MegaGlest Forum

Modding and game content creation => Tools => Topic started by: titi on 26 September 2008, 23:32:47

Title: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 26 September 2008, 23:32:47
Good place for textures ( if you also have useful photos upload them here!! ):
http://www.burningwell.org (http://www.burningwell.org)
and especially:
http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/v/textures/ (http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/v/textures/)

Free_3D_and_2D_art_and_audio_resources:
http://wiki.freegamedev.net/index.php/F ... _resources (http://wiki.freegamedev.net/index.php/Free_3D_and_2D_art_and_audio_resources)

and an interisting community of free game developers:
http://forum.freegamedev.net/ (http://forum.freegamedev.net/)
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: modman on 26 September 2008, 23:38:56
I guess you're assuming as I did that we're not getting the past back.
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 27 September 2008, 00:02:23
yes :) )
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: modman on 27 September 2008, 00:10:43
Until the site gets back to normal, (whatever that is [cross your fingers]) try not to use the smilies that have dots on them because they look really annoying.
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Omega on 27 September 2008, 02:53:05
Ugh, I lost 200 posts. I'm going to start saving entire threads of mine that I consider important. (Just wait until the page is loaded in IE, then choose to save as MHTML, since that keeps images and all in one file. Not very compatible, but...
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: modman on 30 December 2008, 23:25:30
I think this topic should be stickied.  I had to go to page 4 to get to it, and I couldn't remember what it was called, so...
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Omega on 31 December 2008, 14:25:12
Yes, this is very useful. I wish there was a mass download button. For now, I use IE to save the entire page with the images. Much lower resolution, but I really have no use for 2000x1500 pictures.

PS: WHat's with the baking power splat on the floor photo? Shouldn't you have cleaned that up? :O
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: mictes on 31 December 2008, 16:51:16
You can save entire Pages with FF, too ^^
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Omega on 1 January 2009, 21:51:43
Yeah, I know, its the exact same as IE. However, the images are thumbnail style, which means they are really small... That's fine though, since I usually only texture in 256x256 or maybe 512x512...
Title: Re: free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: modman on 3 January 2009, 02:57:40
So...time to get stickied!  Titi...!
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 8 January 2009, 12:34:25
Someone else did it...( I think kukac) [Who else? :P - @kukac@]
I'm marked as moderator here, but I don't have any more rights than a normal member since we switched to the new board.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: modman on 9 January 2009, 03:29:48
OK, that's a problem.  How about @kukac@ lets you in his group; then there's two to fix any problems instead of one.  [I'm only a moderator, not a moderator leader. Did I fix any problem at all?  :D

Sorry for the Off Topic.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Omega on 12 January 2009, 03:42:42
OK, that's a problem.  How about @kukac@ lets you in his group; then there's two to fix any problems instead of one.  [I'm only a moderator, not a moderator leader. Did I fix any problem at all?  :D

Sorry for the Off Topic.
Hmm, the new board has a bit of problems. I think only Martino can do this... Good News: He's been active lately. (been awhile)
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: modman on 13 January 2009, 01:39:09
OK since it's already OT, who is, and you forgot your signature. =]
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 23 December 2009, 21:12:16
I know I'm resurrecting an old topic here, but I don't see a need to start a new one...

I've been taking a lot of photos for Burningwell.org and uploading them, but it doesn't allow me to move anything into the texture folder.  In the "Destination" area, it shows all of the other albums, but not textures, and I have a lot of pretty good texture photos that are currently not organized (just sitting in the "Upload Images Here" album), so I don't think anyone can access them except for registered users.  I'd rather they were accessible for everybody!

Also, if anyone has any specific requests of regular household objects or things around my neighborhood that they want a picture of, I'm taking requests!
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 24 December 2009, 00:52:24
Oh sorry that's my job to move the texture photos there. The photos often stay a bit longer in the uploading directory because I only check the upload dir from time to time. But they are available there and searchable if you gave them good titles or add a description/keyword or whatever.
I will try to find some time the next days to move yours to the right place. ( currently I'm working hard on the egypt sounds ) .

Please try to sort them out a bit before you upload them. Photos with big light reflexes or flashlight relexes are really not good for texturing. Same with unsharp photos. Sharp photos with good lighting ( No shadows/reflexes ) are the best we can get. Its not so simple to take good texture photos!  Those bread photos in the upload dir for example are completly useless. Same with the hair ....

Things we always can use are ground textures. Earth, Rocks  and typical plants from the place where you live too.
Most wanted: Jungle plants
See the plant texture photos to know what I mean. Always think what you have to do to cut out the branches leaves in gimp. A good contrast really helps a lot  like blue sky white wall or dark night sky ...

