{"id":6091,"date":"2011-10-22T00:53:54","date_gmt":"2011-10-22T00:53:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/?p=6091"},"modified":"2014-10-22T00:56:56","modified_gmt":"2014-10-22T00:56:56","slug":"photoshop-cs4-3d","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/photoshopcafe.com\/cs4\/3D.htm","title":{"rendered":"Photoshop CS4 and 3D"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Photoshop CS4 and 3D<\/span><\/h1>\n

Stephen Burns –\u00a0www.chromeallusion.com<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n

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Adobe is bridging the gap between two dimensional and 3 dimensional approaches to creating art. It started with CS3 where we have the ability to import 3D objects into 3D Layers and have some of the same navigational functionalities as 3rd party 3D program. In addition, we can access the textures via the use of Texture Layers. This gives us the flexibility to alter them to match our final vision in post production.<\/p>\n

Now we have the long awaited Photoshop CS4 that has upgraded its 3D capabilities greatly from its predecessor. Its 3D engine goes beyond reading the object and its textures. It will allow you to import & add lights to your 3D scene. It will also read and apply Glossiness, Specularity, Bump and Reflection maps. Photoshop reads its texture information off of UV maps (U \u2013Horizontal and V-Vertical). These are basically 2 dimensional images maps that are mapped onto 3 dimensional surfaces. This style of surface mapping allows the most flexibility as to where you apply your textures.<\/p>\n

In this tutorial we are going to explore UV mapping in a 3D program and import the 3D object into CS4\u2019s 3D Layers. Then we will discover the great flexibility that we have with the new advances to the texturing engine.<\/p>\n

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Let\u2019s start with the basic 3D options for creating 3D primitives from single or multiple images. You can access this under the 3D options located on your menu bar. So, Open any image and select the Cube option to create a 3D cube.<\/p>\n

If you are a beginner at 3D modeling and texturing, CS4 will help you get familiar with the basic tools and texturing capabilities through its intuitive interface. Primitives are basic 3D shapes such as spheres, cylinders or cubes to name a few. Essentially, CS4 will take any image and place it onto the primitive that you choose. In this example I have chosen a Cube. Let\u2019s learn how to navigate a 3D object.<\/p>\n

Take a look at your tools bar and notice that we have something new. You will see a toolset for navigating 3D objects imported into CS4. There are two sets of tools. One set is for the navigation of the object and the other is for the navigation of your camera.<\/p>\n

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Basic 3D Navigations<\/h2>\n

\"002_opt\"<\/a> \"003_opt\"<\/a><\/span>When you select any navigational tool a 3D Axis guide automatically appears adjacent to your model that has red, green and blue color designations. These correspond to X, Y and Z axis. On a grid the \u201cX\u201d axis (red) is simply a movement going from left to right. The Y axis (green) is a movement going up or down. And finally, the Z axis (blue) is movement going in or out into the scene.<\/p>\n

Access the 3D menu<\/span><\/h2>\n

Step 1.<\/h2>\n

If you place your mouse on a circular shape for any of the axis take notice that a ringed shape will appear that designates the direction which you will be restricted to. When you rotate automatically a dark blue highlight will display the position where you began and where the position ends.<\/p>\n

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(L) Rotation along a designated axis. (R) Resize along all axis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Stretch along a designated axis<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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Next, if you place your mouse directly on the cubic shape located at the end of each of the axis you will resize the shape of your object along that axis.<\/p>\n

Place your mouse on the larger cubic shape where all of the axis connects. If you click and drag here the entire object resizes without distortion.<\/p>\n

Finally, you can shift your object along a designated plane. This places your mouse on the plane between two axes allowing you to drag your mouse.<\/p>\n

Now that you have a basic idea how to navigate your 3D object let\u2019s take a look at a 3D object that was created in NewTek\u2019s Lightwave\u00a0(<\/span>www.newtek.com<\/a>\u00a0<\/span>). We will examine how to bring in Third-Party 3D models into Photoshop\u2019s 3D layers.<\/p>\n

Importing Third-Party Models<\/h2>\n

Take a look at figure nine. What you\u2019re looking at is a texture laid over UV coordinates for the body of a submarine created in LightWave. UV coordinates are simply the surface of the 3D object that has been unwrapped and laid out like a flat sheet of paper so that we can draw or paint on it. When you are completed with drawing or painting on this paper we can then wrap it back on to our object to display the new edits that are accurately placed. For example if we want the rims of the windows to be black we simply find that location on the UV map that is designated to the window\u2019s rims and paint that area black. When the map is reapplied to your 3D object your window rims will take on that color. This painting or editing is done in any two dimensional digital paint program which in this case is CS4.<\/p>\n

Example of UV map with texture of submarines body<\/h2>\n

Take a look at figure 10 and you will see the top view (top left), side view (bottom right) and the perspective view (top right) of the submarine. On the bottom, left hand corner you will see the UV map for the submarine\u2019s body. Let\u2019s define further where that is. The egg shaped cockpit on the left hand side of the model is designated as the submarine\u2019s body.<\/p>\n

Figure 10: 3D model displayed in LightWave<\/p>\n

Figure 11 shows the panel that displays all of the textures for this sub. Please take note of them because when we go into Photoshop you will see these names applied again.<\/p>\n

Fig 11: View of LightWaves texture panel<\/p>\n

Importing your model into Photoshop<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s go back into Photoshop and import the model that was created in LightWave. It is important to know that Photoshop will read several formats natively that include the following:<\/p>\n