I think you have a scratches layer and you're using the find edges technique to be used as a mask? If that's the case there should be some more masking going on so as not to go overboard with scratches?
Here is the process: Render a normal map and an AO map. Load them both into photoshop, start working on your texture, etc, etc. Take a copy of the normal map, run "find edges" on it. This will give you black lines on a white background. Invert this. Now you have white lines where your scratches will be. Make a new layer,…
-find edges on normal map, invert -copy AO into mask and push levels until occluded areas are invisible then use as mask. also use this as a cheap and quick way of highlighting convex edges using this method -find edges on normal map -invert -push black to mid grey in levels -make layer "overlay" -copy AO into mask and…
Yeah, I mainly use malcolm's method, but I also have a bunch of custom brushes for larger details to break up the masks and overlay extra details. I find that using CrazyBump to get a starting mask for the scratches is a real timesaver too.
I'd imagine he gets a convexity map and uses it to find the outermost parts and then uses it as a mask or guide for painting his scratches? MoP am I right? Lately I've been doing a photoshop find edges->invert on my normal map to get quick start on scratches - I'll set this up as a mask on my bare metal layer, then put…
yeah thats right but maybe i didnt explain myself correctly, you push the levels in the mask so that the scratches disappear from the occluded (dark inset areas) parts but remain at full strength on areas that are exposed. does that make sense
Shepeiro: I get it now. I just needed to understand the outcome you were looking for with the mask so I can push the levels to where I need them. I especially like the highlight trick you mentioned second. I definitely never considered that one.
Would a find edge on any other backed chan give a similar result for a starter mask? A lot of the stuff I've working on in the past few years hasn't used normal maps. So being able to use these time-saver tips on non-normal-mapped assets would be handy, too.
i havnt explained myself very well, a picture based tutorial will be much better, i have it set up as action that i perform fisrt thing after baking vassgo- not sure it would probably work or give you something ok with a diffuse find edges using a lighting layer as a mask.