i have some sign images and i want to put them on to a surface, but i dont know how to take the image and use it as texture
Which surface...?
I'm not sure what you're having trouble with... have you learnt to apply a texture in gmax?
All you have to do is press the red ball in the upper right (material editor) then NEW/standard
- next drag your photo from it's folder onto the grey ball icon and hit apply.
- sometimes you'll need to press the little blue & white square (show map in viewport), to make it appear.
- you should be okay with signs, but some more complex shapes require a UVW map to make the texture appear... but cross that bridge when you need to.
Am I on the right track?
ah, cogeo beat me ;)