How to make a chrome texture?

[Werne]

I really don't know how to do this and the model will look bad without it so I need help. I wan't to make a chrome texture, like this one:

 

http://www.177air.com/Remington.Mosin.nagant.bolt/IMG_6223.JPG

 

Actually, it is for that thing, I'm making a Mosin Nagant rifle and I need to texture the bolt. I know how to make the model reflect light like the bolt in the picture, but what I don't know is how to make the texture look like chrome. When I make it, it looks like greyish paint and crome is smooth and light (I don't know english good enough to explain it). It just kills me. So can you help me or point me to somewhere I can find what I'm looking for? Any help is good.

[Fatalmasterpiece]

What I would usually do is paint the texture using plain black, white and grey gradients, to make it greyish like you said. Then I would duplicate the layer and use filters like chrome and plastic wrap to give faked highlights and smooth the texture. At this point you would also probably want to open up the levels and lighten up the entire texture, as like you said, chrome is a bit lighter of a material. Then a highly reflective normal map should give the effect of chrome.

[Ghogiel]

make diffuse mid gray toned. use a wide ranged specular, very bright on the highlights and edges, dark in recessed areas, use environment map shader.