Persian Shield (Need Critiques Please Help me)

Frigus

Firstly hi everyone. I need your helps please show me a way.

I am using 3ds max almost 4 years. I'm modelling hardsurface things I mean inorganic models. Firstly I am doing high poly model. And I'm baking it for normal  and ao map. everything is good until I came to texturing. I am freezing. I am very bad on texturing. How can I improve my texturing skills? Making good texture is about with artistic skill or something else? Should I improve my drawing skill and art skill?

Here is an example. I modelled this model yesterday. But I couldn't do texture. I screwed up again.

Zalek4

Texturing takes about as much artistic skill as any other part of the production pipeline. You can put as much effort in as you want to, and you'll get varied results. That's just sort of how all of this goes

I might help us critique your texturing skill if you show us your first attempt at texturing this asset. Are you asking how to begin texturing, or are you asking what software to use, or are you only asking how to improve your skills in general?

I know you're not looking for advice on your geo, but this also doesn't look right to me.

Frigus

I fixed geometry. Here is my first attempt I actually just painted it with raw colors. and it looks me awful and I gave up to make texture. I'm using just photoshop for texturing.

Zalek4

If you've never textured a full asset before, this is a good on a first attempt! I think one of the largest rules in this industry is to not quit when something is difficult. Often, if something is difficult to do, someone has come up with a way to make it easier.

For example, Photoshop is great, but 3D texturing has really moved in the direction of other software like Substance Painter and Substance Designer. 

Painter:
https://www.allegorithmic.com/products/substance-painter

Designer:
https://www.allegorithmic.com/products/substance-designer

I don't know if you're a student or not, but if you are you can get a free personal copy of both for learning purposes. If you're not a student, I would highly recommend getting the trial of both and becoming familiar with them. They are fairly cheap programs, and well worth the purchase price. 

They also have great learning resources, which would help you if you've never seen them before. There is a learning curve if you're super new to 3D texturing and painting. Here's the link to their YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/user/Allegorithmic

You'll need to get familiar with Physically Based Rendering (PBR) which is the basis for texture rendering today. I've found that these two videos really helped me understand when I was just starting out. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S1A0YqdRhe4

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PjGCtnEDDeU

Frigus

Thanks! I will check it.  Yes I am a student.