'ma post my "tips" here.

For the first one, If you're looking for face textures, like what HG said in a couple posts down, you can use google..i know "Duh use google" but to specificaly find faces, just type in &imgtype=face at the end of your url. Example

Thank you, Skydye! When I find the Texturer's Union thread (which covers different information than this thread, but might be useful to people who are interested in this topic), I will post a link to it.

Also, while PaintShopPro is a bit different, it seems as if it is generally meant to be very much like PhotoShop. I have often found that I can look at directions for how to do something with PhotoShop, and just hunt around for the same functions in PSP; generally, it isn't too difficult.

Once again, thank you for starting this thread, and for sharing your knowledge and experience. I look forward to informative posts from others, as well as more of the same from you. In return, I give you the Ice Cream of Gratitude

Enable the alpha channel when you save the texture

I did that when I was saving the .dds in photoshop. I clicked on the thing. Should it be .tga or does it not matter?

Use the help menu in your program to see how to do a alpha channel. If your using tga it needs to be saved as a 32 bit not a 24 bit.
Once you get a good idea of how to do it. Then we can answer harder questions on this subject...But the basics are in your help menu.

There's tons of setings in the dds plugin..I use this one to save everything. Not sure if it's the best one but everything works right with it and looks OK. If you save as TGA you need to save in 32 bit or the alpha channel isn't preserved. Makes for much bigger files than dds.

SWEET! I'll do that. Thanks.
Yeah, I'm not big on .tga files since the size adds up and they're huge.

I posted this in a different thread, but it's good enough to be posted again.

Texture Maker

I'll make mention of 1 thing in general for face textures. There are those (and I envy their talent) who can actually scratch draw a face texture and have it come out looking great. Most of us cannot though so we will be relying on scans or digital photos we find on the net. Those can be manipulated to a great extent to get the look you want but there are limits. Basically a small dark grainy blurry crooked crappy little webcam pic is not gonna produce a real good result..though with enough work you could likely get something at least usable out of it.

Look for decent sourcepics. Save the ones you like. After a while you build up a library of stuff and can use bits of one to complete something totally different if you want a diffeent eye or something on it. You can jigsaw things together to get totally new faces. I normally don't do that as I usually am trying to get it to look as much as possible like a certain person..I do often take parts out of more than 1 pic of the same person and use them on a single tex though. Loch's tutorial linked here in the CS forum is pretty definitive on exactly how to use photos for making face textures.

The learning curve On this program is very high. So we will not cover how too on any texture making programs. But links to the sites and links to the how too use the programs are welcome.

I try to do everything by hand and not use texture makers. But that may only be that I'm too lazy to learn a new program...I still haven't touched 3dmax ( which is a program Bethesda wants you to know to get a job in texturing).

Two other ways of making a texture tileable:

1. Complex textures (grass, rocks)

Recent versions of PaintShop Pro contain a very good plugin for creating tileable textures. You should find it under Effects > Image effects. For best results, try out the various settings, as there is no 'one size fits all' solution.

2. Simple textures (whitewash, brickwork, flat surfaces)

a) Create a backup of your source image.
b ) Select the left half of the image; select 'copy'.
c) Open MS Paint.
d) Use the 'create new image' feature; make sure that its size is identical to that of your source image.
d) Paste the section which you just now copied into the new image, yet position the section on the RIGHT HAND SIDE (!).
e) Copy the right half of your source image.
f) Paste your selection into the new image you created using Paint. Position this section on the LEFT.
g) We have now swapped the right- and left-hand sides of the original image; there should be a seam or division running from top to bottom.
h) Save two copies of your new image. We will be editing one of them; the other copy is just a backup.
i) Open your new image in an advanced image editor (I personally prefer Photoshop, as it has the 'Magnetic Lasso' feature).
j) Using a 'selection' tool copy a section which fits over the division running through your image. I recommend using Photoshop's Magnetic Lasso as it automagically makes visually coherent selections.
h) Paste the section you copied over the seam/division. If you are not satisfied with the results, try another selection, or try whether using multiple selections yields better results.
i) Once you're done, merge the multiple layers which you have now created into a single image. Save this image as a bitmap.
j) View the results in Irfanview. Should it still be possible to see where the sections were pasted over the cut/division, try selecting the offending sections and then applying Irfanview's 'median filter' to them.
k) We're not finished yet! Our image is currently tileable horizontally only. You will see what I mean if you resize the image to 256x256 and then set it as the Windows wallpaper (use the 'tiled' option). This means that the process will have to be repeated for the UPPER and LOWER halves of the new image.
l) Once you've repeated the process for the upper and lower halves, save the result and try it out in-game to see whether you like the results.