By the way, my wife gets a new Camera for christmas  :D ;D :D  ( nikon d5000 ) lets see what this baby can do for us :) .
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 24 December 2009, 01:25:31
Luckily I live in a humid subtropical climate, so I've got plenty of palm trees in my area.  I'll try to get a bunch of good tropical plant textures.  I'm not a very experienced photographer, so I'm still experimenting with lighting and unfortunately a lot of the surfaces I'm photographing are really glossy, but I'll see what I can do!

Edit: Okay, I went through and deleted some of the more useless photos, like the ones with big flash spots.  I'll try to take some more ground and foliage pictures tomorrow when it's light.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 24 December 2009, 01:37:53
Quote
subtropical climate
:o thats good!

Palm leaves and runks would be really really great! Palm leaves can be photographed with the sky as the background, but its not easy to find a single leave in the sky .... Maybe you can cut one down and take a photo on the beach or a white wall or even the road as background or whatever.
Always take several photos to get even one sharp! First you think they are ok, but later you often see that only some are really good :( .

What would be good:
- palm leaves ( different kinds ). I you have not only perfect green ones, but also partly or completly brown ones
- Palm tree trunks . Closeups and distance shots shoing some more of the trunk. Pay Attention with shadows here!
- palm fruits ( if there are some )
- Do you have a Banana leave too there ?

Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 24 December 2009, 01:48:24
Okay, I'll see what I can do.  I haven't seen any banana trees lately (I'm a bit too far from the equator), but I'm at just the right spot to get a good variety of palms as well as more temperate trees like pines and oaks.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 24 December 2009, 23:54:27
I aslo like CG Textures (http://www.cgtextures.com/).
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 25 December 2009, 00:15:33
No.  Don't use CG Textures.  Ever.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 26 December 2009, 07:28:42
Why?
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: -Archmage- on 26 December 2009, 12:30:55
Let me guess........copyright issues........... ::)
Who cares, would they actually be able to catch a person? :P
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 26 December 2009, 19:07:11
Right! I also once used CG-Textures, but they told me that its not ok to publish the results with GPL or CC_BY_SA license, because this would allow others to setup a Texture page like they have ......
I replaced some of their textures for the megapack and luckily got a permission from CG-Textures owner allowing me to release those snippets in some textures with those licenses. After this experience I started my engagement at burningwell and made all those photos.

.. before I was even uploading to cgtextures because I didn't understand their license the way it was meant. For example this picture is(was) mine:
http://www.cgtextures.com/login.php?&texid=26667
But now I'm not allowed to release it as GPL any more ....

So never use those "free" sites if you want to create something real free. There are several others with licenses looking free but which are not really free.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 27 December 2009, 07:13:20
so I can use the textures as long as I don't let any body else use them? right?
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Hectate on 28 December 2009, 16:46:24
Titi: I looked at the information on the page at CGTextures and you still retain ownership of your images. You've given the site permission (probaboly non-revokable) to have a copy of it for their purposes and the use of their members according to the site's policies. However unless you have legally signed over ownership, agreed to let them have an exclusive license to use, or performed it as work-for-hire it is still under your full control. They can only limit what can be done with their copy - you are free to do whatever you want with yours.

Should the site attempt to claim you infringed on their terms of use you should merely have to prove yourself as the original owner. Additionally, should anyone else want it, you are free to submit and distribute in any way you see fit.
The only danger I see is that if the site changes their agreements to try to enforce exclusivity or steal ownership of the images. At that point it would be best to have a copy of the original agreement that the images were submitted under. If you don't have that, and the site attempts to claim the agreement was already so at the time, it could result in losing that ownership should it ever extend to court - in The Netherlands lol.

I'd say that you are completely safe in doing anything with your photos - including putting them on burningwell. I don't remember a license page on BW but if you have one you can note that "Some images are known to have been submitted to other websites as well and may be available under alternative agreements. Notwithstanding this, all images on BW have been obtained directly from the owner of the content, and are released by the owner under the licenses as noted above."

PS. If you feel really brave, you could see if your agreement included any mention of revoking the site's use of your image. If you can, send an email and tell them that you no longer agree to their terms and agreements and demand that the content be removed (indicate which files you are claiming are yours and will need removed). Thank them for their understanding and compliance and see what happens. 
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 28 December 2009, 21:03:29
I don't remember a license page on BW but if you have one you can note that "Some images are known to have been submitted to other websites as well and may be available under alternative agreements. Notwithstanding this, all images on BW have been obtained directly from the owner of the content, and are released by the owner under the licenses as noted above."

Quote from: http://www.burningwell.org/terms.html
By uploading an image to the BurningWell.org repository, you agree that:

   1. The image is already in the public domain.
      -or-
   2. You are the creator or copyright holder of the image and
          * That you hearby release the image into the public domain.
          * If recognizable people exist in the image, you have obtained a Model Release from all recognizable people and hearby transfer all rights you have acquired to use their likeness to the public domain. Click Here for more information about why Model Release forms are needed.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Hectate on 29 December 2009, 02:49:59
Thanks John, I was on my phone when I wrote that short book and couldn't look it up.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 29 December 2009, 23:35:30
@ElimNator: thats right , if you have closed software in mind you can use it without problems :) . But maybe you can't mix them with CC-By-SA stuff, because it has to be released with CC-By-SA too.

@Hectate: Whatever they do with my photos, I don't mind, because I uploaded them there and signed there conditions, so its my fault. I learned my lesson and will not get tricked by these kind of sites again. I simply use Burningwell now.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 30 December 2009, 02:53:12
I would use Burningwell but it dosent have meny good textures like CG.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Hectate on 30 December 2009, 04:03:26
I would use Burningwell but it dosent have meny good textures like CG.
Well we'll just have to change that, won't we? I've just uploaded a bunch of photos (not for the texture section specifically) and I do intend to upload many more. In fact, I'll probably spend some time editing photos to make them seamless textures just for burningwell.org. I believe it's something I enjoy doing as a hobby in fact. Any requests? I can't guarantee anything, since the image source has to be available first, but it might be possible. Won't know until we try, eh? Plus I've got a semi-decent camera to get some source images with.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: -Archmage- on 30 December 2009, 04:29:23
I think I'll join BurningWell, and submit a bunch of useful images. :)
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 30 December 2009, 05:12:02
I'm glad I revived this thread.  Looks like plenty of people want to contribute. :)

I've got 166 megs of images uploading to the site right now.  I made sure to take plenty of ground textures and some of them came out wrong because of the flash (who knew dollar weed was so glossy?) but I've got plenty of good grass, pavement, concrete, and sand photos.  I also took some of the many palms around my neighborhood, including some dead palm leaves as per Titi's request.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: -Archmage- on 30 December 2009, 05:33:43
I just walked around the house taking pictures of things that look like they could be of use.
I'm uploading a bit of stuff now.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 30 December 2009, 05:45:30
Shure I will too and yes, try to get rock, crate, and barrel textures.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 30 December 2009, 14:09:44
Thats good news for burningwell and by this for everyone!
Please keep in mind that the photos must be useful and sharp! Don't simply upload masses of photos!

look here too:
http://forum.freegamedev.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=70

Some more hints:

Size of the photos:
Better don't upload the huge photos from your camera directly. Calculate them a bit down to something useful. 1280x1024 pixel or 1600x1200 for example, or simply recode them which often recduces their size dramatically without loosing lots of information. It takes some time to upload/download things at burningwell!
But Don't resize texture photos which are meant to be big. ( like sky textures for examples ).
A tool that can resize/rotate lots of photos easily is gthumb (http://gthumb.sourceforge.net/screenshots.html) for example (available for windows /linux ...).

uploading:
-Login before you upload!!! If you forgot to login, the name for your uploads will be anonymous and noone can give you credits!

-There is an upload applet at burningwell which is comfortable to upload. Java need to be installed on your computer to use it.

-If you have the time give your photos useful names or better add some keywords in burningwells system after uploading, so I don't have to do it :)

-Its my job to move the things to the right place, so you can't move it to the right categorie. Simply upload them.

Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Hectate on 30 December 2009, 19:28:14
Thanks for the tips, titi. I was actually going to ask a few questions along those lines but now I don't have to! lol

Oh, and if you (or any other moderator) feels an image is without merit or use, don't worry about me - just delete it. I picked the ones I felt were best but already deleted a couple of mine that I changed my mind on (and one that was only 640x480 and hadn't noticed at first). Only the brick wall ones are right for texture use though...

Update:
I noticed several of the pictures were moved/removed. Nifty. Also, titi, I just uploaded 3 new seamless textures (2 of them are alternate versions of the same) for your section - all based on images from burningwell.org. Enjoy!
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Loronal on 31 December 2009, 11:24:43
Im in northern brasil right now so I could maybe shoot some photos of some palms coconut trees fig trees.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 31 December 2009, 12:55:27
That would be really really cool!  :o :o
What about palm tree trunks?
something like this but without any shadows!!
http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/v/Plants/dscf2109.jpg.html

for the palm/ exotic leaves like bananas:
Try to get shots which are perfect to cut out in a painting program like these palm leaves:
http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/v/textures/plants/leavesAndBranches/TT7020115.JPG.html
http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/v/textures/plants/leavesAndBranches/TT7040706.JPG.html
or those normal tree branches:
http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/v/textures/plants/leavesAndBranches/TT7020603.JPG.html
http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/v/textures/plants/leavesAndBranches/TT7020635.JPG.html

