In this step you choose a texture! These can have a remarkable result on your end graphic.

Click on the "Texture" tab at the bottom side of your "Workspace". With StyleSkin you can choose to either import a texture or select a texture from one of the 31 offered. A list of these are located under "Texture" (Menu Bar). If you do not wish to use a texture then select "White" which is near the bottom of the "Texture" list.

To import your own texture

You will notice that the first item under "Texture" is "Import Texture". With this option you can choose to import an image that is a bitmap, jpeg or gif. Alternatively, if you have your texture open in a graphics program you can copy it, go to StyleSkin and paste it (Ctrl + V).

If you import an image that is smaller than your template it will be automatically tiled to cover the template area. Alternatively, if your image is larger than your template only the portion of the image that covers the template size will be used. If you would like your image to be automatically sized to your template size then open the image in your preferred graphics program, copy it, go to StyleSkin and ensure the "Texture" Workspace tab is chosen, click "Edit" (Menu Bar) and choose "Paste Special". A box will appear with the options of "No Operation", "Tiled" or "Scale Image to Fit". Select "Scale Image to Fit". Your full image should be shown in the Texture Workspace.

If you have imported your texture, it is a good idea to uncheck "Auto Texture" which is located under "Tools" (Menu Bar). If you don't uncheck this, then using the "Render Complete Skin" button later will automatically rerender the checked StyleSkin "Texture" over your imported image.

If you would like to make minor touch ups or add weathering to your image then please continue here. Otherwise, you are ready to continue with the final step!

StyleSkin generally uses the shade from the texture in the "Output" graphic. This means if you import a color image, although it may appear in color in the Texture Workspace, only the shade qualities will be used for the Output graphic. If you would like to skin your Output graphic with a photo, import your photo as the texture and read under the "Photo Rendering" topic in the next step.

To select a StyleSkin texture

If you wish to use one of the textures provided by StyleSkin all you need to do is make a selection from those listed under "Texture" (Menu Bar). 

As you won't know what these textures will look like from the name, you can quickly view thumbnails of the textures by using the Texture Browser button  (Standard Toolbar). The first time you use this button it will take a little time to render each texture thumbnail for you, but it will remember those textures for future reference. Please note that the texture thumbnails are examples only. Many of the textures in StyleSkin are randomly calculated, meaning the pattern will be different each time you render. Each Texture can also be greatly varied by changing its "Effect Density" value, under "Texture Rendering" on the Tool Palette. Once you have all the thumbnails showing, double click on the texture you would like to use.

Once you have made your selection the texture screen will remain unchanged until you render the texture. If you would like to see your texture in your Workspace now, then click the "Render Texture" button (Standard Toolbar) or alternatively click "Render" (Menu Bar) and choose "Texture". Depending on which texture you have chosen you may notice that StyleSkin will display a progress percentage message with a "Stop" button. For these textures, StyleSkin will continue to randomly stack different shades or sizes of a texture until either you press the "Stop" button or the progress reaches 100%. The stop option allows you the ability to capture the random overall texture when it most appeals to you. 

If you capture a texture that you do not want to be accidentally re-rendered later, it is a good idea to uncheck "Auto Texture" which is located under "Tools" (Menu Bar). If you don't uncheck this, then using the "Render Complete Skin" button later will automatically re-render over your captured texture.

While StyleSkin comes with 31 different textures, you effectively have many more as the appearance of each texture can be considerably altered by adjusting its "Effect Density". The "Effect Density" adjuster is located under "Texture Rendering" (Tool Palettes Bar). Adjustments can have different effects on different textures so it is best to experiment and see the results. Generally speaking, as you lower an "Effect Density" the texture pattern will either become smaller or darker and vice versa. You can also do an inversion of a texture you have rendered by clicking "Texture" (Menu Bar) and "Invert".

If you change the "Effect Density" property of the "Shade of Grey" texture the grey will appear as either a lighter or darker shade of grey. If you don't intend to use a patterned texture for your skin it can be handy to choose "Shade of Grey" as it allows you to easily adjust how light or dark your final graphic will appear.

If you are happy with your texture you are ready to move on to the final step! If you would like to make minor touch ups to your texture or add weathering then please read on.

Touching Up Textures

Regardless of whether you have imported your texture or chosen a texture from StyleSkin's selection, you may wish to make minor touch-ups to your texture. This can be handy if you have a spot or line on your texture that you feel is too dark or light. StyleSkin includes a facility for this. 

Under "Custom Colors" (Tool Palettes Bar) you will notice that StyleSkin shows a number of boxes with black, white and a few different shades of grey. As StyleSkin generally only makes use of the shades from a texture, these colors are offered to give a variety of different shades to touch-up with. If you would like to use a color that is not offered then right click on one of the boxes and choose a color from the resulting color palette screen. 

Alternatively, if you would like to use a color from your actual texture, left click on one of the "Custom Color" boxes, click on the "Sample Pixel" button (Drawing Toolbar), move your mouse pointer over the texture color you would like to use (in your workspace) and left click. The Custom Color box should now show the texture color you clicked on. 

   To actually draw with your chosen color, click on the "Draw New Shape" button (Drawing Toolbar). You can make a selection of 3 shapes by selecting the relevant buttons on your Drawing Toolbar. If you require further information on drawing concepts please read here. 

Add Weathering Effects to your Skin

StyleSkin also includes features to allow you to add a weathered look to your graphic. To add the weathering effect with the default settings all you need to do is press the "Render: Texture Weathering" button  (Standard Toolbar). If this button is not showing click the arrow beside "Render: Texture" and select Weathering. You can adjust the weathering settings under "Weathering" (Tool Palettes Bar). You can adjust the weathering in two ways: 

The weathering effect by default will darken the texture underneath your shapes. If you would prefer your weathered areas to appear lighter then go to "Tools" (Menu bar) and select "Reverse Weathering". Press the "Render Weathering" button to see the result.

Tip! When experimenting with different weathering effect adjustments ensure you start with no weathering already showing in your Texture Workspace. StyleSkin will render the weathering over whatever already appears in the Texture Workspace area. You can clear the last change that appeared in your Workspace area at any time by clicking the "Undo" button (Standard Toolbar).

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