NOTE 1

A handy trick with brickwork is to make sure that the original image contains only fully visible bricklayers. It is fine if briks are 'cut off' on the right and left sides of the image, yet left-to-right cuts should run through cement only. The reason for this is that you can quite easily make cement tileable. To do this, copying a thin layer of cement from the top or bottom part of the image and then paste it over the cement on the opposite side. The effect of this is that, once the image is tiled, the layers of cement that are 'glued together' will be identical. Irfanview's median filter should go a long way to getting rid of side effects such as the newly added layer of cement not fitting in with what was already there.

More advanced users may want to use the 'blend' functions built into editors such as Photoshop and PaintShop, yet I find that this is not generally necessary.

NOTE 2

When making textures tileable in the way explained under '2. Simple Textures', you can also cut the original image into four sections at the very start. The bottom left section should change places with the top right section, the bottom right section should change places with the top left section. This may be a somewhat easier route as it allows you to get rid of the left-to-right and top-to-bottom seams simultaneously.

When using photoshop, if you want to make a 1024 texture, make the file you are working with larger (4096 for example). Photoshops filters produce better results the bigger the image (even if you have to resize a small image, you'll still get better results).
Then, scale it down again afterwards.

TIP!

If you want to add some depth to your texture, or some carwings, use Overlay
for more depths, duplicate the texture -> desaturate it -> ( add contrast if it's needed, but try to stay close to the average greyness -> ) after this use Emboss ( play with the numbers different textures needs different settings ) -> and now make it Overlay

Voilá

EDIT: Little example

I got TheSiriusSnape's permission to update and upload his Face Texturing Tutorial so when I'm done I'll post a dl link here.

Thanks everyone Looks like we are getting some smart tips here. PirateLord I never even thought of sizing up to use a filter. Makes sense...yes size up does add pixelation as it fills in pixels that are not there. The filter will fix that.

If you have an older photoshop (or, in my case, Elements 3.0) you may find that the plugin won't work. Well, to remedy that, I use a freeware program actually for modding a Star Trek game, click here. If I'm not allowed to do this, just tell me and I'll delete it. Or a mod will. Whoever gets there first.

A statement of what may be the obvious..but for anyone who does faces Nifskope is pretty much a must-have tool. Mainly for allowing very quick to load out of game views of your tex applied to the mesh..with the added bonus of being able to run the animations at will to check on blinking..mouth opening..general alignment. You should only need to load the game to check out final colourtints and see how it looks under various different lighting...which you do need to check as sometimes one will look good with the yellowish interior lighting but awful in full sunlight for example.

This is one of the most useful tips for photoshop I've ever used. Note setting the pixels to 1.5 seems to work best for me. Make a layer of the original texture. Then high pass the layer.
Go to filters/other/high pass. Set pixels 1 to 3. Now pick vivid as your blend. Click on the tab that says normal to see all your opinions of blends.

ViVid blend with high pass filter

That tip was something I learnt from a tutorial.

Another one is resizing. If your source texture is 256x256 and you want to make it 512x512, DO NOT just do a single resize up to 512. Instead, resize 110% a few times until you get close to 512, and then resize to 512. This helps prevent the pixelation you get.

keep your programs updated. To see what version you have. Go to help/about adobe (or about what ever your running) This will show you the version.
Here the page from photo shop.
www.adobe.com/support/downloads

Thanks I didn't know that. Have some bird seed

Yay thanks guys it worked!

I'm planning to make a version of this tutorial for Gimp users and I was wondering if anyone wanted to do one for PSP users? If so I'll upload to rapidshare and PM you a link.

Darken blend in photo shop. Have a back ground. Then get another texture with lots of white and use that as the layer.
darken blend mode
pick darken and the white of the layer is gone and only the darker part comes thru.

Heres how the Multiply works in the dark blend. Multipy mode
Multipy mode
Multipy mode

Here we have a texture I have as a background
Background
heres another texture as my layer
layer
In this case I pick darken as I like the look better then multiply.
Heres the new textures.
newtexture

great tips! you really got me hooked on editing the textures.

Textures, reference, photographs and materials for rendering


Large public libraries of textures. Mostly high res until e able photographs

http://www.freegraphics.org/ (not much variety)

http://www.pawas.com/ (Some variety of close-up photo references, none is ready to use)

http://free3dstextures.com/ (Textures and photographs licensed under creative commons)

http://www.mega-tex.nl/ (Accepts submissions)

http://www.accustudio.com/exchange/textures.php?dir= (Accepts submissions)

http://www.gamingtextures.com/ (Free low res textures. Paid users get high res textures)

http://textures.pedramk.com/index-html.php

http://www.turtletextures.com

http://www.3dimplant.com/images.php

http://textures.pedramk.com/index-html.php (Most of the photos need heavy post processing)

http://www.afflict.net/option_1/option_1.htm

http://www.3d-resources.com/3d_textures.php (Despite the name there are no normal or displacement maps here), just photo textures)

http://www.zbrush3.com/textures/index.html

http://www.archivetextures.net/ (most are rather small, but there is a huge variety)

http://www.change-books.com/free-art-textu...ures-metal.html

http://www.davegh.com/blade/davegh.htm

http://www.texturevault.com/cpg1410/index.php (Very good photos with no obvious shadows, overbright or angles)

http://www.lynnart.net/textures/wood/

http://texturez.com/ (Plethora of high res photo sources, but many were taken at angle)

http://www.lapicesdecolores.com/neuras3d/texturas.html

http://www.texturearchive.com/ (What the name says)

http://www.boogaholler.com/bjudy/fineart/t...s/textures.html (Just 24 small images)

http://www.photoshoptextures.com/ (Don't be fooled by its name, all textures are photo sources)

http://www.cr-market.com/en/index.php

http://www.thegrimypolygon.com/

http://www.txpgone3d.com/portal.php (must register)

http://www.newtek.com/freestuff/ (must register)

http://www.3dmd.net/gallery/ (some tileable)

http://www.texturewarehouse.com/gallery/index.php (another source with a great variety of textures)

http://www.sharecg.com/b/6/Textures

http://www.amazingtextures.com/textures/index.php (As the name says, amazing! Proper, not angled, photos. Most are clean with no light flashes, shadows or overbrightness)

http://www.bencloward.com/resources_textures.shtml

http://www.textureking.com/index.php/category/all-textures (Not really THE KING, nonetheless it's very good)

http://www.ktn3d.com/textures.htm (some tileable)

http://www.textureworks.com/freestuff.html (many modern world facade photos)

http://www.allin3d.com/texures.html

http://www.noir.org/Textures.html (photos of bricks, stones, asphalt, etc)

http://megapoxy.net/free#anchor

http://www.in-texture.com/index.htm (was unreachable when I first saw it, don't know why)

http://www.animax.it/animax/Textures.htm (Highly recommended)

http://www.mayang.com/textures/ (Highly recommended)

http://www.imageafter.com/ (Highly recommended)

http://www.grsites.com/archive/textures/ (Mostly small tiles)

http://www.cgtextures.com/ (Highly recommended)

http://www.grungetextures.com/ (Metal, rust, oxidized, dirty, mud, dust, old, etc)

http://www.texturespy.com (Seems that they were a paid site sometime ago, but now everything is free to download)

http://www.pixelperfectdigital.com/free_st...ery.php/cat/506

http://tellim.com/texture_cd/html/menu1.html (blender texture CD)

http://textures.vertx.ca/ (Some high quality photographed textures)

http://www.archibase.net/textures

http://www.escrappers.com/textures.html

http://www.texturesbytuesday.com/downpage.html





Tileable / seamless

http://www.pixelpoke.com/FREE%20PIXELS_textures.html

http://www.3dvalley.com/textures.shtml

http://www.planit3d.com/source/texture_files/textures.html (low res)

http://www.ender-design.com/rg/backidx.html (as above)

http://www.freetexturemaps.com/ (14 1024 x 1024 base textures. Have links to other sites)

http://www.openfootage.net/ (High resolution photographic textures)

http://www.yourdailytexture.com/ (as above)

http://www.texarch.eu/

http://www.oneodddude.net/index.php

http://www.spectralogue.com/textures/index.php?path=41 (both seamless and photo reference)

http://tirad.com/textures.htm (a few photoedited seamless)

http://www.fatstrawberry.com/ (many wallpapers and ornamental patterns)

http://repeatxy.com (Very good source of tileable background patterns)

http://www.squidfingers.com/patterns/ (Same as above)

http://www.feedfinder.net/webground/main.shtml (tileable patterns in a wide range of colors)

http://www.citilink.com/~rmc/art/textures/textures.htm (Has some low res textures)

http://local.wasp.uwa.edu.au/~pbourke/texture_colour/ (all tiles are low res)





Texture maps

http://www.zarria.net/nrmphoto/nrmphoto.html (how to "take pictures" of normal maps)

http://www.crazybump.com/ (this tool is capable of generating normal maps out of photographs)

http://forums.cgsociety.org/forumdisplay.php?f=46

http://forums.3dtotal.com/showthread.php?t=589

http://cgexpanse.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?...9349a980961f4ed

http://www.mapcore.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5318 (Some tutorials about texturing for games)





Procedural / Synthetic

http://www.filterforge.com/ (Photoshop plugin)

http://www.mapzoneeditor.com/ (procedural texture generator)

http://www.texturesynthesis.com/index.htm (as above, but it's GPL)

http://www.angelcode.com/texgen/ (Similar to the above)

http://www.spiralgraphics.biz/genetica.htm (Need to buy to have access to all features)

http://www.blitzbasic.com/Community/posts.php?topic=46368 (one click seamless texture generator)

http://www.imagelys.com/

http://www.fxgen.org/ (GPL library)





