I've been working on this coin all day, trying to find the "EASIEST" way to make it, so that others can follow along without going through some painstaking process. Now, the big job for me is to take "painstaking" and make it "pain-free". I've learned that using bump maps with channel masks is the best way to "bump" coins. Using layers without any information means you get "light" bump maps. Channel masks with more information equals much improved look from the bump map.
Having said all this, now I'm left with the task of conveying what I did here, in the simplest way possible. Pray for me, because this is easier said than done.
One little tidbit: instead of wasting time making blank coins, I find using actual coins and GMIC inpaint works pretty darn good.
Wish me luck with this video tutorial, I am going to need it!
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"In order to attain the impossible, one must attempt the absurd."
~ Miguel de Cervantes