I am so god damned tired of looking at TF2's textures! [rant]

[jamin620]

OK so heres the deal. making textures for tf2 is so easy it hurts. take a texture form any other game. then, paint over it using broad strokes in PS or whatever. . or, take any photo source you want, do a quick and dirty Seamless-job (think, Clone tool) and then paint over it. the painting over part allows you to take otherwise mediocre base-photos and make them look fine.

Or, find some cartoony textures online. I have found a couple that way.

but what really gets me is looking at the same damn desert-vaugely industrial scene every damn time. The spytech stuff is fine, and Im not saying that no Valve-made textures should be used, but there really needs to be more variation.

I want to see some one try this: take an HL2 or CSs model, and give it a Tf2 Skin Job. might not work for everything, but it would definitely work for some stuff, like trees or tanks or whatever.

TF2's theme is that you are a henchman of a secret organization (hydra or Cobra or the League of Calamitous Intent or whatever), and your fighting somewhere. that gives you SO much flexibility in setting. so why don't I see more Islands or cities or space-stations? I am currently doing a map on a mountain featuring a volcano and a glacier. ITS NOT THAT HARD!

 

[Voztron]

+1

 

[Scotland Tom]

It may not be that hard for some, but for others who may not have the time, talent or inclination the story is different. Personally, I could probably create some decent TF2 textures, but I'd rather spend my time creating a map than texturing it. So I have to rely (currently) on what Valve has created. I've looked for custom textures. I haven't seen more than a few poster overlays that are even worth placing in a TF2 map. It's for that reason (and probably other similar reasons) that you don't currently see much variation on the current themes. So, while I sympathize with you, I personally can't get that bent out of shape about it.

On another note, though the TF2 texture style does seem pretty easy to mimic, actually matching the style is another matter. Most of my time in high school and college was spent working in fine arts. Matching an artists style takes an incredible amount of patience and skill. If you can match Valve's TF2 style that easily, awesome! Post some of your textures here for other people to use! We NEED more texture options. As for me, I won't settle for merely mimicking what Valve has done, and as such I know the time I'll spend trying to make textures will be long and tedious.

 

[Hawk]

Personally, I could probably create some decent TF2 textures, but I'd rather spend my time creating a map than texturing it.

That's where I stand. Don't get me wrong, I'd get a kick out of seeing more variation in custom maps. In fact, maps with homemade stuff in them automatically score points with me. It's just that time you spend making textures is time you're not spending on building the map.

I've managed to put several custom textures in my current map. But I've also enjoyed finding good uses for what Valve provided.

 

[jamin620]

my point is that one could greatly change the feel pf an enviroment just by using difrerent cliff textures or making a brick texture or 2. doesnt take very much.

 

[Scotland Tom]

Again, for some people it's just easier to make those textures than it is for others. And still others simply wish to spend their time on things aside from making custom textures. Though I absolutely do agree with you. A new texture here and there can really change the look and feel of things. I'd certainly applaud anyone who can start submitting some good custom TF2 textures.

 

[Vilepickle]

OK so heres the deal. making textures for tf2 is so easy it hurts. take a texture form any other game. then, paint over it using broad strokes in PS or whatever. . or, take any photo source you want, do a quick and dirty Seamless-job (think, Clone tool) and then paint over it. the painting over part allows you to take otherwise mediocre base-photos and make them look fine.

I think you should elaborate on "painting over it or whatever". There's so many things you could be possibly trying to say in that statement it hurts to think about it. I don't even really know what you mean by that. I've made a few textures that I'll probably end up using, but complaining about it and then not going into specifics (IE: a tutorial, perhaps) just seems pretty arrogant.

Enlighten us, o texture God.

 

[Rock]

word.

 

[dirtyminuth]

While stock TF2 textures force you into a small set of themes, I have neither the time nor desire (and maybe ability) to create new textures from scratch. If you're perturbed by the existing set, get to work on something we can all use and share. Ranting only goes so far.

 

[Snipergen]

You could not be more wrong about how easy it is to create TF2 textures, I heard from the Valve artist that it was very hard to create an environment that suits the tf2 shaders and models.
I tried and incredibly failed, and I'm saying myself, I've been drawing my whole life. Eventually I will get it right but it takes some style to adapt that one valve artist his texture style.

Well if it's so easy, what's holding you from making a map with all custom textures?

 

[YM]

Yes, there should be more custom textures out there. but rather than ranting about it, make some and distribute them.

on another, slightly related note: anyone that uses HL2 or CSS textures in TF2 without first modifying them should be shot

 

[roninmodern]

on another, slightly related note: anyone that uses HL2 or CSS textures in TF2 without first modifying them should be shot

Quoted for truth!

 

[shpladoink]

I think you should elaborate on "painting over it or whatever". There's so many things you could be possibly trying to say in that statement it hurts to think about it.

I think he means he's sick of seeing good textures and would prefer to see more shitty textures spawned of sloppy photoshop filter effects for VARIETY.

My current project is using only default textures right now, but I've got plans to do more custom stuff later on in another map. Variety is good, and I look forward to seeing more content from both Valve and the rest of the user base, but it's not all that easy to create new content that seems to "fit" with the preexisting TF2 style.

If you can spit out awesome textures in five minutes, then godspeed towards new mapping content. The fate of TF2... nay, THE WORLD DEPENDS ON YOU AND YOU ALONE.

 

[jamin620]

http://tf2maps.net/showthread.php?p=7151#post7151

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