Crate Texture

Starting out in Texture Development. We were given the task of modelling a crate and making a wooden texture for it. This was the first example of hand painted materials instead of relying on shaders and lighting in engines.

First, I started by modelling a simple crate by creating a plane, extruding it twice to create the indent and then duplicated it 5 times.

 I then UV mapped then crate and took a snapshot of it into Photoshop to begin texturing.

 Firstly, I picked a base colour and filled one layer. Next, I added the lines, using the UV as a guide, to show where the planks of wood met each other by using a darker colour than the base. I then added a lighter colour than the base to the places where the light would catch in the grooves to simulate a light without needing one. Finally, I added a shadow where the light would avoid, on the inside rim of the crate.

With that done, I started to draw in some wood grain using a soft brush with Transfer and Shape Dynamics turned on and, to complete it, added a outer glow to the grains to simulate light and bring depth to the texture.

To give some variety to the piece, I then added some text and an image on a separate layer which I could then apply to an individual plane on the model as shown below

  

I then brought the textures into Maya and applied them and duplicated the crate, changing the orientation and location of them to make a small cluster of crates.