Surface painting (also named Polypaint and Vertex Paint) allows painting on a model’s vertex surface without assigning a texture map, modifying vertex color attributes.
Once you use any method to “Bake” your model and its UV topology into the Painting Room, all these painted details will be baked into this permanent mesh as a texture map, which can then be exported along with your mesh.
In Surface Mode, we are dealing with a polygonal representation of a voxel object’s “skin”.
Although this skin represents a temporary condition of a model before it is ready for export, vertex colors can be applied to this temporary, relatively high-resolution mesh in the Painting Workspace.
Just switch to the Painting Room and begin using color painting tools. This function is “on” by default. If you need to use regular painting methods (Per-Pixel, Micro-Vertex, etc.) deselect “View > Show voxels in painting room”.
Direct painting over surface models
Both diffuse color and glossiness intensity are supported.
To use the Painting Room tools for painting the diffuse color directly onto your Surface Mode mesh simply click on the Painting Room tab and start painting with the standard tools and Alphas with a single color or use a “Material” from the “Smart Materials Panel”.
If you have applied a Sculpt PBR Shader to your sculpture, the diffuse details from this shader will be combined with whatever you paint in the Painting Room.
Ensure you have enabled “Show Voxels In Painting Room” from the “View” menu to enable diffuse color painting.
All painting done in this manner is strictly temporary in the sense that it is bound to the realm of 3DCoat, itself.
Tutorials
Polypainting: This video is a feature demonstration of the Vertex Painting toolset.
Unique Sculpting Features: This video begins a series highlighting some of the unique features in 3DCoat that helps set it apart. It begins by showing how 3DCoat leverages PBR Texture Painting and High Poly Sculpting simultaneously…taking care of two normally time-consuming and tedious tasks at once and done rather quickly.
How to Import to Surface with (Image) Color: This video covers a quick tip about importing a model into 3DCoat’s Sculpt Workspace and having the color from a texture map baked into the model’s vertices in the process.
Surface Painting: Exporting: This video continues the PolyPainting demonstration by covering an example of exporting the object directly from the Sculpt Room to a 3D application (3ds Max, in this case)…no UVs..no Retopo work.
Advantages of Vertex Painting: This video demonstrates some advantages of using Surface Painting (Vertex) , as opposed to the standard UV-based texture painting tools.
Choosing Right Shader for Vertex Painting: This video briefly addresses a common question about Vertex Painting (why the user can’t see their painting strokes, sometimes). And it’s simply a matter of choosing the right type of shader.