Using the best 3D modelling software can feel like being a god creating creatures in fantastic landscapes, but it can also feel like a tedious grind when getting into the details of a model.
Thankfully, simple 2D images can be used to drastically speed up the modelling process. Different image types can be used to control not just colour, but also which parts of the model are visible, which parts are raised or recessed, and even how shiny a model is. These images can (mostly) be created in any 2D image-editing software and then wrapped onto the model using various wrapping methods, with UV maps being the most popular.
