How to make HD Textures ?

[jygg4lag]

Hey everyone, i love this website, and i really appreciate everyones work here :)

I'm new here so i need some of little help, if anyone is willing to help me :)

I've come to ask if anyone could help me make my own HD textures for games like (Morrowind, Oblivion, Skyrim, Witcher 1, Dragon Age Origins, Dark Messiah, Battlefield 3, GTA IV, GTA San Andreas etc.... BTW, these are the games i use ), so i was wondering could somebody give me some basic tips on creating a HD texture that look similar to the Vanilla texture of the game, but more HD, and what programs to use.Oh, and also i know somebody will tell me to download texture packs for these games that i have, but the thing is, i want to make my own HD Textures :)

Also, can somebody tell me how to make Normal, Specular and Parallax maps that are required for textures.

I know a little because i have watched on this video how to make those maps:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Also, how can you make your character in games look HD (i mean skin and clothes) like this ?

 

Here is an example of Dark Messiah Might and Magic Wizard texture:

 

Vanilla:

 

http://i48.tinypic.com/1h2hbo.jpg

 

HD Texture:

 

http://i45.tinypic.com/2u7p1z4.jpg

 

How to do that ?

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is Skyrim HD and Vanilla Textures comparison:

 

Vanilla:

 

http://i45.tinypic.com/210dt8i.jpg

 

HD Texture:

 

http://i49.tinypic.com/2rnzzpg.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Also another one for Oblivion (i am really sorry if i am boring, but i'm so excited about these HD Textures making, so please help me :) )

 

http://pnmedia.gamespy.com/planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/fms/images/oblivionmods/2363/1170363661_fullres.jpg

 

The Author of these HD Textures is Qarl, here is something that he said which i think you will better understand and explain of what he meant to say:

The purpose of this package is to make TES IV: Oblivion look even better than when you bought it.

 

To do this I've created new textures, normal maps, specular and parallax maps to replace a large number of those in the game with ones which are higher resolution and more photo realistic, while at the same time still very close to the original feel of Bethesda's intentions.

Source: http://planetelderscrolls.gamespy.com/View.php?view=oblivionmods.detail&id=2363

 

 

 

 

 

 

And the last one. Here are some of Witcher 2 HD textures to know what i mean:

 

http://witcher.nexusmods.com/mods/images/158-1-1311705272.jpg

 

 

And

 

 

http://witcher.nexusmods.com/mods/images/158-1-1311505880.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I know it's a very long post but please can somebody tell me how to do it, or at least the basics ?

Thanks.

 

 

Also Credits goes to the guys that made these wonderful textures :)

 

 

Also everyone for the long post, but i really need help :)

Thanks

Edited October 5, 2012 by jygg4lag

[jygg4lag]

Guys, i found some new pictures of Dark Messiah, they look better:

 

 

Death Knight:

 

 

Vanilla:

 

http://i46.tinypic.com/16bx6k8.jpg

 

HD Texture:

 

http://i49.tinypic.com/9h1l78.jpg

 

 

 

 

 

Once again can somebody tell me how to do this ?

Thanks :)

[ghosu]

The "updated" textures from vanilla=>HD just look as if some filters were used...like sharpening, contrast and changed colors a bit and so on.

If you want to create your own textures and want them to be HD you just need bigger textures (most vanilla, not the HD pack, are 512 or 1024) so you can use 2048 or 4096 pixels.

 

How to create your own textures? If you just want to edit them using the flat texture you need Gimp or PS with Nvidia DDS plugin (dds = texture format).

 

If you want to edit them directly on the 3D model you need something like zBrush, Mudbox or Skulptris...i'm talking 'bout textures in part 2 of my weapon tutorial,

just basics since my tutorial is about the whole creation process - to get an idea 'bout it:

Edited October 5, 2012 by ghosu

[CanisRex84]

Adding to what Ghosu has already said..

 

Real HD is determined by the resolution as said, but if you simply up-scale existing textures that doesn't mean they will look any good.. I agree that on the examples it seems as though they have just been sharpened.. I find Burning and Dodge (Photoshop) to have a nicer, more natural effect for bringing out details already in the texture..

 

But the only true way of making HQ/HD textures is by redoing them completely using stock photography of sufficient quality.. Which is no easy task, but can offer the best results if you take your time..