am i allowed to draw a 3d model

From opening a 3D file to rotating, scaling and moving information technology, working with meshes, creating textures or even materials, adding lights, and more than, this tutorial covers most of the secrets of the useful feature 3D Tools of Photoshop CS4 Extended. If you accept it, why don't you try? I tin clinch you that you volition notice a brand new world of space possibilities.

Earlier Getting Started

We are living on the gold age of 3D technology, we can meet art pieces, architectural models, biological simulations, fantasy creatures, futuristic machines, and almost realistic objects everywhere. About of those graphics have been through Photoshop, from texture editing to final mock-ups; making it a must know tool for anyone interested in 3D blueprint.

Photoshop CS3 Extended allowed users to open their 3D files and edit direct some features like textures and lights, but CS4 takes 3D editing into another level where you tin can actually piece of work with the 3D file just similar almost of the commercial 3D editing software. Even though Photoshop tin can't edit the model itself, information technology works absolutely well with textures, materials and lights allowing yous to fifty-fifty pigment directly over a surface using the Brush Tool. This is a very basic guide only some elemental knowledge of 3D geometry is needed.

Tutorial Details

Program: Photoshop CS4 Extended
Difficulty: Basic
Estimated Completion Time: 2 - 3 Hours

Y'all will need some 3D models to play with, I'm using a boat from telias.free.fr and a gratis-to-utilize model of a space shuttle that I've downloaded from the NASA website. Feel gratis to use whatever model that you want. Let'south get started!

Function I - Creating and Editing 3D Layers

Photoshop handle 3D files through 3D layers, which work merely like Smart Objects. Each 3D layer contains a unique 3D scene that tin can be created 5 different ways: from a 3D file, from a layer working as a Postcard (Plane), from a layer making it a 3D basic Object, from a grayscale layer and as a Volume combining ii or more layers.

This tutorial will cover the outset 4, since Volume based on layers is a piffling fleck different than the others and we volition leave information technology for another occasion.

New Layer from 3D File

The first way and maybe the most known style to work with a 3D layer in Photoshop is creating a 3D layer from an existing file. For this go to 3D > New Layer from 3D File, and so chose a file on your file organisation and open it. Photoshop allows you lot to open .3DS, .DAE, .KMZ, .U3D and .OBJ files. A new Layer with the object'south name will announced in the Layers Panel. You can add as many 3D layers as y'all want.

Working with the Bones 3D Tools

In the Tools Panel click on the active 3D Tool (Yard) and so on top, in the Options Console, you will run into several unlike options for y'all to edit the 3D layer. At whatever time you can become back to the default values by clicking on the tiny Firm Icon in the Options Panel.

Rotate

The default tool and the showtime ane in the listing is Rotate, Click on the 3D model and Drag up or downward to rotate it around its X centrality, or side to side to rotate it effectually its Y axis. A diagonal Drag will rotate the model on both the X and Y centrality. Yous can control the rotation by setting numerical values in the Orientation fields over the Options Panel, by default all of them are set up to 0.

Roll

Drag side to side or up and down to Roll the model around its Z axis. You tin do the same by using the previous tool, but belongings the Selection central on a Mac or the Alt key on the PC. Yous tin can command the rotation past setting numerical values on the Orientation fields.

Drag

This tool moves the model in the 3D space. Drag side to side to move the model horizontally, or up or downwards to move it vertically. Agree the Alt key to move it in the X/Z direction. This tool is very dissimilar than the standard Motion Tool (V) because this works over a 3D environment meanwhile the Move Tool works only in 2D. You can control the position by setting numerical values on the Position fields over the Options Console all values are set in 0 by default.

Slide

Elevate side to side to move the model horizontally, or up or down to move information technology closer or farther abroad from your perspective. You lot tin can control the position past setting numerical values on the Position fields, which is 0 by default.

Scale

This change the model's size. Drag up or downward to scale the model larger or smaller. By setting the Scale values in a numeric format yous can scale the model over any of its iii axis, stretching it upwards or enlarging it. Past default the numeric values are set to 1.

Position Presets

In the Position driblet downwards you will observe several position presets to chose from. Besides yous can save a customized Position by clicking on the tiny Save icon or delete a custom preset from the drop downwardly box.

3D Centrality

You must accept Open GL enabled, go to Edit > Preferences > Performance and in the GPU panel bank check the box named Enable Open up GL Cartoon. Then when you create a 3D file, y'all'll run across a 3D centrality handler to work with, it does exactly the same as the standard 3D tools, but working direct on the axis instead of clicking on the sheet. Below there'southward a list of the hotspots of the 3D axis.

Camera

The 3D camera tools are used to move the photographic camera view, while leaving the position of the 3D object fixed. This is very useful when you lot desire to merge 3D objects into a single scene (nosotros will encounter that presently).

