Photoshop isn't enough for what Im doing, can someone suggest some good Software?

I’m a texture artist, and I'm growing past the limitations of Photoshop. I've heard of professional texture artists using special modeling programs specifically meant for what I need to do, which is creating a 3D surface with layers and shadows, then applying textures to it, then combining everything into a flat, yet realistic texture with a greater sense of depth. An example of this would be a piece of metal, with several aged layers of crusting and flaking paint, and a bullet hole ripping outward towards the viewer, with shadowing around the ripped pieces of metal sticking out around the bullet hole. Another example would be a rock wall. The cracks in the wall would be modeled, giving them a more realistic look of depth and shadowing, and layering of different types of material making up the rock wall could be used to give it a more realistic look.

Can someone recommend a program I could use for this type of thing? Please? No one I know seems to know of anything I can use or where to go for advice.

Im not quite sure what your after. It sounds like you could just render out a shadow pass of your surface and composite that with your textures in photoshop? For the layering, brushing or masking should work just fine.

any standard 3D program will work fine
research 3D studio max, cinema 4D, maya, etc.

you can create textures in programs like photoshop if you wish, and then import them into the 3D programs and 'wrap' your 3D objects with your textures. the 3D programs take care of the lighting, camera angle, etc.

im not entirely sure, but i think that the majority of texture artists use 3D software to comp up their work.

cheers

Someone told me its called "texture baking", when you have layers of 3D surfaces that each have textures, that you all combine into one snap shot.

I don't think I explained the process very well. For that crusted paint over a metal plate, you would first have a textured 3D model of a metal plate, then textured 3D model of the first layer of old paint would be added in front of the metal plate, then the second layer of old paint over that, then another. Each 3D layer (mesh) is placed in front of another to create a genuine look of depth, in other words the first layer actually looks like its the farthest away, and each layer effects the other with shadowing and being effected by eachothers's shapes. You can also add effects, including light effects. So it ends up looking like a photograph, not 2D. These are not simply layers of flat textures like in photoshop, they are actual 3D models in real time. What you do is somehow combine all those layers into one picture (kind of like snap shot of your screen I think). From what I understand, this process is called "Texture Baking".

Does anyone know of a popular Forum for Deep Paint 3D or Maya? These seem to be the most two that people over at CryMod.com are suggesting. (Thats a modding/modeling/map making site for Far Cry)

Thats beyond the help we can provide unless you need any help with 2d textures.

Check out Cgtalk.com and 3Dtotal.com. Both should have info/tuts for what you need.

hi Shadowclaw87 plz can you show us limitation you found in photoshop

Wow, Shadowclaw87 if you have exceeded Photoshop's limitations you are ONE HELL OF AN ARTIST.

Realistic texture maps can and are produced using only Photoshop everyday, I'm not saying that some 3D software couldn't help you... just that I find it hard to believe that Photoshop "can't" do what you want to do.... it can. YOU can't do what you want to do using Photoshop is more what is going on here in my very humble opinion.

Before you go saying you have got all the goodie out of photoshop try looking around this site.

Satoshi Matsuyama is one of the greatest Photoshop artist on the planet.... and he admits he is only using a small portion of Photoshop's capabilities. Notice the textures....

sorry is I come off as an ass....

PS: Hi PhotoshopLover.... good to see you around

thanks tornupinside its really nice and also thanks for the good website this guy is wow to Shadowclaw87 my friend i believe that photoshop can do anything its a fact you must master photoshop and feel what you can do with it its infinity see that too dylan cole