ABSTRACT
Introduction In this chapter, we will create a set of textures for a forest that can be altered to look spooky, friendly, or fanciful . Using the basic approach presented here, you can also create a similar simple set of textures for any outdoor environment: jungle, desert, and so on . I will also introduce the use of photo sources in texture creation . I mentioned in the very beginning of the book that the use of a photo source to create textures is not only common, but also preferred . It makes your job faster and easier and gives your textures an extra layer of richness that can take a lot of time to achieve otherwise . I find that using overlays when creating assets for the outdoor environment is particularly useful . The surface of a rock, the bark on a tree, and the veins in a leaf are all challenging to create for most, whether by hand or in Photoshop-or time-consuming at the very least . Using an overlay of a real leaf over a solid leaf shape will create a better texture quicker than either hand-creating the leaf or trying to manipulate a digital image into a workable asset .
