Second Life Forums Archive

Fall Republic

Registered User

Join date: 22 Jun 2009

Posts: 4

06-30-2009 20:05

Alrightalrightalright, I've got it set up with the SL female model mesh provided on the site.
Is there anything I need to know? I'm a little confused about how the textures are separated and how it works in relation to actually getting what you paint on the model in-game.

Nubcaek, me.

And for sculpties, this may be something that should be brought up in another forum, but... what program should I use?

Fall Republic

Registered User

Join date: 22 Jun 2009

Posts: 4

06-30-2009 20:22

Basically, will anyone help me out, step-by-step?
It's a lot of work but I am completely lost.
I've got the 3D model loaded, and I don't know what to do next or anything. /cries
I'm watching this video http://www.robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/PhotoshopTuts/PhotoTutPages/CS4-3D-4_Paint.html but I'm still confused.

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

06-30-2009 23:16

Before I can try to help, I've got a few questions for you:

First, and most importantly, do you have prior experience with Photoshop? If not, then you MUST forget all about this topic for the time being, and spend a few weeks learning how to use the program itself first, in 2D. There's absolutely no way around that. DO NOT try to put the cart before the horse, or you'll just continue to struggle indefinitely. 3D texturing is an advanced subject, not for the novice. No matter how smart or how talented you may be, everyone has to start at the beginning with this stuff, no exceptions.

Second, have you watched the previous three videos in the series? There's need-to-know information in all of them.

Third, what are your system specs? The 3D paint engine requires a fairly powerful computer. If your machine is underpowered, it might simply fail to work, even if you're doing everything right. In addition to a fast processor, and plenty of (healthy) hard drive space, it's crucial to have lots & lots & lots of RAM. 8GB or more is best. 4GB of usable RAM is really the minimum for reliable performance. Any less than that, and it will malfunction from time to time, if it even functions at all.

Note, in order to have 4 or more GB of usable RAM at your disposal, you need to be using a 64-bit OS.

Now, assuming you do know how to use Photoshop in 2D already, you have watched all four of Robin's videos, and your machine is up to the task, what exactly are you having trouble with?

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Virrginia Tombola

Equestrienne

Join date: 10 Nov 2006

Posts: 938

07-01-2009 07:15

From: Chosen Few

Note, in order to have 4 or more GB of usable RAM at your disposal, you need to be using a 64-bit OS.

To be fair, I'm still using 32 bit Windows XP with an available RAM of 3.5 and I've been running CS4. Just. It's not completely stable, and for some reason I have to manually enable Open GL in preferences each time I start up Photoshop. But it works well enough to use for finishing work after I do my primary painting in Zbrush.

_____________________

Horses, Carriages, Modern and Historical Riding apparel. Ride a demo horse, play whist, or just loiter. I'm fair used to loiterers.

http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Eyre/48%20/183/23/

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

07-01-2009 15:09

From: Virrginia Tombola

It's not completely stable

That's what I was talking about. Sorry if I was unclear. From my experience, while it CAN work with less than 4GB of RAM, it won't work reliably unless you've got 4GB or more. I've experienced everything from freeze-ups to paint strokes simply refusing to appear. Once you cross the 4GB border, most problems seem to disappear.

ETA: The problems I spoke of were with the original 11.0 release. Since then, Adobe has released the 11.0.1 update, which among other things, addresses "a number of issues that could cause slow performance". It's possible that that means having less than 4GB of memory available will no longer cause instability. I don't feel like pulling RAM out of my machine to test, but if anyone would care to look into it, I'd love to hear if things have improved.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Fall Republic

Registered User

Join date: 22 Jun 2009

Posts: 4

07-03-2009 14:35

From: Chosen Few

Before I can try to help, I've got a few questions for you:

First, and most importantly, do you have prior experience with Photoshop?

Second, have you watched the previous three videos in the series? There's need-to-know information in all of them.

Third, what are your system specs?

Now, assuming you do know how to use Photoshop in 2D already, you have watched all four of Robin's videos, and your machine is up to the task, what exactly are you having trouble with?

First question, yes.
Second, no. I'm watching them now.
Third, 3070mb ram - 310 gb space.

As I go along, I'll come back and ask questions.

For right now I have one... when you edit the textures on the mesh in new windows, do they save separately or does it save to the model or something?

Chosen Few

Alpha Channel Slave

Join date: 16 Jan 2004

Posts: 7,496

07-03-2009 18:18

From: Fall Republic

For right now I have one... when you edit the textures on the mesh in new windows, do they save separately or does it save to the model or something?

The textures are saved as PSB files, embedded inside the PSD file that contains the model and any other image elements. The model itself is a separate element from the textures.

To upload the textures to SL, you first need to export them out of the PSD as separate files. Simply double-click them to open, and then hit Save As for each one. I recommend TGA.

_____________________

.

Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.

Fall Republic

Registered User

Join date: 22 Jun 2009

Posts: 4

07-03-2009 22:45

As far as making skins go, is there an easier way to make parts symmetrical, as far as my only idea to erase areas outside the av part on the texture, copy+paste remaining bit of texture by itself, and then mirror?
As in, take a portion of the skin texture and yeah... it's just a lot of work to get it perfectly symmetrical.

