This tutorial is written for users with some previous knowledge of Photoshop.

I assume you have a UV-map of the head you are going to texture. The UV-map I have is in one piece, I find it easier to texture that way. It isn't necessary to have the same UV-layout as me, as the main idea behind this tutorial is to show brush settings, layers, workflow etc.

While you work, test your texture in your 3D-application to see what it looks like.

I recommend using many layers, layer modes (screen, hard light etc), layer masks, adjustment layers, and for those of you who have later versions of Photoshop, do make use of the layer sets. However, this tutorial should work with most versions of Photoshop.

I will also use custom brushes. If you don't know how to make them, I have written a short Custom Brush Tutorial.

At the end of this tutorial you should be able to use this technique, both for creating a color map in conjunction with spec, bump/displacement/normal maps etc. or use it for sub-surface scattering.

So let's get started!

We will be making a color map for a face, female. Color, specular color, transparency and bump maps for the eyebrows and color and transparency maps for the eyelashes. The eyes I have a different tutorial for.

First open up your UV-layout image from your 3D-application.

Make a copy of the background layer.

Set the background layer to layer mode Screen and lower the opacity, I usually use around 20%. This is so that it will be easier to see the underlying layers.

If your UV-map is white with black lines then:

• Invert layer: Image - Adjustments - Invert (CTRL+I)

or

• Keep it white and set the layer mode to Multiply instead.

Next we will change the background colour in the background layer to a nice skin colour. For this texture a pinkish caucasian colour. Below are the main colours I use for my facial textures. I suggest you either use these colours and/or make your own palette of colours depending on the race of the character in question.

Study other people's skin colour; in real life or from photographs. If you are using photos as a reference, please take note that the photos might be tinted and not totally correct in colour.

Make a copy of the pinkish background layer

Add Filter - Noise
Choose a setting that will be appropriate for your texture (size of texture, the character etc)

Add a small amount of Filter - Gaussian Blur

Add Filter - Pixelate - Facet

Set the layer mode to Soft Light - lower the opacity to 20-30%

Duplicate "Base Skin Layer 1" - rename it "Base Skin layer 2"

Use Levels to get greater contrast.

The colours might be saturated, if so use Hue/Saturation to lower the saturation

Add Gaussian Blur to Base Skin Layer 2