How to make PBR textures with AI for Games and 3D

Vladimir Chopine [GeekatPlay]
31 Jul 202413:42

TLDRThis video tutorial explores the use of AI technology to create photorealistic PBR textures for 3D models, specifically for tree bark. It demonstrates how to generate seamless textures using mid Journey, upscale them with Gigapixel, and refine edges in Photoshop for tiling. The process continues with converting the texture into PBR materials using Armory Lab, and applying them in a 3D modeling software. The video also touches on using Plan Factory to create and sell 3D trees, emphasizing the ease and efficiency of AI in texturing for game and 3D applications.

Takeaways

  • 🌳 Creating realistic PBR textures for 3D models is crucial for achieving a high level of realism in games and 3D applications.
  • 🛠️ Utilizing AI technology can significantly simplify the process of creating PBR materials, such as tree bark textures, which can be used in various scenarios.
  • 🔄 The 'L-dash-dash-tile' command in AI texture generation tools is essential for creating seamless textures that can be tiled without visible seams.
  • 🖼️ AI-generated images may come with low resolution, and upscaling tools like Gigapixel can be used to enhance the image quality without losing details.
  • 📐 If the AI tool does not support tiling, Photoshop techniques can be applied to fix the seams and create a seamless texture.
  • 🎨 Photoshop's new features, such as the 'generate' function, can simplify the process of creating seamless textures by replacing problematic areas.
  • 🛡️ Armory Lab is a tool that can convert AI-generated images into PBR textures, offering an easy workflow with nodes to connect and process the textures.
  • 📚 Armory Lab also provides upscaling options, though not as advanced as dedicated tools like Gigapixel, and allows for the export of various PBR texture channels.
  • 🌲 Planar Factory, a free application, can be used to create and export trees with AI-generated textures for use in commercial products.
  • 🔄 Planar Factory supports dynamic trees with variations, allowing for the creation of diverse and realistic tree models.
  • 🎨 Applying PBR textures in 3D modeling software involves mapping the generated textures to the appropriate material channels, such as color, roughness, and displacement.

Q & A

  • What is the importance of texture in 3D modeling?

    -In 3D modeling, texture is crucial as it can make or break the realism of a model. It determines how realistic the model looks in various applications.

  • How can AI technology assist in creating PBR materials?

    -AI technology can be utilized to generate realistic PBR materials such as tree bark or other elements, which can be used in different scenarios, including creating trees for sale on multiple platforms.

  • What command is essential when creating a seamless texture using mid Journey?

    -The essential command when creating a seamless texture with mid Journey is 'L-dash-dash-tile', which ensures the image is seamless on the edges and can be stitched together well.

  • Why is it important to upscale textures with AI applications?

    -Upscaling textures with AI applications is important because it allows for the creation of high-resolution textures from lower resolution images without losing detail or introducing artifacts.

  • What is the issue with not having a tiling option in AI applications when creating textures?

    -Without a tiling option, AI applications may not create seamless textures, which can result in visible squares or seams when the texture is used, affecting the realism of the model.

  • How can Photoshop be used to fix non-tiling textures?

    -Photoshop can be used to manually adjust and blend the edges of non-tiling textures to create a seamless appearance by using tools like filter offset and content-aware fill.

  • What is the recommended application for upscaling textures without losing detail?

    -Gigapixels is recommended for upscaling textures without losing detail. It can increase the resolution significantly while maintaining the quality of the texture.

  • What is Armor Lab and how is it used in the PBR texture creation process?

    -Armor Lab is an application used to convert images into PBR textures. It allows users to connect nodes and easily apply textures to generate base color, occlusion, roughness, metallic, normal, and height maps.

  • How can you ensure that a texture is seamless when using Armor Lab?

    -In Armor Lab, you can preview the texture to check for seams. If seams are visible, adjustments can be made to the texture until it appears seamless in the preview.

  • What is Plan Factory and how does it relate to the PBR texture creation?

    -Plan Factory is an application from Eon Software that allows users to create and apply PBR textures to trees and plants. It is now free and can be used to develop commercial products.

  • How can you apply PBR textures to different parts of a model in Plan Factory?

    -In Plan Factory, you can apply PBR textures to different parts of a model by assigning materials to specific nodes, such as the trunk or branches, and then modifying these materials as needed in the material editor.

Outlines

00:00

🌳 Utilizing AI for Creating Realistic 3D Textures

In 3D modeling, textures are crucial for the realism of models. This video explores how to use the latest AI technology to create true PBR (Physically Based Rendering) materials. It focuses on generating tree bark textures using MidJourney and other AI tools. The video emphasizes the importance of seamless tiling in textures and provides tips for generating and upscaling images using tools like Gigapixel. Additionally, it covers how to address issues with non-seamless images in Photoshop using offset and generative fill tools.