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Fall Republic Registered User Join date: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 4	06-30-2009 20:05 Alrightalrightalright, I've got it set up with the SL female model mesh provided on the site. Is there anything I need to know? I'm a little confused about how the textures are separated and how it works in relation to actually getting what you paint on the model in-game. Nubcaek, me. And for sculpties, this may be something that should be brought up in another forum, but... what program should I use?
Fall Republic Registered User Join date: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 4	06-30-2009 20:22 Basically, will anyone help me out, step-by-step? It's a lot of work but I am completely lost. I've got the 3D model loaded, and I don't know what to do next or anything. /cries I'm watching this video http://www.robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/PhotoshopTuts/PhotoTutPages/CS4-3D-4_Paint.html but I'm still confused.
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	06-30-2009 23:16 Before I can try to help, I've got a few questions for you: First, and most importantly, do you have prior experience with Photoshop? If not, then you MUST forget all about this topic for the time being, and spend a few weeks learning how to use the program itself first, in 2D. There's absolutely no way around that. DO NOT try to put the cart before the horse, or you'll just continue to struggle indefinitely. 3D texturing is an advanced subject, not for the novice. No matter how smart or how talented you may be, everyone has to start at the beginning with this stuff, no exceptions. Second, have you watched the previous three videos in the series? There's need-to-know information in all of them. Third, what are your system specs? The 3D paint engine requires a fairly powerful computer. If your machine is underpowered, it might simply fail to work, even if you're doing everything right. In addition to a fast processor, and plenty of (healthy) hard drive space, it's crucial to have lots & lots & lots of RAM. 8GB or more is best. 4GB of usable RAM is really the minimum for reliable performance. Any less than that, and it will malfunction from time to time, if it even functions at all. Note, in order to have 4 or more GB of usable RAM at your disposal, you need to be using a 64-bit OS. Now, assuming you do know how to use Photoshop in 2D already, you have watched all four of Robin's videos, and your machine is up to the task, what exactly are you having trouble with? _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Virrginia Tombola Equestrienne Join date: 10 Nov 2006 Posts: 938	07-01-2009 07:15 From: Chosen Few Note, in order to have 4 or more GB of usable RAM at your disposal, you need to be using a 64-bit OS. To be fair, I'm still using 32 bit Windows XP with an available RAM of 3.5 and I've been running CS4. Just. It's not completely stable, and for some reason I have to manually enable Open GL in preferences each time I start up Photoshop. But it works well enough to use for finishing work after I do my primary painting in Zbrush. _____________________ Horses, Carriages, Modern and Historical Riding apparel. Ride a demo horse, play whist, or just loiter. I'm fair used to loiterers. http://slurl.com/secondlife/Caledon%20Eyre/48%20/183/23/
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	07-01-2009 15:09 From: Virrginia Tombola It's not completely stable That's what I was talking about. Sorry if I was unclear. From my experience, while it CAN work with less than 4GB of RAM, it won't work reliably unless you've got 4GB or more. I've experienced everything from freeze-ups to paint strokes simply refusing to appear. Once you cross the 4GB border, most problems seem to disappear. ETA: The problems I spoke of were with the original 11.0 release. Since then, Adobe has released the 11.0.1 update, which among other things, addresses "a number of issues that could cause slow performance". It's possible that that means having less than 4GB of memory available will no longer cause instability. I don't feel like pulling RAM out of my machine to test, but if anyone would care to look into it, I'd love to hear if things have improved. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Fall Republic Registered User Join date: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 4	07-03-2009 14:35 From: Chosen Few Before I can try to help, I've got a few questions for you: First, and most importantly, do you have prior experience with Photoshop? Second, have you watched the previous three videos in the series? There's need-to-know information in all of them. Third, what are your system specs? Now, assuming you do know how to use Photoshop in 2D already, you have watched all four of Robin's videos, and your machine is up to the task, what exactly are you having trouble with? First question, yes. Second, no. I'm watching them now. Third, 3070mb ram - 310 gb space. As I go along, I'll come back and ask questions. For right now I have one... when you edit the textures on the mesh in new windows, do they save separately or does it save to the model or something?
Chosen Few Alpha Channel Slave Join date: 16 Jan 2004 Posts: 7,496	07-03-2009 18:18 From: Fall Republic For right now I have one... when you edit the textures on the mesh in new windows, do they save separately or does it save to the model or something? The textures are saved as PSB files, embedded inside the PSD file that contains the model and any other image elements. The model itself is a separate element from the textures. To upload the textures to SL, you first need to export them out of the PSD as separate files. Simply double-click them to open, and then hit Save As for each one. I recommend TGA. _____________________ . Land now available for rent in Indigo. Low rates. Quiet, low-lag mainland sim with good neighbors. IM me in-world if you're interested.
Fall Republic Registered User Join date: 22 Jun 2009 Posts: 4	07-03-2009 22:45 As far as making skins go, is there an easier way to make parts symmetrical, as far as my only idea to erase areas outside the av part on the texture, copy+paste remaining bit of texture by itself, and then mirror? As in, take a portion of the skin texture and yeah... it's just a lot of work to get it perfectly symmetrical.