Software Trials - Photoshop

Texturing a Model

As Photoshop is one of the most powerful image editing software programmes available and due to its popularity in the creative industries, for me it made sense for me to use this to texture my models.

To make the process easier for me to learn I took some time to get familiar with some shortcut keys:

CONTROL + A = Select All (only on the selected Layer)
CONTROL + C = Copy
CONTROL + D = Deselect
CONTROL + E = Collapse Layers
CONTROL + J = Duplicate Layer
CONTROL + T = Transform
CONTROL + V = Paste
CONTROL + ALT + S = Screenshot Layer onto Layer
CONTROL + SHIFT + I = Invert Selection
SHIFT and drag the corner of the image to maintain the aspect ratio
SHIFT + T = Text (this shortcut I learnt by mistake when I wanted the shortcut key for Transform)

Step 1:
After the Photoshop programme has opened I go to File > Open and then select the UV Template file I wish to use.

Step 2:
When the first layer is created in Photoshop this layer is called Background by the default settings. I duplicated this Layer and set the name to Template and then I LOCKED and HID the original background layer.

Step 3:
On the Template layer I selected the Magic Wand Tool and clicked in a negative space of this layer.

Step 4:
I then ensured the Template layer was at the top of the stack and reduced the opacity to (approx.) 25% and the LOCKED it.

Step 5:
I created a new layer between the background and Template layers and set the name to Base.

Step 6:

I went back to the Template layer.

Step 7:
I selected Modify > Contract and set to 5 pixels before pressing enter. By selecting this to 5 pixels means that it will prevent gaps that may appear on the joins of the Mapping when projected onto the model.

Step 8:
I then returned to the Base layer and pressed CONTROL + SHIFT + I to invert the selection. I then turned off the visibility on the Template layer.

Step 9:
By selecting my base colour I painted in the selection

Step 10:
I imported some more textures such as metal textures.

Step 11:
I then experimented with blending and opacity options until I got a look I was satisfied with.

Here are the Textures of the models I made:

SHOVEL TEXTURE:

BOLLARD TEXTURE:

LAMP POST TEXTURE:

METAL STAIRS TEXTURE:

PANZER TANK TEXTURE:

BRITISH JEEP TEXTURE: