Basic Lightsaber Crafting Video-Series

[Rooxon]

Hello and welcome to the Basic Lightsaber Crafting video-series tutorial!

After the previous tutorial, I've upgraded some plugins and my UVW mapping method to something a lot easier.
I've tried hard to work as slowly as possible, so everyone has got lots of time to pause and follow me step by step.
This tutorial should be achievable for every single person out there who would like to learn hilt creation.

I will be using the following programs:
3D Studio Max 2016 Student Version
Adobe Photoshop CC
NOTE: 
1. The modeling part I show in 3D Studio Max should be possible to complete in other programs like Blender for an identical result. The difference between programs is slightly how they work and what buttons you gotta press but in theory, it should be the same to some extent.
2. The texturing part does not hold every second of my workflow routine. I show several tricks to get the job done for a step but leave most of the work to you alone; be creative and maybe do things better than me, even!
3. If you get lost or don't understand what is happening, post a question down below!

Okay, before we get started, we will have to download some files.
PakScape - https://jkhub.org/files/file/89-pakscape/
Modview - https://jkhub.org/files/file/3051-modview-for-windows-and-mac/
MD3View - https://jkhub.org/files/file/3-mr-wonkos-md3view/
MD3 Importer - https://jkhub.org/files/file/1-gmax-md3-importer/
MD3 Exporter - https://jkhub.org/files/file/2982-3ds-max-md3-exporter-multi-version-pack/
Concept graphic - http://shrani.si/f/1W/X7/4iPTTzh6/conceptrooxon.jpg
Shader File Template - https://drive.google.com/open?id=0ByhHvlzt5_UMb0dTdTRNLXQ2eXc

3D Studio Max - http://www.autodesk.com/products/3ds-max/overview
Adobe Photoshop - http://www.adobe.com/si/products/photoshopfamily.html

Okay once we're ready, let's begin:
PART 1 - Modeling and Export

PART 2 - Texturing with Adobe Photoshop

PART 3 - Shaders and Spec/Glow map Creation

BONUS PART 4 - (Alternative) Substance Painter 2 Texturing

Finished result:


Photoshop texture:


Substance Painter 2 Texture:

May the Force be with you! Be creative!

p.s. You can download my base folder I've created with this tutorial down below!
p.s.s. I might add a bonus part 5 - modeling with blender sometime in the future once I check it out!

 

base.zip

[ravz]

When's that blender 2.81 tutorial coming? ?

[NumberWan]

@Rooxon

Thanks for this nice tutorial! I would say, that it's best to explore all the opportunities and see, which options work for you in every specific case. Personally, I started with a well-written one by @Milamber, which describes how to combine the existing model with a new mesh.

While I do have 3ds Max of 2016, imported and exported models don't usually act in the same way as in tutorials. For instance during the import all tags are labelled *blade1, while in order to be exported the correct way, it's important to rename them to tag_blade1 instead. Some things such as this one became clear to me only after reading both your tutorial and others.