Click on the 3D Camera default tool (North) to activate them. Virtually of the tools work pretty much the same as the Position Tools: Rotate, Move and Drag. You can switch between Perspective (Vanishing signal) and Orthographic (Parallel lines) cameras, and zoom them up to 180. You can save Camera View Presets every bit well.

New Shape from Layer

Photoshop allows you to create a bunch of built in shapes from second layers. Select a Layer in Layers Panel, it can exist any kind of layer, then go to 3D > New Shape From Layer ...There you volition find several presets to chose from. As you can come across at the bottom of the image beneath you can create nice pieces using only built in shapes.

Postcard from Layer

Another mode to create a 3D layer is by converting whatsoever layer into a 3D Postcard. For this select whatsoever layer (vector or bitmap), and so go to 3D > New 3D Postcard from Layer. Then y'all can handle each layer as a 3D object.

New Mesh from Grayscale

Finally another way of creating a 3D layer is from a Grayscale layer. Select any grayscale slope, shape, or text layer and go to 3D > New Mesh From Grayscale > ... and chose 1 of the following options: aeroplane, two sided plane, cylinder and sphere. Beneath there'south an example of 3D layers based on a gradient layer.

Merge Meshes

You can easily merge two or more 3D layers into a single scene. For this you lot need two 3D layers in the aforementioned file. In the following case there is a cube and a cylinder. Select one of the layers ("Cube" in this case), then using the Camera Tool set the View drib down to the other 3D Layer ("Cylinder"). Finally in the Layers Panel Options Menu go to Merge Down. This way you will accept a unique 3D layer. Each mesh yet can be edited separately on the 3D Panel.

Part II - Working with the 3D Panel

Go to Window > 3D to show the 3D Panel. At that place yous will notice several options to have your models into some other level (you lot must have a 3D layer selected in social club to testify all the options on it).

On top there are 4 buttons that filter the viewing of the components of the Scene: Scene (All in one), Meshes, Materials and Lights. Below in that location are the Scene objects, start there's the Scene itself, then a list of all the meshes ,each i with its corresponding material, and below a listing of the lights. You tin can toggle the visibility of a mesh, material or light anytime you desire.

Below the Scene explorer there's a panel where yous can change the settings of the selected object (nosotros will dig into this later). Finally, at that place are four little buttons: Toggle Ground Plane show/hide a footing plane, Toggle Lights prove/hide the lights controls, New Light shows a list of lights to add into the scene, and Delete, which removes the component from the scene.

Scene Render Settings

Anti-Alias

Select the Scene on the object'due south explorer in the 3D Panel. We volition begin with the Anti-Aliasing of the render. In the settings area of the 3D Console in that location's a Driblet Down with 3 anti-aliasing options: Typhoon, Better and All-time. You can change this setting anytime you lot want. Merely remember that a improve anti-aliasing means more than time for the organization to return the paradigm.

Render Presets

On the Preset drop dow you will find a lot of render presets. Beneath are some examples.

Global Ambient Colour

The Global ambience color is a global color, which is visible on reflective surfaces (we will see more about reflectiveness soon). By default the global ambient is set to black.

Cross Section

This setting creates a planar cantankerous section that intersects the model trough an centrality at the angle you choose. It'due south pretty useful in order to run into through a model and view interior content. You can change the color and opacity of the intersecting airplane and ascertain a color for the lines. Besides y'all can change the Offset and Tilt values as you wish.

Working with Meshes

Each scene may take several meshes. Y'all can select them one by ane in the summit section of the 3D console. Once you select a mesh the Settings area will testify a miniature of the Scene and a cherry-red rectangle delimiting the mesh. Each mesh can be handled as whatever 3D object (rotate, curl, scale, etc.) simply with the tools in the bottom of the 3D Panel, past clicking in the little Habitation icon the mesh will go back to its original position and scale.

Part 3 - Materials

A material is a complex grouping of texture layers: Diffuse, Bump, Glossiness, Shininess, Opacity, Reflectivity, Environment and Normal. Each one with its very ain characteristics. Combining them in a proper way results in an outstanding or even realistic event. To edit a cloth click on the mesh'southward material and meet the Settings on the lesser of the 3D Panel.

Lengthened

This texture is the colour of the textile. Y'all tin can either select a color from the swatch or create a New Texture (or Open an existing 1) by clicking on the Texture Map Menu equally shown in the 3rd screenshot below.

One time you lot create a texture layer, it will appear in the Layers Panel. You tin can Double-click to edit it. A new document with a .PSB extension volition be open there. You lot tin design annihilation y'all desire. When y'all save the document, the 3D layer volition exist updated.

On the Texture Map Card at that place's an option named Edit Properties. By clicking on it, y'all will exist able to chose which layers you desire to include in the texture or the entire composite, besides setting the scale and get-go of the texture layer. This can exist made on every single texture of the material.

Bump

This texture creates bumps in the material's surface. A bump map is a grayscale prototype in which lighter values create raised surface areas and darker values create flatter surface areas. In the following case there's an irregular grayscale epitome created with a uncomplicated Brush and its respective result. The Bump Strength field is set to an amount from 1 to x.

Tip: In gild to make a texture layer almost perfect, go to Filter > Other > Offset, change both horizontal and vertical offset and employ a clone tool to polish the edges.

Glossiness and Shininess

Glossiness defines the corporeality of lite from a source that reflects off the surface and back to the viewer. Shininess defines the dispersion of the reflected calorie-free generated by the Glossiness setting. Information technology's harder to explicate than information technology is to try. Modify both values and meet what happens. Don't forget that you can add a texture to any of those settings.

Opacity

Increases or decreases the opacity of the cloth (0-100%). It's useful for creating drinking glass textures for instance.

Surround and Reflectivity

One of my personal favorites textures on a material is Environment, which stores the epitome of the environs surrounding the 3D model. In the following example I'm adding a clouds texture to the Surround option, and voilá, a nice reflection on the ring's surface, you can hibernate the environment by toggling the eye icon of the Surround texture in the Layers Panel.

Reflectivity here is very important, since increases the reflection of other objects in the 3D scene, and the surroundings map, on the material surface. The lower the percent of reflection the less surroundings is reflected.

Normal

Another personal favorite, a normal map increases surfaces details. It'due south based on a multi-aqueduct (RGB) prototype and helps to smooth the surface. Below at that place is an example of an orangish circumvolve dawn on a normal texture. Y'all tin can see the circle zone looks smoother on the 3D model. If the RGB layer covers all the document, then the entire surface volition wait smoother.

Look at the case beneath, with a Normal map and a Diffuse texture y'all tin create a nice 3D flag in less than ane infinitesimal!.

Part IV - Lights

3D lights illuminate models from different angles, calculation realistic depth and shadows. Yous can add three types of lights in Photoshop: Space Lights (like sunlight), Spot Lights like reflectors, and Signal lights like bulbs.

You can change the position of lights, also color and intensity. Yous can see them at the lesser of the scene explorer, about of models have at least two Infinite Lights that you lot tin can edit, or delete. To create a new layer click on the New Low-cal push on the lesser of the panel and chose the type of lite that you lot want to create.

Infinite Lights

In one case you created or when you're editing a, Infinite Light, you can customize its Color, Intensity and the ability to Create Shadows. It's pretty useful to toggle the Calorie-free Guides on the bottom of the 3D panel. An Infinite Light can simply be Rotated or by clicking on the tiny Photographic camera icon set the light on the focal signal. You can add as many Lights as yous want.

Signal Lights

This light works every bit if you are putting a bulb lite somewhere in the model. You can edit the Position, Intensity, Color, Create Shadows and Softness as well as Infinite Lights, but y'all can Drag, Move and Rotate this light.

Spot Lights

As well as the other lights, you can alter the Intensity, Color and Shadows power, move it trough the scene and alter the Softness. Besides you lot tin configure the position (in degrees) of the Hotspot and the Falloff.

Finally you tin can check Use Attenuation (how fast light intensity decreases equally distance from objects increases) and modify the Inner and Outer attenuation values. No matter how detailed the screenshot may be, the but way to encounter how it works is giving a endeavour.

Function V - Some Extras

Paint On

Last just not least the Paint On... Photoshop enables paint directly over whatsoever texture layer of the Materials, Select the Paint On... texture on the 3D panel (you must select the scene first) and from the Tools Panel select the Brush tool and customize the settings and colors as you want.

In the following example you lot can run into how to paint over the Lengthened Texture using a couple of brushes and fifty-fifty the Eraser Tool. At the bottom of the image below at that place's the result of painting on the Crash-land texture with a soft black castor.

Salve Materials and Lights Presets

Since creating a material sometimes is a long process, it'southward very practical to create presets of Material and Lights to re-employ them later. Select a Material, then on the 3D Panel's Options Menu click on Relieve Material/Lights Preset..., blazon some name for it and save it somewhere. To Utilise a preset on some other mesh select Supersede Material/Lights...

Conclusion

This is only a little sample of what can be done with 3D Layers and the avant-garde 3D Panel, it's up to you to try these tools and explore its total potential. Proficient Luck!

Subscribe to the Psdtuts+ RSS Feed for the best Photoshop tuts and manufactures on the web.

foxworthdindoutiors.blogspot.com

Source: https://design.tutsplus.com/tutorials/a-basic-guide-to-photoshops-3d-tools--psd-6042