Ah the joys of textures and bad seams…
So what is the scoop on using photos in the textures? I want to use photos in a couple of my textures too. I hope it is ok with the rules?
Machineflesh 3D Challenge Entry: Anders Kjellberg
harnelbe
#142
Cartesius
whaooow
i think i have miss something here!
:bounce:
Your modeling ! Your modeling very accurate ! lot of details, i have read all
the topic this morning, amazing.
The only crits i could do is about, the way
you connected the apparels on the hand,
like it have been said before, it could be a could thing to alter the skin relief where
the mechanisms are fixed, what i don’t understand is why surgeon have cut his fingers to put thoses apparels, it could have been easier and unpainfull to only put a glove with nervs connector ?
:rolleyes:
soapy
You’re right about the rules, all textures have to be done from scratch.
i can’t refind this rule where they put it
lol
Cartesius
#143
@soapy: Seams are a pain but I will have a go at them tonight.
@harnelbe: Thanks, glad you like it so far! 
The reason I decided to put the instruments where they are instead of using say a glove, is this little paragraph in the rules:
The mechanical parts have to be incorporated into the actual body the machine needs to have become one with the flesh via some sort of procedure.
Since the instruments are wired directly to the surgeons neural system they will respond immediately to his needed actions, much like normal fingers do. The scene takes place in the year 2769 and gloves are a thing of the past – the mechanical instruments are now truly in direct connection with the human body. 
About photos: I’ve just looked through the rules and FAQ but couldn’t find anything specific about photos being used as base for texturemaps. I’ve posted a question in the FAQ-thread so I’m awaiting a response.
My take on them: I decided to use photographic elements after reading Jari Saarinen’s description of how he textured his winning entry in the Alienware challenge. He used photos to texture it, so I figured it was OK to use them here as well. (See On the Edge of Time for the whole story.)
Creating a believeable texture from scratch is difficult since you have to be a very skilled 2D artist to pull it off. Using photographic elements is an accepted way to get realism. When you need a map of say a Coke label for a sodacan you don’t sit down with Illustrator and Photoshop and paint one – you scan it. The brick texture of a wall, same thing but you shoot it with a camera instead. How many can really paint rusty, flaking metal so it looks like the real thing? If you want realism you have to start with reality.
All photograpic elements I will use (if they are allowed, that is) will be taken by me specifically for this challenge (and heavily modified in Photoshop – the hand texture I posted earlier will look very different once I get the base down, for example), so in a way they will be created from scratch.
If they are not allowed my geometry will look good but my texturing like… Well, crap. It’s no big deal if they aren’t, I will still use my photos as reference but it will take much longer to finish the scene.
Cheers!
/Anders
harnelbe
#144
Let’s wait about the answer in the faq.
but:
Look at what have been written by Leigh
if your read it all, it’s said:
The challenge is a work-in-progress challenge and everything must be made from scratch.
Everything… In bold
By the way your modeling skills are impressives.
I did not want to be unpleasant
i’m confused, if.it’s the case.
keep it up ! dude!
Cartesius
#145
Originally posted by harnelbe
i’m confused, if.it’s the case.
I’m confused as well. Leigh also writes (in connection with your quote), that:
Entries found using previously made/commercially sold models or elements will be automatically disqualified.
The question is: is a photograph I shoot specifically for this challenge to be considered as a previously made or pre-fabricated element? I think we’ll just have to wait and see what she answers.
I’m not reading your posts as unpleasant at all, this has been on my mind for some time now. As I said earlier, I decided to use photos as a starting point when I read the description of Jari’s winning entry. If I remember correctly the whole Alienware challenge was to be made from scratch as well (same rules then as now). Photographs were obviously allowed since Jari used them but not pre-fabricated models.
I’ll post as soon as I know for sure how the situation will be handled!
Oh, and thanks for your nice comments about my modeling, I really appreciate it!
/Anders
soapy
#147
I agree completely with you Anders, but I would hate to waste my time taking pictures if they just get disallowed. I thought I read somewhere something about photos, but I couldnt find it again. I want new rocks and a new floor but I dont see any reason to hand draw the maps…
leigh
#148
Hej Anders,
I answered this in the questions thread, but thought I’d post here anyway - of course you’re welcome to use photographs as textures, as it is a perfectly legitimate way of texturing. Personally I prefer to paint my own textures (being a texturing artist by trade), since I find that fixing up photos for use as textures actually requires a lot more tedious work, but if that’s how you want to work, then by all means go ahead
soapy
#151
Thats a relief to hear about the photos. Now I can make some new parts in my usual manner. Mostly I hand make my maps but for some things photos are better.
pigwater
#152
cartesius … now i’m worried … you got mad texturing skills as it is … and now with photos your piece is gonna be xtra sweet … all i can say
great concept you got …and you’ve been pumping out quality to make it come alive … this one is gonna kick some butt i think
Cartesius
#153
Cartesius
#154
OK, after three days of trying to edit the UV’s and paint a descent texture map for his left hand I finally got this. It’s not perfect and I still have to do some detailing but as a base I think it’s good enough. The hardest part was hiding the seam where the palm texture met the top texture, but BodyPaint’s Projection Painting really helped here, althou the seam is still noticeable in some places. I think I will have to fix that in post, though.
/Anders
JamesMK
#155
That looks really good! The palm in particular, while the other side (there has to be a name for the top side of the hand, huh?) needs some more character. Neat colors for the nails too, a bit sickly in a suitable way. It’s hard to say if the nails are a bit transparent now, since the background is black, but they should be anyway. - - - oh, I just realised that the nails won’t be in the final image anyway, right? 
Good job on the seam too. If projection painting doesn’t cut it, you can always flat-project a texture from the sides with an alpha to make it fade out before it starts streaking over the top and palm (if that makes sense )
Cartesius
#157
I will post a proper reply in a couple of minutes but I’m a bit hyped right now. I just got mail from Ballistic Publishing – I made Exposé 2!
/Anders
JamesMK
#158
Hey hey hey! Congrats on the Exposé inclusion! Wicked!
Oh, Soapy, ‘dorsal’ side it is then - thanks!
Cartesius
#159
Right, a bit more collected now.
@JamesMK: Thanks, it was quite a shock when I got the mail about Exposé 2, I can tell you that! I had nearly forgotten about it. I have just poured myself a glass of beer and will have a nice evening in front of “The Ring” on DVD to celebrate.
OK, back to the hand: I paid more attention to the palm because that will be more visible than the dorsal side (thanks soapy!) in the final render. The nails will probably not be very visible either but they were so easy so I did all five while I was at it.
Flat-projecting a texture never really occurred to me! Damnation, that would probably have solved quite a lot of issues I had. Oh well, there’s always the right hand to continue practising on.
Cheers!
/Anders
Peter_C
#160
The texture looks great Anders, and from that angle, it does not show. Keep it up and for making Exposé II