Texture mapping is more than “icing on the cake” for your clothing or props since it can make or break 3D models. You can have a well-defined and accurate model, but average or poor texturing negates the value of these assets, making them more difficult to sell or use in a render.

Luckily, tools for texturing have improved and provide that all-important photorealistic look, BUT only once you’ve learned the software and figured out an efficient and complete workflow — essential for DAZ Studio content creators.

Are you in one or more of these situations?

• I don’t know where to begin when using realistic textures for clothing or props.
• I’m challenged with creating seamless patterns.
• I want to learn how to create professional-level texturing with modern tools, but I’m unsure how to use them efficiently.

Professional Texturing Is Attainable!

In this tutorial course, Sabine Hajostek (Esha), one of the leading published artists at Daz 3D, provides a complete guide to texturing clothing and props using Substance Painter and Photoshop so that you can:

• Use realistic textures reflecting real-world material properties
• Train your eyes to notice and build detailing
• Bring unique texture ideas to the market
• Show you a streamlined modern workflow for increased productivity

Esha will show you how to texture clothing or props to a professional level even if you:

• Have never applied or experimented with textures for your clothing or props before
• Have never used Substance Painter

Without having to:

• Learn the deeper technical aspects of shaders
• Spend hours on adding little details (for example…stitching!)

3D Content Included in the Course:

• Esha's Adventure Hunter Outfit for Genesis 8 and 8.1 Females
• Adventure hunt props

Software Required to Follow this Course:

• Substance Painter: available on Steam as a one-off purchase or from Adobe on a monthly subscription. A 30-day trial is also available.
• Photoshop: used to create and tweak maps.
• Daz Studio: textured models in this course are shown and manipulated in Daz Studio as the target application.

Video Course

Includes over 12 hours of video content and searchable versions of the MP4 files.

Session 1:

• Introduction
• Shader basics
• How to use texture maps in a shader (example: Iray Uber Shader)
• Which materials are you likely to use in your work?
• Which maps will you need to create them?

Session 2:

• A few words regarding UV mapping with SP in mind:
  • Projection vs UV space
  • Planning for the final map
• Substance Painter Basics:
  • Interface
  • Basic settings
  • Lighting and other controls
  • Installing substances
• Sources for getting substances (other than Adobe)

Session 3:

• Preparing the Mesh:
  • Groups and surfaces
  • “Pose”
  • HD mesh
  • Triangulated mesh
• Setting up a project in SP
• Baking maps
• Getting materials onto the mesh (2 methods)
• Advantages of using layers with masks
• Creating more complex masks in a 2D program

Session 4:

• Importing mask files into SP
• Other auxiliary maps for details
• Using generators for special effects
• Using “anchors”
• Tweaking the generated effects

Session 5:

• Adding irregularities and subtle variations
• Tweaking colors (3 ways)
• Exporting the maps and plugging them into the Iray Uber shader
• Establishing a naming convention
• Creating extra maps for overlays

Session 6:

• Texturing clothing: applying the techniques we have discussed so far
• Sewing and embroidery:
  • Painting stiches in Photoshop
  • Customizable layer setup in Substance Painter
• Combining substances and merchant resources:
  • Using imported color maps
  • Preparing special patterns/prints/borders in Photoshop (smart objects and warp tool)

Session 7:

• Special considerations regarding dirt and discoloring on clothing
• Opacity maps (sheer fabric and lace)
• Using the features of the Iray Uber shader:
  • Silk/Satin
• Special effects (e.g. Metallic Flakes)

Session 8:

• Special effects, including particle effects
• Final Q and A from students
• Student projects and course review

Searchable Video Sample (5 minutes)

About the Presenter: Esha

Esha lives in Austria and has been creating 3D products for nearly 15 years!

In the past, she has created content for Smith Micro and now for Daz 3D, being one of the leading vendors at daz3d.com.

Esha’s favorite tools include Daz Studio, Poser, ZBrush, Wings3D, Xfrog, Marvelous Designer, UVLayout, Substance Painter, and Photoshop. In all of these, she is a self-taught artist, basing her skills on years of experience with building 3D content.

Esha also has several years of experience in teaching adults. She firmly believes that the best way to learn is to actively do something yourself, so she favors a hands-on approach in teaching.

Knowing only too well how tiresome it is to gather scraps of information all over the web, she wants to provide comprehensive content that really offers solid information. Moving from the basics to advanced procedures, she takes care to make sure that her audience will be able to follow her courses smoothly.

In her spare time, Esha loves listening to classical music, baking muffins, and collecting cat photos.