Game Roles - Texture Artist

My findings researching texture artists:

Duties

The texture artist is responsible for creating 2D and 3D textures that will be mapped to all assets of a game including: environments, characters, creatures, vehicles, and props. Texture artists work closely with the modelers and environment, character, and lighting artists.

• Geek Meter: Technical < - - - - I - - > Art
• Main Skills: 2d Art, Applying textures
• Secondary Skills: 3d Modeling, Photography
• Software:  Adobe Photoshop, Zbrush, Mudbox, Maya, 3ds max, Crazy Bump
• Passions: Painting, Insane attention to detail, Staring at walls

Responsibilities

• Thoroughly understand the UV layout and mapping technique for the actual application of textures onto polygonal surfaces
• Ability to create accurate, interesting textures through the use of photoshop, or other 2D or 3D means in any art style
• Have an extensive texture library for reference
• Avoid repetitive textures. Keep things interesting.
• Understand the hardware capabilities of specific machines and design the textures to run smoothly on the given machine
• Use illusions to create intricate textures given said hardware limitations
• Create textures consistent with the specified art style determined by the art director and texture lead.
• Be vigilant in figuring out new innovative techniques to applying textures
• Work closely with the modeling artist team to ensure all textures work smoothly throughout the pipeline
• Understand color spaces and lighting situations
• Develop textures for in-game environments, characters, props, and all other assets with color maps, normal maps, specular maps, height maps, AO maps, detail maps, transparency maps, mask maps, alpha maps, gloss maps, bump maps, and diffuse maps.
• Communicate with the tools team to communicate needs and generate tool requests to maintain workflow
• Create simple shaders to test textures

Qualifications

• Extensive understanding of UV layout
• Strong painting and technical skills in software listed above.
• Usually 2+ years experience creating textures for video games or feature films.
• Understand how different materials and textures are affected by light and clolor.
• Obsessive attention to detail
• Ability to quickly familiarize yourself with proprietary software.
• In a fair amount of cases a BFA from an accredited art or design school.

Portfolio

• Textures and UV layouts for:
• Environments
• Vehicles
• Props
• Characters
• Buildings – Exterior and Interior
• And everything else you can think of. The more, the better!
• Examples of the whole texture process from making the actual texture to implementing it into a workable space.
• Demonstration of modeling experience and applying textures to objects modeled.
• Evidence you possess strong artistic skills and grasp the concepts of detail, composition, color, form, and scale.

Information Sources

a Digital Dreamer

Creative Heads - Digital Domain

Creative Heads - Naughty Dog

Get In Media

Gamasutra - Darkside