Download the file used in the videos
And do the exercises under each video.
What is a texture? What are materials again? What is a UV map? What is unwrapping? What are seams? How do I edit a UV map onto an existing texture?
Exercise: color a mushroom through materials, unwrap a mushroom onto the mushroom texture.
What are UV projections? How do I apply an image to a flat surface like in a painting, sign, monitor, etc?
Exercise: find a picture and apply it as texture on the frame model. Try texturing the frame too.
How do I use photoshop to create textures? How do I export a UV map?
Exercise: texture the fish model from the uv map using images assembled in photoshop (or a similar application).
How do I apply simple flat or gradient colors? How do I use a texture as palette? How do I achieve that smooth cartoon style FAST?
Exercise: Texture the car model using a gradient palette
How do I paint textures directly on models?
Exercise: Texture the fish model using texture painting.
You can use other texture painting tools.
Texture painting tools
Texture painting really makes sense if you use a tablet, so your hardware, software, and operating system matter. Here are a few options I tried. Keep in mind: this is oriented to real time 3D, for beginners/intermediates, and as for Fall 2022.
Texture painting in Procreate on iPad
Pros
– Cool brushes
– Cheap: $10 once
– Nice UX, designed for iPad
Cons
– Convoluted workflow: export from blender as obj, upload/sync on icloud, import obj, paint, export from procreate
– One-directional workflow: once you export as obj you can’t go back to .blend, nullifying the advantages of .blend-to-Unity pipeline
– Default 2048 textures which can be small, and changing the size can be done with a super annoying
Paolo’s Verdict: Not recommended, unless it got better in the latest versions
Texture painting on computer using an iPad as tablet
Pros
Appealing if you already have an iPad + Pencil
You can use sidecar if your main system is Mac
Doesn’t break your pipeline, all the files stay on the main machine
Cons
Laggy
Subscription fee on Windows: Astropad Studio is $99 per year (way too expensive), or Duet $25 per year (crappy quality)
Paolo’s verdict: NO for Windows, NOT SURE on Mac
Texture painting in Substance Painter / Designer
Pros
Part of the Adobe Suite: free as long as you are a student
Industry standard, especially for realistic texturing and material design
Cons
Part of the Adobe Suite: keep paying landlord Abobe for the rest of your life
Complicated to use
Pipeline to Unity and Blender require plugins and custom materials
Paolo’s verdict: Check them out if you are already advanced or considering that kind of role in the animation or game industry.
Texture Painting in Blender Using a Wacom tablet
Pros
Most streamlined setup
You can use all your computer applications
More responsive and tactile than the iPad (imho)
The Blender to Unity pipeline is very convenient
Blender is free
Blender texture painting features are more advanced than Procreate’s
Cons
Quite expensive hardware: $600-2000 (Wacom Cintiq) or $50+ for pads without displays
Blender’s texture painting UX is pretty terrible
Paolo’s verdict: We have tablets at school, and it’s worth struggling with Blender byzantine menus.