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Suggest a custom texture making software

GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562
in The Commons

If I need a custom texture including maps, what software free/paid would you suggest?

Comments

  • GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562
    edited August 2019

    Please note that I am new to Daz and 3D. I mean to say shaders/texture. I tried free trial version of Filter Forge 8. Either this software is not a shader with maps generating software from custom images or I am not able to do so.

    Post edited by Galaxy on
  • L'AdairL'Adair Posts: 9,479

    I'm still using 4.0, but Filter Forge can save several maps from one texture to be used together. The Buy page shows you need a Pro version to save "Bump, diffuse, normal and other maps". Is the trial version considered Pro? If not, those options would be disabled.

    The Substance suite of programs is another option. If you subscribe, it's only $19.99/mo., with the ability to purchase the perpetual license after 12 consecutive months of paid subscription for only $49. (Just checked the FAQ to make sure that hasn't changed, and it hasn't.)

    Substance, I believe, is going to be longer learning curve, but the combination of the programs in the full suite can do more than Filter Forge. On the other hand, FF is perpetually on sale. It will cost you less in the long run, but Substance is a bit kinder to the budget.

    There are undoubtedly others out there, but these are the two I'm familiar with, as dedicated texture making software.

    You can use Photoshop or Gimp to create your own textures with quite a bit more work on your part. And Gimp is free, open-source software.

    I hope this helps some in your decision-making process.

  • p0rtp0rt Posts: 217

    shadermap CL is old, but still works fine, and can batch create all maps from a input texture

  • GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562
    edited August 2019

    Filter Forge trial version allow maps if I use provided (download from filter forge) texture. If I want maps for my image (which are photograph of different types of textures) I cannot generate maps. Is it trial version limitation? Though this software is useful to create texture and photo effects. Not tried Substance yet.

    Yes it helps and it looks like I also need two different software.

    Post edited by Galaxy on
  • felisfelis Posts: 5,984
    edited August 2019

    I cannot remember which limitations there is to filter forge trial, but in the bougth version you can edit filters or generate new, including using your own pictures as input.

    Edit: Filter Forge is sold here though Daz, so you migth be able to get it at a good price at some sale.

    Post edited by felis on
  • GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562

    "Including using your own pictures as input"

    Suppose the picture is a computer keyboard photo. Will it generate height, normal and shine (probably occlusion) map for this picture?

  • The Blurst of TimesThe Blurst of Times Posts: 2,410

    GIMP generates Normals with a plug-in. It's not difficult to generate Bump and Displacement, but it does take some degree of knowledge and work.

  • BradCarstenBradCarsten Posts: 856
    L'Adair said:

    The Substance suite of programs is another option. If you subscribe, it's only $19.99/mo., with the ability to purchase the perpetual license after 12 consecutive months of paid subscription for only $49. (Just checked the FAQ to make sure that hasn't changed, and it hasn't.)

    Substance, I believe, is going to be longer learning curve, but the combination of the programs in the full suite can do more than Filter Forge. On the other hand, FF is perpetually on sale. It will cost you less in the long run, but Substance is a bit kinder to the budget.

    Just to add to this, you can pick up a perpetual license on steam for $299, which does go on sale every now and again. But if you are in another country, you can get it for a lot less. Eg, base price for me is $110

  • Silent WinterSilent Winter Posts: 3,896

    Sounds like you want B2M (part of the substance suite) which can generate albedo, ambient occlusion, height, normal, etc maps from an image.

    Materialize is free and works similarly (a little harder to use so you might need a tutorial but worth checking out as it's free)

    http://boundingboxsoftware.com/materialize/index.php

    Substance Painter, or Armor Paint, can help you apply maps to objects and generate maps that fit the uv-islands of the object.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 40,329

    https://cpetry.github.io/NormalMap-Online/

    just upload your image and download the results 

    specular, displacement, ambient, occlusion as well as normal maps

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 40,329

    You can also before generating maps take your image and offset it 2x2 in Gimp or something else and use the clone brush to copy and paint over sections to obscure seams.

    Many tutorials around on how to do this in many softwares.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 40,329

    Photoshop

    I do exactly the same thing in Gimp under layer offset 2x2 and use the clone brush click Ctrl instead of alt to pick up the texture to paint the seam, I juggle it back 2x2 offset to tidy

  • marblemarble Posts: 7,500
    edited August 2019
    Silent Winter said:

    Sounds like you want B2M (part of the substance suite) which can generate albedo, ambient occlusion, height, normal, etc maps from an image.

    Materialize is free and works similarly (a little harder to use so you might need a tutorial but worth checking out as it's free)

    http://boundingboxsoftware.com/materialize/index.php

    Substance Painter, or Armor Paint, can help you apply maps to objects and generate maps that fit the uv-islands of the object.