Planets, stars and galaxies

http://www.celestiamotherlode.net/catalog/mars.php

http://www.galaxyphoto.com/galaxies.htm

http://visibleearth.nasa.gov/

http://hubblesite.org/gallery/

http://www.gemini.edu/index.php?option=com_gallery





Materials for 3D modelling softwares

http://www.blender-materials.org/

http://www.vray-materials.de/

http://mxmgallery.maxwellrender.com/

http://www.tresd1.com.br/texturas.php?t=12921

http://www.lwg3d.com/v3/presets.php



Misc & Reference

http://www.e-interiors.net/ (Architecture and interior design reference)

http://www.linedstudio.com/ (as above)

http://jeenybeen.typepad.com/gingko_leaves...ures/index.html

http://australiasevereweather.com/photogra...otos/index.html (amazing collection of reference pictures of skies in different weather conditions)

http://www.morguefile.com/

http://urbandirty.com/

http://www.2textured.com/main.php

http://www.diwiesign.com/index.php?page=stockphotos (Ever watched Saw horror movies? This is a lot like Saw I)

http://www.abandoned-places.com/

http://www.greatbuildings.com/

http://www.oboylephoto.com/ruins/index.htm (Modern Ruins)

http://www.ohiotrespassers.com/ (abandoned, decayed buildings)

http://www.filipstadsbergslag.com/ (Dedicated to mines and miners)

http://bunkersite.com/ (Bunkers around the world)

http://www.dubtown.de/ (German. Pictures of decayed buildings and structures)

http://www.new-eden.com/ (Has a database of panoramic images)

http://www.abandoned.ru/index.php (Russian. Another source of abandoned structures)

http://www.urbanized.net/index.php?r=30 (Pictures of decayed structures)

http://www.uer.ca/ (More decayed...)

http://www.panoramio.com/ (Pictures of geological formations around the world. Integrated with google Earth)

http://vyonyx.com/ (Both textures and professional quality pictures of various places, and concept art)

www.freemediagoo.com (As above)

http://jeenybeen.typepad.com/gingko_leaves...ures/index.html

http://www.locationworks.com/library/index.html (Excellent reference for interiors and exteriors, all categorized in sections such as bathrooms, living rooms, castles, rivers, etc.)

http://virtualworlds.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page (A wiki dedicated to archive game content that the author's has released under GPL)

http://gplr.bcsims.com/ (Similar to the above)

http://www.thebest3d.com/dogwaffle/freebies/index.html





Photos

http://www.sxc.hu/

http://cgusite.ning.com/photo

http://www.webshots.com/

http://www.pbase.com/ (super reference, highly recommended)

http://www.stockvault.net/index.php

http://www.adigitaldreamer.com/gallery/index.php

http://www.freefoto.com/

http://www.bigfoto.com/

http://aarinfreephoto.com/

http://www.farmphoto.com/

http://openphoto.net/

http://tofz.org/

http://www.photocase.de/en/

http://visipix.dynalias.com/index_hidden.htm

http://www.flickr.com/ (Must register)

http://www.photosharingforum.com/ (Some very high res textures and many photographs)

http://www.recsa.com/webroot/photogallery/...o10854/real.htm (many real marble references)

http://www.boralbricks.com/ (as above, but for bricks)

http://www.freephotosweb.com/

http://www.freephotosbank.com/

http://www.freedigitalphotos.net/

http://www.dreamstime.com/freephotos

http://www.photoforum.ru/

http://www.fontplay.com/freephotos/

http://www.freephotostation.com/

http://www.freephotop.com/

http://www.freepixels.com/

http://www.everystockphoto.com/

http://www.allfreephoto.com/

http://yotophoto.com/

http://www.barrysfreephotos.com/

http://www.free-photographs.net/

http://www.freerangestock.com/

http://www.freephotos.se/

http://geekphilosopher.com/MainPage/photos.htm

http://www.netfreephotos.com/

http://www.free-stockphotos.com/

http://www.free-pictures-photos.com/index.htm





Non english resources

http://www.gallerie1.de/html/texturen.shtml

http://alice-grafixx.de/textures

http://www.texturenwelt.de/

http://www.pur3d.de/index.php?id=29

http://www.texturenland.de/texturen

http://www.3dxtra.cygad.net/de/page/46.htm

http://www.joes3dfantasyworlds.com/down/downpreview.htm

http://stilgar.st.funpic.de/

http://www.c4d-jack.de/php/textures/index.php

http://www.kollermedia.at/index.php/pattern4u

http://www.3d-ressource.de/

http://colorfilter.net/largetextures

http://www.mediacastle.de/texturen/rosttex...7180/index.html

http://lemog.fr/lemog_v6/index.php

http://www.ulf-theis.de/tutorials/texturen/industriell/

http://www.texturator.de/texturator_d.htm

http://www.on-design.de/goodies/texture/index.htm

http://www.ffranceschi.com/midima/ffita008.html

http://www.france-textures.fr.st/

http://www.bryceart.de/





Portuguese
http://www.brtutoriais.com/
http://tutoriaisphotoshop.blogspot.com/
http://www.webtutoriais.com/categorias.php...hop&pagina=
http://www.imasters.com.br/secao/photoshop
http://www.linhadecodigo.com.br/Photoshop.aspx
http://www.wmonline.com.br/?area=photoshop
http://www.apostilando.com/sessao.php?cod=27
http://www.comunidadeweb.com.br/listaart.php?ida=7
http://www.tutoriaisclube.com/tutoriais.ph...id=8&area=1
http://www.tresd1.com.br/portal.php
http://www.gimp.com.br/joomla/smf/
http://www.ogimp.com.br/
http://www.dktutor.com/





