Making objects with image textures is not really hard for simple objects like balls, cubes, and tubes. I'll show you how to do this: Make a new scene in Blender and delete the default cube. Add a sphere. Apply a Subsurf modifier and Smooth as we have learned in previous tutorials. Find a file picture that you want to apply to your object. Check Flickr for something like "rust texture." (If you are going to share it, be sure you check the license of the texture you download.) IMPORTANT: Sometimes you need a seamless texture. If you are not sure, use a program such as GIMP. Use FILTERS > MAP > MAKE SEAMLESS. Usually this works well but if your texture turns into gorp, try another one. (Noob Note: Do a search for Rust Textures if you do not have one handy.) In the Properties Panel, which by default is the bottom right panel, select the Material icon . Select NEW or if you already have a material in use, select the + sign to add a new material. Give it a good name like rustyball. Click on the Texture Icon . Click NEW or if you already have a texture loaded, click on the + to add a new one. Give it a good name like RUST. The default type is CLOUDS. Pull down the menu and change it to IMAGE OR MOVIE. Go to the IMAGE section, choose OPEN. New options will become available. (Note: JPGs, PNGs or TGAs are recommended for Blender. Bitmaps tend to get all screwy.) Under Source: Click the folder icon and navigate to your image. Scroll down. In the Image Mapping area are some options that you may need to try. If your image is small it may have to be repeated in the X or Y directions. In the Mapping section (yes, one section is Image Mapping and the other is just Mapping) after Projection, choose the shape closest to your object. If you are using a sphere like the example, then choose ... you guessed it ... SPHERE. The Preview often looks a bit odd and stripey, but render your project and it should look very nice. This method works for all sorts of things. Try making a brick wall with a wooden gate using Flickr textures or go back to the Jeep tutorial and put a pattern on your jeep. You can also render videos onto objects using this method. Just select a movie in the "Load image" dialog and enable the option "Movie" at the textures buttons. NOTE: Blender ONLY works with Full Resolution video, not video which has been compressed using a codec. Most video software will allow you to export video as "full frames" or "no compression". Experiment a bit!
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