Combat Knife - Advice needed

ghaztehschmexeh

It's pretty basic model but I'm trying to practise finishing assets. So this is the third thing I've textured, and I don't feel all that confident on it.

How can I improve this?

dpaynter26

well the texture on the handle seems really squished, like it hurts my eyes, maybe tone it down a bit for sure and tone down the normal map

AlexCatMasterSupreme

Not bad, add some wear to the blade, the handle is cool even if it is a little extreme, sometimes (SOMETIMES) that's all good.

ghaztehschmexeh

Okay, thanks the the input.

To be honest I'm not that happy with the handle, it should look like the below image. I couldn't think of how to achieve that effect, this was the best I could come up with :P

I'll add some wear to the blade and see what I can do with the handle today and post again.

JoshWilkinson

ghaztehschmexeh wrote: »

Okay, thanks the the input.

To be honest I'm not that happy with the handle, it should look like the below image. I couldn't think of how to achieve that effect, this was the best I could come up with :P

I'll add some wear to the blade and see what I can do with the handle today and post again.

http://puu.sh/YYP9

That's a very cool effect on those handles. Comparing your handle to the references, the only real problem with yours is the contrast in the handle. it looks like the white is a little darker than pure white, but the darkest part of the pattern is a medium gray; there just isn't a very large range of contrast in there. That simple fix should do a lot for the knife.

briantsang

You could take out the normal map or tone it down for the handles. The handles are made from micarta, which is soft and kinda cloth-like, so there aren't a lot of deep cuts. Also, the coating on the blade should have a subtle speckly feel to it.

They should looks like this, different knife design, but made from the same company.

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_jdHVdWy9XeE/SdTB4Dx3OiI/AAAAAAAACgE/RS53jfe9OJM/s1600-h/KLBlog+414.jpg

ghaztehschmexeh

The normal for the effect on the handle was a last minute addition really, I thought it might add something but I guess it doesn't really.

The speckle for the blade, I did try but I always here about using "natural" rather than generated noise, but I couldn't find anything suitable, any suggestions?

ghaztehschmexeh

So I've done a bit to the blade, what do you guys thing? I'd like to get a proper effect like on the real thing, but I really don't have a clue as to how I would go about that...

purkie103

Hey man the scratches seem to really stand out to much. I don't know if you've seen this but it might help you alot on working on the blade texture racer examines realistic scratches and damage and explains how he textured his sword, with a neat video tutorial. Hope this helps

http://www.nextgenhardsurface.com/index.php?pageid=racer445

ghaztehschmexeh

purkie103 wrote: »

Hey man the scratches seem to really stand out to much. I don't know if you've seen this but it might help you alot on working on the blade texture racer examines realistic scratches and damage and explains how he textured his sword, with a neat video tutorial. Hope this helps

http://www.nextgenhardsurface.com/index.php?pageid=racer445

yeah, I have seen that, watched the video a couple times already. Just finding getting subtle good looking scratches difficult. I really like how millenia does his, I just can't do it that well.

I also decided to just have a plain handle, I think doing that wood effect is above my skill level at the moment.

Millenia

Crappy paintover but maybe it'll give you some ideas. I'd try to keep the wear pretty subtle.

ghaztehschmexeh

That does look good! So, is it a case of picking out small details from metal textures, through blendif etc? Because that's what I was doing, just on a larger scale. Also I find it generally looks quite grainy, I'm essential struggling to pull those details out nicely.

And is it safe to assume the subtle edge wear is painted in?

Millenia

Usually yeah, for scratches I usually contrast the hell out of a fitting photo the just clone stamp in screen mode into a layer mask for a bare metal layer.

I also painted some faint white/black smudges near/onto the edges with low opacity soft brush.

ghaztehschmexeh

Okay, I'll give that a try in the morning. Thanks for the input

ghaztehschmexeh

So I did a bit today, thought I'd get some feedback before I proceeded any further. Looking any better?

Millenia

Top shapes look kinda weird and don't make much sense atm, bottom shapes look great IMO but they're way too bright where as the blade itself seems too dark. Can you post your maps?

ghaztehschmexeh

I'm just using the diffuse as a basic specular at the moment, I'll do it properly when I'm happy with the diffuse. And I guess the normal map isn't really relevant here...

I see where you are coming from with the shapes, the big blobby bit isn't great for example. I'm just really getting used to the technique (which is awesome btw, thanks for explaining it to me!) and picking out decent shapes and stuff.

As for the brightness, I guess I overdid it with the levels.. or perhaps I should use a lower opacity clone tool brush?

By the way, are there any other texture websites outside of cgtextures?

Millenia

There are some other though I personally just use CGTextures. And yeah, the diffuse is far too contrasted at the moment. If you want to, feel free to add me to Steam if you want more advice: http://steamcommunity.com/id/milleniafin

ghaztehschmexeh

Alright, I'll bear that in mind when I have another go at it tomorrow. And awesome, I'll add you in the morning!

ghaztehschmexeh

An update, after talking to millenia and having a play around

wirrexx

alot better, but you need to define the blade a little bit more. Play around with the spec. Cause at the moment, it seems more like plastic then, well Metall

ghaztehschmexeh

Fair point. To be honest I think it looked more metal like when the contrast was too high. I'll have a play.