I am trying to understand how to make custom textures. Can some one help?

[xenic]

I am working on a custom race and have big plans for it. Sadly, I am stuck trying to figure out how to change the textures. I started examining other race mods and looking for similarities. 

At present, the mod is not functional. I have pulled apart a Nexus mod to get the right file structure/files. If I don't need them please let me know. 

I am trying to learn what I need, where I need it, how to change it, and how to get it in game.  Any help will be appreciated. Below is a link to the file.

http://www.loverslab.com/topic/14382-need-help-with-slime-race/?p=316854

[gregathit]

Please do NOT spam the same post in multiple sections. 

 

Thanks,

Greg

 

 

[xenic]

Sorry about that. I did not intend to double post.

[Monsto Brukes]

For textures, someone will say "The Gimp" which is a great tool for what it is. However I advocate procuring the industry standard.

 

Long story:

http://www.creationkit.com/Retexture_Tutorial

http://forums.nexusmods.com/index.php?/topic/470837-how-to-make-custom-skyrim-textures/

a couple good places to start.

 

 

Short story:

 

1) Install your bit-editor. Learn it at least a little. 

2) install the DDS tools. 

3) open the texture.dds of the item you want to change.

4) change it.

5) save it. 

 

Done. Questions? (lol)

[kepler007]

You need Photoshop. it is not free but you can always download the Trial version from their site which is fully functional up to 30 days. but it's sufficient for your project unless it takes a load of the time. but don't worry if you use your brain properly then you can extend the functional time more.

then search for DDS plugin on NVIDIA site for Photoshop download it and install it.

 

use the BSA extractor (search on Google) and go to the Data folder of Skyrim and find the Textures BSA file (its exact name is "Skyrim - Textures.bsa"). then open the Textures BSA file with the BSA Extractor and extract the relevant texture files (the textures you want to modify, let's say if you want to modify the textures of a particular armor then you need dig into the location where aforesaid textures are placed in the BSA file and select it and extract them) and then use the extracted files.

 

now this is how they are used.

open them one by one with the Photoshop and modify them and save them into the location of the Skyrim directory where you have extracted them from the BSA file (let's say you have extracted a file from Textures/character/cloth of the Texture BSA file then you have to go into the DATA/Textures and make a folder character and also make a folder cloth in it and put all your modified file in there so the location of your Skyrim directory should be as same as the location in the BSA file, it means if you extract a file from a A/B/C location in the BSA file then you need to put them into the A/B/C location in the Skyrim directory , if there isn't a location like A/B/C then you have to make them (it's simple just make a folders and sub folders)) then run the game so the cloth/armor/face/body that uses the modified textures will be appeared in the game the way how you edited in Photoshop. (this is for modifying the existing textures this is only useful for changing the colour)

 

NOTE: when you save the textures make sure to save them as 8.8.8 RGB 24bbp format for the best result.

 

 

If you want to know more about this please make a reply. I will answer them. I want to know whether you have a plan to change the meshes of the existing race or not.

if you want to change the meshes of an existing model to make the new race OR make a new mesh to make the new race then applying the textures to it  might be a bit complex because you have to align the textures properly to the mesh. but still it's possible by using Nif Plugin for Photoshop + 3ds Max.

You can follow this tutorial for that

if you didn't understand anything make a reply.