3 Replies Latest reply: Nov 8, 2011 7:55 AM by dcacrobat RSS

    Photoshop Image prep for a 3-D Graphics App

    dcacrobat Community Member

      The Issue:

       

      Must prepare images to be imported into another graphics application that will render 3 dimension objects.  There is a video tutorial at a free website www.digital tutors.com and has the complete tutorial video

       

      Have a front and side view of a subway car and must manipulate them so that their heights are identical . They must match up the  snap-to feature as well.  The front and side views must each have their own layers.

       

      I am a novice and although I understand the basics of layers I do not have a full grasp of the operations.  I would first ask the following:

       

      The frontal image was brought into a layer automatically named “background”  for this I would ask if changing the name to front would alter the features available to this layer

       

      The 'ruler' that can be moved to the animated character and changes color upon contact.  I could not duplicate the same.  Perhaps this is a feature of a subsequent version.  Would like to know what that color change signifies.

       

       

      Attached please find the link to digital tutors segment where the front and side image of an animation character are shown on a canvas [the individual canvases apparently must be of the same dimensions from inception. It is uploaded to a Microsoft Windows Live site:

       

      https://skydrive.live.com/?sc=photos&cid=63220807a7f4accb#cid=63220807A7F4ACCB&id=63220807 A7F4ACCB%214044&sc=photos

       

      This URL was not accepted by the insert option of this post.  Need to duplicate each of the steps and seek guidance from

       

      In particular,  need to match the front and side view of of the subway car [found in link above]  in height, and snap-to center.  Much thanks as I await a reply.

        • 1. Re: Photoshop Image prep for a 3-D Graphics App
          Noel Carboni Community Member

          I can answer one of your questions:

           

          dcacrobat wrote:

           


          The frontal image was brought into a layer automatically named “background”  for this I would ask if changing the name to front would alter the features available to this layer

           

          The Background is not a fully functional layer, so the short answer is yes, double clicking Background and making it into a layer with a name of your choosing will enable all the features you can have on a layer.  Photoshop will then offer you the same features you'll get with subsequent layers, such as transparency and masking.  The only downside I've run into using a layer vs. background is that when you resize the canvas you can get some transparency "leakage" into pixels around the very edge of a layer, whereas with the background they remain solid.

           

          When you say "heights are identical", are you talking about pixel counts?

           

          I'm not really interested in seeking out and going through some tutorial to try to figure out what it is you're doing, specifically, but if you're trying to match image sizes so that they have the same pixel count in multiple images by resampling pixels, either manipulating them as separate documents or placing or pasting one over the other followed by an Edit - Transform operation to change the size of a particular layer (or selected part of one) are simple ways to do it.  Going as far as using Smart Objects may end up being helpful, but perhaps we can try to walk before running...  You really need to nail down your requirements. 

           

          As far as specific questions about ruler tools, et. al.,  do some screen grabs and point out the things you're seeing.  That will help people know what it is you're doing and they can then comment about what you're seeing and should expect to see.

           

          There are a lot of folks around here more knowledgeable about 3D than I am.  I hope they'll jump in and help you with the specifics.

           

          -Noel

          • 2. Re: Photoshop Image prep for a 3-D Graphics App
            Silkrooster Community Member

            Also specify which 3d app your using, you never know when someone here may be familair with that app and can give advice in that reguard. For example, most 3d apps are capable of scaling the images within the app.

            • 3. Re: Photoshop Image prep for a 3-D Graphics App
              dcacrobat Community Member

              Much thanks for the tmely reply.  The 3-D app I refer to is Softimage, An Autodesk project.  Although  knowledge of SoftImage is not required for the photoshop part it might be nice to connect with someone who can continue guidance through the next segment of the project.