Creating custom textures

[PROEM]

I'm interested in creating my own textures for my map. Yes, I have used google and I know how to create textures from photos, but the thing that strikes me as odd is that alot of the map textures used in trem and other quake-like games don't appear to be made from photos. At least, not entirely. While the textures are obviously synthetic, they often have a very natural feel to them that would be difficult to do just by using an image editor, i. e. lot's of scratches and bumps and fine detail. Do they blend the photos into the texture and then draw the outlines over it in a separate layer? How exactly do they do it?

Help would be very much appreciated

[TRaK]

Most of the textures you're referring to probably use a combination of phototextures and handpainted details. The precise way you do it depends on what you want your end result to look like.

So, taking an example from my texture work:
Combine this bunch of photo overlays:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex1.jpg
With these handpainted details:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex2.jpg
And you get this:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex3.jpg

[PROEM]

Heh, I had a feeling that's how it's done. Thanks for helping me out

[Bissig]

Most of the textures you're referring to probably use a combination of phototextures and handpainted details. The precise way you do it depends on what you want your end result to look like.

So, taking an example from my texture work:
Combine this bunch of photo overlays:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex1.jpg
With these handpainted details:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex2.jpg
And you get this:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex3.jpg

Too bad.. I thought I could just photograph my walls and use the images of the tiles as textures <**<

[Demolution]

HD drywall.

[cactusfrog]

Most of the textures you're referring to probably use a combination of phototextures and handpainted details. The precise way you do it depends on what you want your end result to look like.

So, taking an example from my texture work:
Combine this bunch of photo overlays:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex1.jpg
With these handpainted details:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex2.jpg
And you get this:
http://i231.photobucket.com/albums/ee138/2xG/tex3.jpg

Too bad.. I thought I could just photograph my walls and use the images of the tiles as textures <**<

I have done that before but your map ends up being 45mbs