Createing Seamless Textures Problem

Hi ...I am fairly new at this Building in SL and seem to have a problem createing seamless textures.
They are seamless when looking at them in PSP 8, but once I attempt to place them on matching Prims, the seams are very obvious, and sometimes are not the same color tone to match up or even size is sometimes a little off.
Is there something I am missing? Or is there a correction to this?

Shjak Monde
Thanks in advance

Hi!

The texture may look seamless to you in PSP, but it's probably not, since you're getting weirdness over in SL. Here's a basic tutorial on seamless pattern building:

1. I'm going to assume a pattern of 128x128. Create a new file with a pixel size of 128x128 px.

2. Create your texture image in this box.

3. Select the whole thing and copy it to the clipboard. If you have multiple layers choose Copy Merged.

4. Paste it in a new layer and choose Define Pattern from the Edit menu (im not sure if PSP has this feature, if not copy the texture and place it 9 times into the document (so it fills the page) after the next step where you use the pattern).

5. Make a new file with a pixel size of 384x384.

6. Choose Edit > Fill and use your texture (if you don't have that option fill the canvas with pastes of the texture).

7. You should see some glaringly obvious lines (most of the time anyway) and maybe some misalignments. The way I deal with this is to use the stamping tool and stamp out the line using a source from the other side of the original square, but not outside of it (uhm ... so, if you are on the left side and see a line, stamp it out using source from the right) on the TOP or the LEFT of the original square (center) ONLY.

8. Once all looks well, select the left side and feather the selection 2 or 3 px. *EDIT* Make sure your selection includes both sides of the "seam" area, in the original square and the left copy square. */EDIT* then copy-drag it to the other side, exactly 128 px to the right (use the info palette). If you don't do this your pattern won't match on both sides. Do this also for the top to the bottom.

Reselect your original pattern area and repeat steps 3-8 until you have no seams when you hit step 6. At that point copy your 128x128 px texture into a new file and save it as a TGA and upload. That SHOULD work I used to work for a wallpaper company making tedious patterns and this is the method I found that worked best. HTH!

*Edited to make step 8 make more sense!

Thank you very much Taun. That was a lot of help.

Shjak Monde

No problem, Shjak! Glad I could help!

I remember in the older version of painter there was a bug that was perfect for making textures. When the bug was trigged the canvas would become one seamless texture. I could draw from off one side of the canvas, and the brush would show up on the other side. Or pan the canvas, witch would expose the seem edges.
it made it so easy to make textures.

There are also quirks with the "Local Lighting" feature which can cause the differences in color tone you mention. Try turning it off if you are still having this problem (and if you have it on to begin with!)

again, not sure if PSP has this, i don't even know what kind of set up it has for filters.. but this is how i do it:

-
-Filter > Other > Offset...
-then slide the sliders until you can see seams both vertically -and horizontally. (i think about +150/+150 should do it).
-then play with it until the seams are.. er.. seamless. (be careful not to change the new sides or you'll make new seams)
-


and that should work also, not sure if it'll work as well.. but it works for me.. basically.

Cybin, great trick, I never tried that, I'll use that from now on

i can't claim to be the one who figured it out. i forget who clued me in to it, but i think it was someone here.. somewhere along the way.

but yeah, it works great.

Yes. I use the Offset filter method in Photoshop myself. I put in values that are half the width of the texture. (So 64 if the image is 128 wide.)

Just don't blend the seam near the edges of the image. Instead, Offset it half again (32) and then touch up the visible seams.

Whenever your tool hits the edge of the window, there's a strong chance that what it does there won't line up with what you do on the other side.

When using RL images as textures, the rubber stamp and smudge tools are key. And you can limit thier effects to just the luminance or color channels for great effects.

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Tiger Crossing originaly posted:

When using RL images as textures, the rubber stamp and smudge tools are key. And you can limit thier effects to just the luminance or color channels for great effects.
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Yes.. The textures that I am createing, are RL JPGs of Skies and Clouds.
I would like to hear more of this Rubber Stamp and Smudge Tools.

Shjak Monde

The rectangle lasso, with feather could be used to protect the edge from being ajused.