Manipulating 3D Objects in Adobe Photoshop CS5
Note: This excerpt does not include the lesson files. The lesson files are available with purchase of the book.
From the book
From the book
From the book
The advantage to working with 3D objects is, obviously, that you can work with them in three dimensions. You can also return to a 3D layer at any time to change lighting, color, material, or position without having to re-create a lot of the art. Photoshop CS5 Extended includes several basic tools that make it easy to rotate, resize, and position 3D objects. The 3D Object Rotate tool and the other tools grouped with it in the Tools panel manipulate the object itself. In addition, the 3D Rotate Camera tool and its group change the camera positions and angles, which can have a dramatic effect on your object.
You can use the 3D tools whenever a 3D layer is selected in the Layers panel. A 3D layer behaves like any other layer—you can apply layer styles, mask it, and so on. However, a 3D layer can be quite complex.
Unlike a regular layer, a 3D layer contains one or more meshes. A mesh defines the 3D object. In the layer you just created, the mesh is the hat shape. Each mesh, in turn, includes one or more materials—the appearance of a part or all of the mesh. Each material includes one or more maps, which are the components of the appearance. There are nine typical maps, including the Bump map, and there can be only one of each kind; however, you can also use custom maps. Each map contains one texture—the image that defines what the maps and materials look like. The texture may be a simple bitmap graphic or a set of layers. The same texture might be used by many different maps and materials. In the layer you just created, the image of the brick wall composes the texture.
In addition to meshes, a 3D layer also includes one or more lights, which affect the appearance of 3D objects and remain in a fixed position as you spin or move the object. A 3D layer also includes cameras, which are saved views with the objects in a particular position. The shader creates the final appearance based on the materials, object properties, and renderer.
That may all sound complicated, but the most important thing to remember is that some tools move objects in 3D space and some tools move the cameras that view the object.
- In the Tools panel, select the 3D Rotate Camera tool (
). When you select the 3D Rotate Camera tool, several other 3D tools become available in the options bar.
- In the options bar, choose Top from the View pop-up menu. You’re now viewing the top of the hat.
)
Options in the View menu determine the angle from which you see the object.
- In the Tools panel, select the 3D Object Rotate tool (
).
- Click in the center of the hat and drag outward, in a circle, around the edge of the composition. Drag diagonally, as well, to get a feel for how the 3D Object Rotate tool moves the object on the x and y axes.
- Select the 3D Object Roll tool (
) in the options bar. Drag the hat. Notice that you can flip the hat around, but you’re constrained to movement on a single
axis.
- Select the 3D Object Pan tool (
) in the options bar. Drag the hat from side to side, up, or down. With the 3D Object Pan tool, you can move the object on
the plane, but you can’t rotate it.
- Select the 3D Object Scale tool (
) in the options bar. Click just above the hat, and drag toward the center of the hat until the X, Y, and Z values in the
options bar are each 0.75. The hat is 75% of its original size.
)
)
)
You’ve used several tools to manipulate the hat. Now, you’ll enter values to position the hat precisely.
- Select the 3D Object Rotate tool () in the options bar. Then, in the Orientation area of the options bar, enter 11 for X, 45 for Y, and -37 for Z.
)
You can use the 3D tools to reposition and rotate a 3D object manually, or, if you know where you want the object to be, select the 3D Object Rotate tool () and type values in the options bar.
- Choose File > Save As. Navigate to the Lesson12 folder, and save the file as 12Working.psd. Click OK if the Photoshop Format Options dialog box appears.