List the programs you know.

[darkshark]

Texturing methods are highly dependent on what you're trying to texture. If you just want to texture say, a skateboard, then you could just use base materials and a different material for every object in the skateboard. If you want to texture a human character or something, then that involves more complex UVW unwrapping and less direct texturing methods (time consuming).

I'm pretty pro at making procedural materials (textures that don't require a bitmap) so making maps like rubber, chrome, sandpaper etc.

Go download VRay for 3ds max and I'll teach you anything you want to know.