Creating Textures is a Waste of Time
Let me be blunt: I’ve been creating architectural CG for years.
And I have a thought: Creating textures is an absolute waste of time.
Don’t get me wrong—if it’s a hero material, that’s fine. A carefully crafted floor or wall material that makes clients go “Wow!” during presentations. Those are worth the time investment.
But reality?
Day after day of recreating building materials that nobody really understands—not even the client.
“We only have this manufacturer’s sample image, but can you make it seamless?”
“This catalog photo was taken at an angle, but can you make a texture from this?”
I’m sick of it. I want to quit this job.
The “Professional” (?) Seamless Texture Creation Technique
Now, let me explain the real method that we professionals (can I even call myself that… right?) actually use to make textures seamless.
Step 1: Use Photoshop
Why Photoshop?
Because nobody speaks up.
Industry standard. Everyone uses it. The boss uses it. Clients say “use Photoshop.”
There’s no choice.
Step 2: Tile Preview
Just use the move tool and drag it with your mouse. OK. Make it look good.
So far, textbook stuff. The problem starts here.
Step 3: Try the Generative AI Feature
What?
Yes. Photoshop in 2024 has generative AI.
“Select the seam and use generative fill! Perfect!”
What a disaster. This is terrible.
- Different texture and feel from the original
- Colors don’t quite match
- Obvious repetition
Client: “Something feels off…”
Well, of course.
Step 4: There’s Still Hope
Time for the classic approach: the Clone Stamp Tool.
Hold Option (Alt) to sample, then paint away.
Repeat this endlessly.
Pro Tips
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Set blend mode to Lighten or Darken Effective for removing wood knots and averaging brightness.
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Dissolve Mode Effective for rough materials like spray-on finishes or stone.
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Lower the opacity 30-50% layered multiple times creates natural results.
Click-click-clicking for several seconds…
Step 5: Done!
A perfect seamless texture is complete!!
…???
Where did the original texture go?
Over-blending with the clone stamp has destroyed the original texture quality.
Especially for rough textures or directional materials (wood grain, fabric, etc.), the result inevitably looks blurred.
“Doesn’t this look kind of… soft?”
Client’s single comment means starting over.
CG, Medicine, Law—All Require Brainpower
Wait, CG is different?
Yeah, you’re right.
Doctors and lawyers make a living with specialized knowledge.
CG feels like we make a living with time and patience.
Seamless texture creation is the perfect example.
- Knowledge: Everyone knows it
- Skill: Just use the clone stamp
- Value: Takes forever
Is this really okay?
SeamlessIt as an Option
In this situation, I created a tool called SeamlessIt.
For people in the CG industry with the same struggles.
Just Load an Image and Click a Button
- Upload image
- Adjust border width (around 10-25%)
- Click generate button
Done in seconds.
Use Fix Mode to Smooth Any Problematic Areas
Even when localized corrections are needed, it’s easy to handle.
Final Result
The original texture is preserved, right?
No visible seams. This is how it should be.
What’s Different?
SeamlessIt uses an algorithm called Histogram-Preserving Blending.
Skip the technical details, basically:
- Preserves the original texture quality
- Removes seams while maintaining color distribution
- More natural than Photoshop’s clone stamp
What I Can Say as a Professional
Distinguish between what deserves time and what should be streamlined.
That’s what makes a professional.
Will you spend 30 minutes creating a seamless texture?
Or finish it in 3 seconds and use that time for lighting and camera work?
Clients see the final rendered image.
Nobody cares if you made the texture by hand.
Conclusion: I Don’t Have to Quit My Job After All
Since I started using SeamlessIt, the stress of texture creation has drastically decreased.
- Catalog photos made seamless in seconds
- Process while preserving texture quality
- No installation required
Of course, it’s not perfect for every case.
Complex patterns or extreme lighting variations still require manual work.
But it’s sufficient for 90% of cases.
To everyone working in architectural CG:
Stop wasting time.
No installation required.
And above all, it saves your precious time.