05:00

🛠 Converting Textures to PBR Using Armor Lab

The next step is to convert the generated texture into a PBR material using Armor Lab. This tool allows for easy node-based manipulation and supports upscaling. The video explains how to use Armor Lab to process textures into various maps, such as base color, occlusion, roughness, metallic, normal, and height. It also discusses the benefits of supporting creators by purchasing tools and provides links to download Armor Lab from GitHub.

10:02

🌲 Creating Detailed Models with Plan Factory

The video demonstrates how to apply the created PBR materials to 3D models using Plan Factory, a free application from Eon Software. It shows how to create and texture a tree model, emphasizing the importance of setting the material properties correctly for the trunk and branches. The video highlights the application’s capabilities in generating dynamic plant variations and discusses the process of exporting models for commercial use. Additionally, it mentions the availability of pre-generated textures for supporters on Patreon.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡PBR textures

Physically Based Rendering (PBR) textures are a set of image maps that simulate the physical properties of materials, including color, roughness, metallic, normal, and height. They are crucial for achieving realistic rendering in 3D graphics. In the video, PBR textures are created using AI technology to enhance the realism of 3D models, specifically for elements like tree bark.

💡AI technology

Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology refers to the use of computer systems to perform tasks that would normally require human intelligence, such as visual perception, speech recognition, and decision-making. The video discusses leveraging AI to automate the creation of PBR materials, making the process more efficient and accessible.

💡Mid Journey

In the context of the video, 'Mid Journey' appears to be a software or tool used for generating textures. It is mentioned as a command-line tool that can create seamless textures, which are essential for tiling in 3D models without visible seams.

💡Seamless texture

A seamless texture is an image that can be tiled without visible seams, making it ideal for 3D models where the texture needs to wrap around an object without repeating patterns. The video script describes generating a bark texture that is seamless, which is important for creating realistic tree models.

💡Upscaling

Upscaling refers to the process of increasing the resolution of an image or texture while maintaining or enhancing its quality. The video mentions using applications like Gigapixel to upscale textures generated by AI, allowing for higher quality textures at larger sizes.

💡Gigapixel

Gigapixel is a software application mentioned in the script that can significantly increase the resolution of images, up to 600 times, without losing quality. It is used to upscale AI-generated textures for use in 3D models, ensuring high-quality visuals.

💡Photoshop

Adobe Photoshop is a widely used image editing software. In the video, it is suggested as a tool for fixing issues with non-tiling textures by using features like 'Filter Offset' and 'Content-Aware Fill' to create seamless textures.

💡Plan factory

Plan factory, now available for free, is an application from Eon Software used for creating and editing 3D trees and plants. The video demonstrates how to apply AI-generated textures to trees created in Plan factory, which can then be exported for use in various platforms.

💡Displacement

In 3D graphics, displacement refers to the technique of using height data from a texture to physically move the surface of a model, creating more detailed geometry. The video mentions using displacement maps to add depth to the bark texture on a 3D tree model.

💡Normal map

A normal map is a type of image that contains data describing the orientation of the surface of a 3D model. It is used to simulate complex surface details without adding extra geometry. The script describes using a normal map to enhance the appearance of the bark texture.

💡Roughness map

A roughness map defines the microsurface variations of a material, affecting how reflections appear on the surface. In the video, a roughness map is applied to the 3D model to simulate the unevenness of the bark's surface.

💡Metallic map

A metallic map is used in PBR to indicate areas of a material that are metallic or non-metallic. While the script mentions that a metallic map is not present in the AI-generated textures, it is an important component for materials that have metallic parts.

Highlights

In 3D modeling, texture can make or break your model's realism.

Utilize AI technology to create true PBR materials.

Create tree bark or other elements for various use cases.

Use MidJourney's L--tile command for seamless textures.

Upscale low-resolution images with Gigapixels.

If AI tools don't support tiling, use Photoshop to make seamless textures.

Photoshop's generative fill feature simplifies creating seamless textures.

Adjust offsets in Photoshop to ensure seamless borders.

Convert textures with Armor Lab for PBR material creation.

Armor Lab offers upscaling and node-based texture processing.

Preview tiled textures to check for seams before finalizing.

Export textures with separate channels like height, normal, and roughness.

Use PBR materials in models for enhanced realism.

Free tools like Vue and Plant Factory can be used for commercial product creation.

Apply different textures to various parts of a model for detailed effects.

Be cautious with displacement settings to avoid artifacts.

Generate and share texture packs on Patreon for supporters.

AI tools simplify and speed up the texture creation process.

Continuous updates in tools like Armor Lab ensure better features and results.

Creating textures with AI tools is accessible and cost-effective.