How to become a Texture Artist

[Big10]

Hey guys and gals !

I'm very interested in texturing and was wondering what does it take to become a texture artist ? Like for example, from what I researched some work to put into a demo reel would be textures for Characters,environments, and props(is there anything else ?). Secondly what would be the best second set of skills to texturing ? like Modeling makes total sense, but I dont' want to be a environment artist. So would Lighting, UV Mapping and writing Shaders fit right in ?

[slipgatecentral]

what does it take to become a texture artist

First and most important, you should handle photoshop really really good. Everything else is secondary.

Secondly what would be the best second set of skills to texturing ?

basic knowledge of polymodelling and UV mapping gives a huge advantage

[Big10]

First and most important, you should handle photoshop really really good. Everything else is secondary.



basic knowledge of polymodelling and UV mapping gives a huge advantage

thanks for the reply slipgatecentral.
another question. What does a texture demo reel look like ?
Like i've seen modeling reels, and they have models. So would an employer care if i made my own models to texture ? the only texture reel i could find was http://www.leighvanderbyl.com/

[zeke3d]

make tons of textures, of all kinds, you should see about getting with other students who just want to do models, and only models, and when they bang out a model, you should texture it and give each other credit.

[Big10]

make tons of textures, of all kinds, you should see about getting with other students who just want to do models, and only models, and when they bang out a model, you should texture it and give each other credit.

thanks bro !
so something like this artist portfolio is something i should look into. http://www.wesleytack.com/props.html

[Ramseus]

So would an employer care if i made my own models to texture ?[/url]

If you don't care about modelling at all that's not a good idea, because you, naturally, wouldn't have any modelling skills which would make the reel look unprofessional, and if you're working with a skilled modeller's models it would show that you're able to texture more complex models. Like Zeke said, for a reel find someone who just wants to model and doesn't care for texturing.

You need need need to know how to UV map. In the amateur world, amateur modellers are usually clueless about it so you'll be doing all the dirty work. UV's aren't very fun, but they're a necessary evil. Plus it's easier to understand a jumble of lines in PS if your know how that jumble was created.

Lighting skills could work in your favour, I guess it differs between studios though, but it can't hurt. Knowing fundamentals of lighting can help you understand how to use the different texture maps more effectively too.

I think the only thing you're missing is vehicles. Characters, environments, props, and vehicles. If really wanted to you could include lighting and effects.

Heh, I started off as just a texture artist working on a BF2 mod, and I ended up having to fix up the models so often that I just naturally picked up modelling skills without even trying. But yeah, if modelling doesn't float your boat at all then just go on and become a killer texture artist. Most newcomers put their emphasis on modelling and just slap together textures, but a bad texture can kill even a great model, and a great texture can cover up a mediocre model. Texturing for the win :thumb: