[Figure 9-23] Texture map loaded in Photoshop

Loading and Saving Texture Maps
On either side of the Texture Preview pane is small buttons that you can use to load (the one on the left) and save (the one on the right) the existing texture map. Both of these buttons open a file dialog box where you can select the file to open or give the file to save a name. Saved texture maps are saved to a 512 x 512 pixel image using the image format that you select. The saved texture map can then be loaded within an image-editing package such as Photoshop to be edited and reloaded into Poser. Figure 9-23 shows the default face texture map loaded within Photoshop.

Although you can save texture maps in Photoshop’s PSD file format, you cannot load them back into Poser using this format.

Synching Face and Body Color
When a face with a different skin color is applied to a figure, a warning dialog box appears identifying that the face and body skin colors are different and asks if you want to synchronize the two. Clicking Yes will change the body skin color to match the face.

Save, Edit, and Load a Face Texture Map
1.       Open the Poser interface with the default figure visible.

2.       Click the Face tab to access the Face Room.

3.       Click the Save Texture button to the right of the Texture Preview pane. In the Save As dialog box, choose the PSD file format and click Save.

4.       Locate the saved texture file and open it in Photoshop.

5.       Within Photoshop, edit the texture image by adding a scar to the image with the Paint Brush Tool. Then save the texture file as Texture map with scar.jpg.

6.       Back within Poser, click the Load Texture button to the left of the Texture Preview pane in the Face Room. Then locate and load the saved file.

[Figure 9-24] Edited texture map

The face is updated with the edited texture map, as shown in Figure 9-24.

7.   Click the Apply to Figure button, switch back to the Pose Room, select File, Save As, and save the file as Face with scar.pz3.

WORK WITH EXPRESSIONS
Before leaving this chapter, you need to look closely at the thumbnails located within the Face category of the Library. These expressions give the character a different facial look and are different from the faces created in the Face Room. Facial expressions can also be made automatically using the Talk Designer, which is covered in Chapter 15, “Lip Synching with Talk Designer.”

Loading Expressions from the Library
To access the available expressions from the Library, click the Face category and navigate to the folder containing the types of expressions you want to apply to the current figure. Within each folder are thumbnails of the various expressions. With an expression thumbnail selected, click the Apply Library Preset button at the bottom of the Library palette. The selected expression is loaded onto the figure.

The Library palette is not available when the Face Room is open. You’ll need to return to the Pose Room to access the Face expressions.