All in one tutorial index sites (most tutorials are found in all of those)

http://www.good-tutorials.com/

http://www.pixel2life.com/

http://www.tutorialized.com/

http://pslover.com/

http://www.gurusnetwork.com

http://www.webdesign.org/

http://www.photoshoproadmap.com

http://www.wikihow.com

http://totaltutorials.com/

http://www.wikivid.com/index.php/Main_page (Free video tutorials of pretty much any subject)

http://www.techtutorials.info/

http://www.tutorialforums.com/

http://www.tutorialquest.com/

http://www.astahost.com/graphics-animation-f73.html (Plethora of good tutorials hosted on a forum scheme)

http://library.creativecow.net/tutorials.php

http://www.sclipo.com/ (It's like a youtube specialized in showing off" how to's")





Gimp & Others

http://www.inkscape.org/ (Free vector drawing software)

http://www.zoggles.co.uk/asp/news.asp (pixel art)

http://www.gimpusers.com/tutorials.php

http://www.ratemydrawings.com/tutorials (Drawing art)

http://pwrinfo.com/cartoon-drawing-course/...g-tutorials.htm (what the URL says)

http://www.drawingnow.com/ (more drawings)

http://www.psplinks.com/content/Digital_Paint (Paint Shop Pro)

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20060622/ahearn_01.shtml (Texture theory)

http://www.gimptalk.com/forum/forum/GIMP-T...d-Tips-8-1.html

http://www.gimpdome.com/forum/index.php?PH...&board=53.0

http://gug.sunsite.dk/?page=tutorials&...d3285931cdd5b6e





Photoshop

http://www.pixeldigest.com/tutorials.html (Mostly dedicated to photograph editing)

http://photoshop-indepth.com/lessons/ (Index page is offline or forbidden,uh??)

http://www.graphicreporter.com/tutorials/e..._tutorials.html

http://www.renderosity.com/mod/tutorial/in...mp;section_id=6 (Mostly dedicated to digital artists in general)

http://www.photoshopcstutorial.com/ (Does not cover painting or drawing techniques. It covers some effecst from burning texts to emboss, from photo retouching to some filter effects)

http://www.spoono.com/photoshop/

http://www.teamphotoshop.com/The%20Techniques-5,8,3.html

http://www.photoshop101.com/tutorials/textures-and-patterns/

http://www.computerarts.co.uk/tutorials/2d...p?result_page=1

http://psworkshop.net/psworkshop/Category....e=Textures&

http://www.biorust.com/tutorials/browse/4/added/desc/1/

http://www.toxiclab.org/default.asp?ID=3

http://www.fstutorials.com/photoshop/texture/

http://www.radiantvista.com/tutorials?page=1 (Some video tutorials)

http://www.espressographics.com/

http://www.candeekis.com/alltutorials.html

http://www.cbtcafe.com/photoshop/

http://www.photoshopmosaic.com/Photoshop-tutorials/1

http://www.photoshopgurus.com/tutorials/tutorials.html

http://www.lunacore.com/photoshop/tutorials/tutorials.shtml

http://www.photoshopdersleri.net/ (Swendish)

http://www.shanzcan.com/photoshopahol.html

http://www.celoxdesign.net/free-photoshop-tutorials

http://www.macmerc.com/articles/list/7

http://www.trainstation.cc/Tutorials/tutorialIndex.html

http://www.adobe.com/cfusion/designcenter/...p;submit=Search (The official adobe resource site)

http://vr6dubeast.com/node/11 (Highly recommended, very well written, step by step)

http://www.freetimefoto.com/photoshop_cs3_toolbox/ (quick reference to all tools)





The path tool

http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Drawing_Shapes/

http://www.good-tutorials.com/search/tutorials/path+tool

http://www.tutorialquest.com/tutorials/sea...0tool/tqpage_1/

http://www.myjanee.com/tuts/brush7/yj/yj.htm

http://shapeshed.com/journal/photoshop_101...election_tools/

http://www.tutorialstraining.com/cstutoria...pathediting.htm

http://www.wincustomize.com/articles.aspx?aid=139900&c=1





The history brush tool

http://www.pbase.com/ctfchallenge/tutorial__history_brush

http://shapeshed.com/journal/photoshop_101...ory_brush_tool/

http://www.espressographics.com/text/historybrush.html





Selection and masks

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop/l/blrbps_1jet.htm





Drawing & Painting

http://www.worth1000.com/tutorial.asp

http://www.allcrafts.net/drawpaint.htm (Real painting, not digital art)

http://www.creativity-portal.com/howto/ (mostly dedicated to Design & Creativity process)

http://www.polykarbon.com/tutorials/index.htm (dedicated to manga, anime drawing)





Adjustment layers (extremely powerful feature)

http://www.good-tutorials.com/search/tutor...justment+layers

http://www.pixel2life.com/search/all/adjustment%20layers/1/

http://www.phong.com/tutorials/adjust/

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/a...layers-101.html

http://www.nyfalls.com/article-photoshop-a...ent-layers.html

http://www.myjanee.com/tuts/adjlay/adjlay.htm

http://www.tutorialstraining.com/cstutoria...tmentlayers.htm

http://www.bairarteditions.com/pages/tutor.../layadjust.html

http://photoshoptips.net/2005/09/16/adjustment-layers/





Histograms and channels (extremely useful for fine tuning)

http://www.luminous-landscape.com/tutorial...istograms.shtml

http://www.pixel2life.com/search/all/histogram/1/

http://www.nyfalls.com/article-photoshop-levels.html

http://www.myjanee.com/tuts/paint4/city.htm (Covers levels)

http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/histograms.htm (covers exposure and color)

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/histograms-1/histograms-1.htm

http://www.twistedtreephoto.com/Photoshop%...0tutorial1.html

http://www.sphoto.com/techinfo/histograms/histograms.htm

http://www.marginalsoftware.com/HowtoScan/color_channels.htm





High pass & Low pass filter

http://www.gamasutra.com/features/20010523/hajba_pfv.htm (covers how to elimitate high frequency or low frequency "noises" from textures)

http://www.nyfalls.com/article-photoshop-h...sharpening.html

http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Sketch_Effect/ (covers one use of the high pass filter)

http://www.earthboundlight.com/phototips/h...-photoshop.html

http://www.photoshopsupport.com/tutorials/...sharpening.html

http://library.creativecow.net/articles/po...ture_tiling.php

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/High-Pas...-in-Photoshop-7

http://www.photoshopessentials.com/photo-e...rpen-high-pass/





Brush tools (learn those!)

http://www.adobe.com/designcenter/photosho...kbdodgeburn.pdf (handy description of dodge, smudge, burn and sponge. All in one easy reading photo retouching guide)

http://www.eyeforphotos.com/guides/photosh...burn?page=0%2C0 (Short description of dodge and burn tools)

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/9...anding_how.html (as above)

http://www.tutorialstreet.com/tuts/using-painting-tools/ (very short description of dodge, burn, gradient, fill, and paint brush)

http://www.arraich.com/ps6_tips_ddodgeburn1.htm (More dodge and burn)

http://s12.invisionfree.com/Revolution_Stu...?showtopic=1523 (Smudge)

http://www.adidap.com/2006/11/07/photoshop...ge-to-painting/ (Smudge. From photo to paint)

http://oman3d.com/tutorials/photoshop/paiting_conceptoo/ (Simple guide that shows how to create a simple painting using the regular brushes tools)

http://shapeshed.com/journal/photoshop_101...d_sponge_tools/

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/Dodge-bu...nd-sponge-tools

http://madartgraphics.com/tutorials/brushes.htm (create your own brushes! This offers much more control than simple blending two layers together)





Blending modes / Blend rages / Blend if (This + brushes = dreams come true. All descriptions from all sites are virtually the same)

http://www.polykarbon.com/tutorials/blendingmode/index.htm

http://www.webdesign.org/web/photoshop/pho...g-modes.54.html

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/blend1/blend1.htm

http://photoshopcontest.com/tutorials/7/bl...ayer-modes.html (A simple example of how to blend many images together to form unusual textures)

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/glossary/.../index.htm?nl=1

http://www.teamphotoshop.com/articles-The-...3;-5,8,65a.html

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/bend-if/blend-if.htm (Blend if gives you complete control of what blend and what does not)

http://www.gimp.org/tutorials/Blending_Exposures/ (This is a photographers technique of blending photos at different exposures)

http://retouchpro.com/tutorials/?m=show&id=111





Eraser tools

http://graphicssoft.about.com/library/week...magic+wand+tool (Magic eraser and bacground eraser)

http://www.tutorialstraining.com/cstutoria...magiceraser.htm

http://designorati.com/articles/t1/photosh...eraser-tool.php

http://wiki.biorust.com/index.php?title=Ma...4&oldid=482

http://www.mediacollege.com/adobe/photoshop/tool/eraser.html





Art history brush and history brush

http://www.adobe.com/uk/print/tips/history/index.html

http://www.retouchpro.com/tutorials/arthistory/index.html

http://www.macworld.com/2007/08/secrets/se.../index.php?pf=1

http://www.freetimefoto.com/photoshop/tool...nting_tool.html

http://www.adobepress.com/articles/article...s=7919&rl=1

http://www.digitaldesigncottage.com/2007/0...rt-history.html





Colouring drawings (ranges from cartoon to manga)

http://www.idigitalemotion.com/tutorials/g...g/coloring.html

http://www.geocities.com/sea_dragon_gemini...n/tutorial.html

http://gug.sunsite.dk/tutorials/koudys1/ (Extremely basic)

http://www.melissaclifton.com/tutorial-lineart.html

http://www.tutorialized.com/view/tutorial/...r-line-art/5573

http://home.earthlink.net/~nomuse/tute3/linetute.html

http://www.webdesign.org/web/photoshop/tut...oring.5052.html

http://www.steeldolphin-forums.com/htmltut...colorpart1.html

http://www.seanellery.com/tutorial/tutorial.html

http://www.mangatutorials.com/

http://www.mangapunk.com/tutorials/photoshop/colorlines

http://www.mangarevolution.com/tutorials.php

http://tutorials.epilogue.net/tutorials/a-...lor-for-artists (Color theory)





Digital painting (Most describe the techniques, not the tools itself)

http://www.3dtotal.com/ffa/tutorials/tutorialsdigipaint.asp

http://tutorials.epilogue.net/cat/tutorials/digital-art/

http://www.tutorialized.com/view/tutorial/...l-Painting/5014

http://www.partdigital.com/tutorials/portrait/

http://graphicssoft.about.com/od/photoshop...al_Art_Work.htm

http://www.steeldolphin-forums.com/htmltut...ting_steps.html

http://www.robertocampus.com/2007/05/17/ph...gital-painting/

Most CG / 3D modelling communities have sections dedicated to traditional art



Clouds
http://tutorials.epilogue.net/tutorials/pe...in-5-easy-steps (Amazing)
http://www.steeldolphin-forums.com/htmltuts/cloud_tut.html
http://www.idigitalemotion.com/tutorials/g...alpainting.html (Very nice!)
http://9tutorials.com/2007/08/05/painting-clouds.html (Terrific!!!!)



Grass and rocks
http://tutorials.epilogue.net/tutorials/pa...in-photoshop/1/ (Grass and rocks. Hard visible brush strokes style)
http://www.jeshannon.com/Grass.htm (almost photorealistic style)

Lanscapes
http://www.cgarena.com/freestuff/tutorials...cape/index.html (Learn custom brushes before trying this)
http://tutorials.epilogue.net/tutorials/di...dscape-painting (Not photorealistic)
http://www.idigitalemotion.com/tutorials/g...tremainder.html (need some prior experience)





This resource has EVERYTHING about color adjustments, contrast, brightness and pretty much all things about photo / image adjusting and treatment

http://www.cambridgeincolour.com/tutorials.htm

http://ronbigelow.com/articles/articles.htm

http://www.itchy-animation.co.uk/tutorials/light01.htm (This is all about lighting in real world)

http://www.3dtotal.com/ffa/tutorials/gener..._lightwave1.asp (This is more about rendering)

http://www.adobepress.com/articles/article...6&seqNum=10

different tutorials many programs

-------------------How to sites *** ----------------------------------------------------
***Many sites have forums.Look through the forum. If it seems there are professionals in them. Join so you can post your question and art and became known (it's free) make up a new email. Just for forums.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://gameart.jaquays.com/texture_resources.html texture resources

BEST SITE.... http://www.cgtextures.com/ tutorials in this site. Best textures and if you join the forum (it's free). You'll be talking with many profesionals.

http://www.digitaltutors.com/digital_tutors/tutorials.php under Browse free tutorials by category are many program tutorials

http://www.strarup.net/maya/imageplanesetup/ image editing (maya or others) to photo shop. Rendering

http://web.alfredstate.edu/ciat/tutorials/...llumination.htm Rendering

BEST SITE.... http://www.cgtextures.com/ tutorials at this site,Great textures and if you join the forum (it's free). You'll be talking with many proffesionals.

http://web.alfredstate.edu/ciat/tutorials/LightLinking.htm rendering

http://web.alfredstate.edu/ciat/tutorials/...ingPolygons.htm texturing

http://web.alfredstate.edu/ciat/tutorials/basicModeling.htm modeling

http://web.alfredstate.edu/ciat/tutorials/...eformations.htm animation

http://web.alfredstate.edu/ciat/tutorials/...ngCarWheels.htm animation

http://www.geocities.com/tomerep/bullet.htm animation

http://hfx.planetquake.gamespy.com/tutorials.html Texturing

http://www.loonygames.com/content/1.11/gc/ Texturing.Buecheler Hates photo shop. But with deadlines He'll show the fastest ways to use it.

http://www.3dtotal.com/team/tutorials/mini...nishading_1.asp Texturing

http://www.geocities.com/sweekimlai/ texturing

http://forums.cgsociety.org/forumdisplay.php?f=46 how to site **

http://forums.3dtotal.com/forumdisplay.php?f=73 How to site ***

http://cgexpanse.com/phpBB2/viewforum.php?...9349a980961f4ed how to site ***

http://www.mapcore.net/forums/viewforum.php?f=36 how to site ***

Using Offset Filter for just a selected part of your texture. ( read offset in this thread )

Q.is there a way to use the offset filter in photoshop for just a selection, rather than the entire image.......basically i need to seamlessly wrap a torso texture so that the left side matches the right edge and vice versa.....but when i use the offset filter, the entire uv texture (including legs and arms, etc) is wrapped around and there is a big gap between the left and right side.....any suggestions?

A.Turn your selection into a separate layer. Then apply the offset filter to that layer, which will properly wrap around. Then collapse that layer back onto your original image.

Wow..it must have taken ages to find all those links..great posts skydye..thanks

A trick I've used a few times lately with some marginal sourcepics.

Often you get sourcepics which have a fully usable face aside from being unevenly lit..that is 1 side is darker than the other.

You can just mirror whichever side you want and use it for both halves..which works nice but you get near perfect symmetry that way which you will likely want to draw back out...(there is no such thing as perfect symmetry on a real face). Also if the photo was taken even a little bit from off to the side you'll either get a TOO BIG half of the face or a too small half..either of which will need re-adjusting at some point to retain resemblance to the sourcepic. You can use dodge and burn along with the painting tools to even out the shading..that can be difficult and time consuming though and takes a bit of actual artistic skill. Or you can try this...

-get all the main features DONE..eyes..mouth, nose, eyebrows etc... everything where you want it and looking right.

-make sure any really black shadows around the outside of the main layer are erased away..those just smear and make a mess if they are left there. I'm not talking about facial creases..but rather the very outside edge of the face which is always dark.

-flatten all the layers except for the background.

-duplicate the layer.

-flip the new layer horizontally to get a mirror image.

-reduce opacity enough to see through it and move it till it's centered on the nose tip and mouth (eyes maybe too but they won't usually line up perfectly..and you'll almost certainly be erasing them anyhow) of the layer underneath.

-adjust opacity till the shading is even on both sides of the face.

-now you have perfectly balanced shading..just erase away the top layer from over any feature you really want to pop..like eyes..also the eyebrow shadows from the new layer likely have to go. The mouth..nose..everything might look very nice just like this..or they may need full\partial erasing too on the top layer to get it looking how you want.

-doing this also gives you a really nice sort of soft glowy look which works well with some faces.

-that's the general idea..something to try that I find easier than doing a bunch of re-drawing

edit..an illustrated example from a (not nearly finished) face I'm doing right now..

initial layer

both layers.

there's really only a small amount being changed in this example..but it took less than 10 minutes to do what's shown....think of how much longer it would have taken if you'd had to re-draw it.

Here a cool way to make rocks. paid attention to the lighting effects. You'll find many ways to use this effect in textures.

http://www.photoshopcafe.com/tutorials/rock/rock.htm

Thank you for that link, Skydye. I am currently considering replacing some of the textures I used in my Molag Amur pack (which I today discovered produces some pretty weird results if Forested Morrowind isn't used. This trick should make creating appropriate replacements easier.

Cheers,

Swiveller

I highly recommend you join http://www.cgtextures.com/forum/index.php It's my favorite place to dwell. Oh, and the textures there are not too bad as you know.

edit

Not completely on-topic, but related.

I don't have photoshop, and am still struggling through many areas of PSP. So many skills I still want to develop, and now that I am homeschooling our son, so much less time...

Anyway, the hardest thing for me is making a good looking seamless tile, and one that doesn't have that quilted look to it. I know how to spot photos that scream out "Good for a seamless tile". But sometimes one has to use textures that aren't so seamless tile friendly. Like tree bark.

I know of Texture Maker, but the controls for that are too high level for me. Still, a definite to get later on, as it looks really good, once one knows what to do with it.

I found Seamless Texture Generator, by Shawn C. Swift, and it seems quite nice for many types of tiles. We're getting that when the income tax refund arrives. It's nice and simple to use, free-standing rather than a plugin, and quite affordable. It also looks like a good one for our 7 year old son to use for his graphic work. But it is a simplistic program, and I still would like to get another program as well.

Are there any other seamless tile programs that are either plugins that work with PSP9, or are free-standing programs, and are reasonably simple to use?

worked it out in PM's

Oops, missed that post right before mine...

I don't frequent the Oblivion forums anymore, as I have given up all Oblivion modding. (I haven't even played Oblivion since all that painful stuff with Bethesda a year ago.) So I had better bookmark that thread I think, or I'll miss responses to it...

I kind of know the feeling. A few people have been texturing for almost a year. So they really think that they are the best ever, and that they should correct other posters in how to do things right.