I’m fairly new into Blender, although i do use it for my own purposes (mockup, packaging etc.). I would love to get into 3D modeling spaceships like this below:
What interests me is the way textures emulate this 3d feeling by adding details that aren’t in the mesh itself. I think i’ll start with simple meshes for some sci-fi probes or drones, i’m just not sure what is the workflow for this kind of stuff.
Does people model every little detail and then turn it into a texture for simple mesh or rather create simple mesh and then the rest is just texturing without modeling? Or both depends on the artist?
I know i can create UV map (im learning to do this right now). But after that do I need to draw all my textures in photoshop? I know there’s a Substance Painter, does it replace that step and allow you to paint on real model, along with those decal details?
I would appreciate all the help i could get about the workflow and good practices that can help me with spaceships, sci fi etc.
It probably depends on the artist. But it also depends on the detail.
If the detail is a sticker, a painted pattern without relief, there is no reason to produce a 3D mesh for that.
If detail is head of a screw, boundary of a door, you may prefer to create a 3D model that will have its shape baked under several maps( specular, normal, shadows, etc…)
Yes, Substance Painter will allow to paint directly on 3D model.
But Blender allows that, too, through its texture paint mode.
Substance painter is popular for its management of PBR materials.
Blender is unpopular for that for its inability to paint several textures as one and its complicated UI.
You can invest in a comfortable but not free software.
But Pablo Dobarro who is currently working on sculpt mode, made experiments to improve texture paint mode, too.
So, maybe in 2.82 or 2.83, texture paint mode will be more pleasant to use.
You can also try other software like armorypaint.