    I'm somewhat clueless when it comes to UV maps, etc. I thought I understood that Substance Painter can't paint across seams and also has a problem with UDIM (I think G3/8 use UDIM). Again, my understanding of these things is minimal so clarificaion would be welcome.

    Post edited by marble on
  • BradCarstenBradCarsten Posts: 856
    marble said:
    Silent Winter said:

    Sounds like you want B2M (part of the substance suite) which can generate albedo, ambient occlusion, height, normal, etc maps from an image.

    Materialize is free and works similarly (a little harder to use so you might need a tutorial but worth checking out as it's free)

    http://boundingboxsoftware.com/materialize/index.php

    Substance Painter, or Armor Paint, can help you apply maps to objects and generate maps that fit the uv-islands of the object.

    I'm somewhat clueless when it comes to UV maps, etc. I thought I understood that Substance Painter can't paint across seams and also has a problem with UDIM (I think G3/8 use UDIM). Again, my understanding of these things is minimal so clarificaion would be welcome.

    They had the following announcement in their latest newsletter:

    The Substance Day at Siggraph 2019 keynote just ended, and we shared some big news: Painting Across UV Tiles is coming in Substance Painter!

  • marblemarble Posts: 7,500
    edited August 2019
    BradCarsten said:
    marble said:
    Silent Winter said:

    Sounds like you want B2M (part of the substance suite) which can generate albedo, ambient occlusion, height, normal, etc maps from an image.

    Materialize is free and works similarly (a little harder to use so you might need a tutorial but worth checking out as it's free)

    http://boundingboxsoftware.com/materialize/index.php

    Substance Painter, or Armor Paint, can help you apply maps to objects and generate maps that fit the uv-islands of the object.

    I'm somewhat clueless when it comes to UV maps, etc. I thought I understood that Substance Painter can't paint across seams and also has a problem with UDIM (I think G3/8 use UDIM). Again, my understanding of these things is minimal so clarificaion would be welcome.

    They had the following announcement in their latest newsletter:

    The Substance Day at Siggraph 2019 keynote just ended, and we shared some big news: Painting Across UV Tiles is coming in Substance Painter!

    Seems to me that should be big news around these parts, right? I tried to find the announcement and stumbled across this ...

    Post edited by marble on
  • GalaxyGalaxy Posts: 562

    Thanks, very helpful for me. 

    I bookmarked this online tool.

    https://cpetry.github.io/NormalMap-Online/  

    This Substance Painter looks like an interesting tool. My knowledge and experience of this software (Substance Painter) or this kind of software is zero. Currently trying to findout via Youtube what it is or what I can do if I use this tool. 

  • FirstBastionFirstBastion Posts: 8,050

    With photoshop and some of these map making plugins,  you can create different types of maps.

    https://graphicriver.net/map-in-graphics

  • JasonSWrenchJasonSWrench Posts: 387

    Ones that I have that can be useful:

    ShaderMap

    Genetica

    PixPlant

    Filter Forge

    Substance Design.

    Jason

  • MattymanxMattymanx Posts: 6,998
    edited August 2019

    The best I have seen for creating your own textures from the ground up with ease is Quixel Mixer - https://quixel.com/mixer

    Watch the video to see how they do it, it looks very easy compared to Substance Designer, and I can say that as I have used Substance Designer.

     

    Armour Paint looks very good too and a mega steal for only £16 compared to SD.  Look over the online manual first as they suggest.

     

    Post edited by Mattymanx on
  • Silent WinterSilent Winter Posts: 3,896
    marble said:
    Silent Winter said:

    Sounds like you want B2M (part of the substance suite) which can generate albedo, ambient occlusion, height, normal, etc maps from an image.

    Materialize is free and works similarly (a little harder to use so you might need a tutorial but worth checking out as it's free)

    http://boundingboxsoftware.com/materialize/index.php

    Substance Painter, or Armor Paint, can help you apply maps to objects and generate maps that fit the uv-islands of the object.

    I'm somewhat clueless when it comes to UV maps, etc. I thought I understood that Substance Painter can't paint across seams and also has a problem with UDIM (I think G3/8 use UDIM). Again, my understanding of these things is minimal so clarificaion would be welcome.

    It has problems with seams (it can paint across them but if they're not parallel, it still shows a seam) - this can be overcome with its tri-planar mapping and/or clone tools.

    Armor Paint now has this functionality too. SP is still better with more features but AP is developing all the time.

    Mattymanx said:

    The best I have seen for creating your own textures from the ground up with ease is Quixel Mixer - https://quixel.com/mixer

    Watch the video to see how they do it, it looks very easy compared to Substance Designer, and I can say that as I have used Substance Designer.

     

    Armour Paint looks very good too and a mega steal for only £16 compared to SD.  Look over the online manual first as they suggest.

     

    Armor Paint is great value - I'm already using it for my models and it's getting new versions all the time. Still in alpha though so not feature complete and gets ocassional crashes.

    Alongside Materialize it can do a great job of texturing.

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