Texture Paint function in Blender will give you ability to paint on sculpted prim surface in 3D view and at the same time you have option to paint directly into 2D texture image just like you do in Gimp or Photoshop. Having both options together give you full control over your sculpted prim texture.
Before continue read this tutorial make sure you have already finished modeling your sculpted prim. Don’t know how? Read step by step How to create sculpty with Blender.
This tutorial using Blender 2.49 with Primstar 0.5.0
1. Right now your Blender screen should look similar to right screenshot with 3D Vieweport and UV/Images Editor appear side by side.If you have no idea where the Image/UV Editor come from. Read How to split Blender screen and change to Image/UV Editor window.
To begin working in Texture Paint Mode require a new blank image add into sculpt mesh so you can paint on it. If you’ve been follow instruction since modeling tutorial then just follow instruction step 2-8 normally.
But in case you’ve use Subsurf setting on sculpt mesh (the optional setting while begin add sculpt mesh) just ignore step #4 and step #7 since Subsurf doesn’t need to lower Multires level.
2. On 3D ViewePort, switch to Edit Mode by changing Mode Selector options.
3. Hover your mouse over 3D ViewePort then press key “A” on keyboard to select everything.
4. We need to temporary lower the detail of sculpty since Blender allow to add new texture at Multires level 1 only.Look at the bottom of Blender screen, make sure you’re in Edit Panel (Orange Circle). Lower Multires Level by Left Click on the small left arrow in Multires Tab.(Yellow Circle)
While render in Multires Lv.1 your sculpty will look a bit ugly. Just ignore it :)
5. In menu bar under Image/UV Editor windows select Image > New.
6. Image Properties pop up and ask for your setting.Make sure you have same width and height image size (suggest size: 1024×1024, 512×512, 256×256) and Left Click on the Color Tab then select White Color or you can choose any background color for your sculpty.
Remember! more resolution means more detail on texture but it take time to load longer in virtual world so create size that suite your work best.
Hit OK button to confirm new image setup.
7. Back to Multires Tab, Left Click on the small right arrow (Yellow Circle) to increase Multires Level back to normal (level 3).This will make your sculpt mesh look just like before.
8. Right now your screen should look similar on right screenshot.You’ve done set up new texture image and ready to enter Texture Paint mode in next Tutorial.
