PolyBook - Blair Bergman

Okay so to start off, this is my current project that I am a bit stuck on, it feels boring to look at but I can't quite put my finger on what I need to make it "pop". I don't want to add too much wear and tear to it because I want it too feel a little bit more like a new and well kept weapon. That being said I've already learning a lot from making it, especially learning how I can use height maps to create details, instead of in the high polySo the issue is, something feels boring with the texture, but I don't want to scratch it up to much just to add detail. Any advice?

https://sketchfab.com/models/8fff8cf1a5f54ff684e7ef5f2a805b57 - Direct link to the upload so you guys can inspect it more thoroughly if you want to :).

And here's my other project that I have going on, the pistol was actually meant to be a side project from this rifle, but it ended up being the opposite way around, as things sometimes do. I very much look forward to texturing this one as I am starting to get a bit bored with all these plastic things I have been making (I was originally going to make it with modern plastic grips, but I have changed my mind)

Hi, and welcome to the community!  I'm not a weapons expert, but if you want to give something more personality, you could add decals or personal touches.  What would you do to personalize a gun?  How would you put your mark on it?  How would other characters put a mark on it?  Everything is one material, so how could you combine different material properties to change it up?  Metal against plastic, shiny against dull, painted metal against tarnished metal.  Maybe this could help inspire you to think about the design of the materials and gun shapes.  Bring in contrasts of textures and materials.  It's the same with food.  Something soft and something crunchy.  Something sweet and something salty.  Otherwise, solid modeling skills.

I agree with silent.  That extra "pop" is going to be contrast, whether color or roughness.  It doesn't have to involve wear and tear, like Silent said, maybe a decal or different material (wood, leather, or stainless steel?).  I love the fingerprint smudges.  Nice work!

Your modeling and texturing skills...... a very guwd! Especially well done with the normal map it came out so good. As for personalizing the gun, changing the dot sight color, addons, or just a small engraving and as mentioned by John and Silent contrast with materials, color, ect. Ya know logos, camo or something like that. Really depends on the personality of the person that would be wielding the weapon to determine how it will look.

Thanks for the feedback and kind words guys, I'll try to think of something with the decals when I get back to working on it. Will have to think of what program to use for them tho as I've had to resort to Microsoft Paint for the decals I have atm, Adobe Photoshop license ran out :( .

John Sanderson I've been playing around with the roughness a bit to make something stand, haven't quite been able to get it down yet without the shiny things ending up too shiny and the rough bits ending up to0 rough, but I'll give it another pass!

Thanks guys!

ffrozenone GIMP or Krita are good PS alternatives.  Personally,I like Krita more than GIMP, but give each a whirl and see what you like best.