And take several photos if you got a good leave! Not all photos are sharp!
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: Hectate on 9 January 2010, 13:46:08
New tutorial is up showing an interesting method for creating shadow-free images.

http://udn.epicgames.com/Three/TakingBetterPhotosForTextures.html

Might be worth posting somewhere on burningwell in the texture section or something.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 9 January 2010, 23:15:19
Currently uploading 89 new texture images (Edit: My internet isn't being very kind right now.  I'll try again later. /Edit).  Hopefully these will be more useful than the last batch.  I got several close-up shots of different kinds of palm tree trunks, some more ground textures, etc.  I also got over a hundred photos (most of them close-up) of this pair of sandhill cranes that landed behind my house.  Would these be worth adding to BurningWell's animal section?

(http://th05.deviantart.net/fs70/300W/i/2010/009/7/f/Ruffled_by_Johndh.jpg)
(click for full size) (http://johndh.deviantart.com/art/Ruffled-149837289)
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 14 March 2010, 21:52:06
(http://www.burningwell.org/gallery2/d/21493-2/DSCF0541.JPG)

I'm uploading 99 more texture pictures, but they won't be done for quite a while (almost 300MB uploading at 40kB/s).

Also, I think this topic would be more useful on the Tools board where people could find it better.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: -Archmage- on 14 March 2010, 21:56:03
Ok, I'll move it. :)
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 15 March 2010, 01:14:54
Okay, done uploading.
Ok, I'll move it. :)
Cool. :thumbup:
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 15 March 2010, 04:19:23
Okay, done uploading.
Did you post them somewhere? (http://www.soft-haus.com/jacob/smiles/not_know.png)
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: John.d.h on 15 March 2010, 05:16:33
::) No, I just uploaded them for my own enjoyment. [/sarcasm]

Seriously though, they're on burningwell.org (http://burningwell.org), waiting to be sorted into appropriate categories.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 15 March 2010, 17:28:09
Ok  :)
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 15 March 2010, 21:32:18
Oh thanks for the upload john. Will look at it when I have time for it ( will maybe take some days! ).
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ultifd on 21 March 2010, 20:24:09
Thanks. John. Awesome.  :O  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: -Archmage- on 21 March 2010, 21:37:40
I'm glad people are uploading stuff to burningwell, it gives me more inspiration to face texturing. :)
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 25 March 2010, 01:51:58
Why don't you upload some stuff too then?  :D
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: -Archmage- on 25 March 2010, 02:07:01
I dunno...... :P
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 25 March 2010, 02:19:25
Don't be shy, go ahead.  :D
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 25 March 2010, 11:03:30
If you upload please try to upload some quality pictures:
What "quality" am I talking about?

Here I posted what these photos should look like:
http://forum.freegamedev.net/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=70

And maybe you can show a screenshot of something you made with textures from burningwell there too??
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 25 March 2010, 15:53:29
Do you know who made burning well?
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: titi on 26 March 2010, 00:54:38
yes  ;D But I will not post it here I can send you a PM if you want to know it ( Its not me )
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: -Archmage- on 26 March 2010, 01:33:00
Oh come on were in a topic, that's practically about BurningWelt...

I'd like to know who founded BurningWell too, why can't you just post it here.
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ultifd on 26 March 2010, 02:16:20
Some guy in California.
Why? Well, the reason why the WWW/Internet is stupid. Or not.  :|

Great Website.  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 26 March 2010, 04:58:43
Oh come on were in a topic, that's practically about BurningWelt...

I'd like to know who founded BurningWell too, why can't you just post it here.
A burning welt, OUCH!
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: -Archmage- on 26 March 2010, 15:28:37
Quote
Quote from: -Archmage- on March 25, 2010, 22:37:48
Oh come on were in a topic, that's practically about BurningWelt...

I'd like to know who founded BurningWell too, why can't you just post it here.
A burning welt, OUCH!

Oops.......... :O :-[
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 26 March 2010, 15:33:01
 :O Just remember, this is not just a smile face, see there are words. [Cut it out!  :cheesy: -- Archmage]
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ultifd on 26 March 2010, 23:16:36
Don't go OT guys.  ::) this is the problem, when people are just...because/since  :|
Anyways, the site is cool.  :thumbup:
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 27 March 2010, 08:03:13
Anyways, the site is cool.  :thumbup:
You mean burning well?
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ultifd on 27 March 2010, 17:55:56
Anyways, the site is cool.  :thumbup:
You mean burning well?
Wasn't that what we were talking about...  :|
Title: Re: Free textures/sounds/models/knowledge
Post by: ElimiNator on 27 March 2010, 21:13:30
Yes it was.  :look: