Photoshop is one of the popular graphics and image processing software, and 3ds Max is a famous master of three-dimensional animation. Using Photoshop, you can not only create or synthesize very beautiful images and provide rich picture materials for the production of three-dimensional animations, but you can also use its various functions to serve 3DS MAX, bringing great convenience to your creation. Of course, if you render the 3D model that has been created in 3DS MAX and use Photoshop to reprocess and polish the rendering results, your work will produce unexpected artistic effects.
Photoshop and 3DS MAX modeling
3DS MAX has very flexible and diverse modeling functions: it can not only edit and modify various existing 3D models, but also use 2D graphics to stretch, rotate, loft and other editing methods to create a variety of 3D models.
Sometimes simple two-dimensional shapes can be realized with the help of ready-made two-dimensional shapes in a certain window of 3DS MAX or directly by manual drawing. However, for more complex shapes (such as the shape of a map), the irregular curves are relatively There are many, and the requirements for the proportion of the shape are high. If you use Photoshop to accurately select the corresponding image, output the vector path, and then return to 3DS MAX to input and use it, it will be much simpler.
1. Accurately select map edges in Photoshop
To accurately select or create irregular curves in Photoshop, paths are usually used. Path is a means of selecting image areas through vector drawing. It usually consists of nodes and direction lines. By adjusting and modifying nodes and direction lines, the purpose of accurately selecting and drawing irregular graphics is achieved.
1) Create and edit paths in Photoshop
Convert the selection into a path: Open an image containing a map in Photoshop, and use selection tools such as "Magnetic Lasso" or "Magic Wand" to select the outline frame of the China map according to the specific conditions of the image. Then, right-click on the selection and select the "Create Working Path" command to convert the selection into a path. Then you can select the "Direct Selection Tool" in the toolbar to adjust and modify the nodes and direction lines on the path. until satisfied.
Photoshop software also provides vector drawing tools for you to create various paths, mainly including:
A. Pen tool:
It is the most basic vector painting tool in Photoshop, including the "Pen Tool" and the "Free Pen Tool", through which you can draw various straight paths and curved paths in Photoshop. After the path is established, you can also use the "Add Anchor Point Tool" and "Delete Anchor Point Tool" to add or delete nodes.
B. Polygon tool:
Photoshop 6.0 also adds the "Polygon Tool" vector construction tool. The Polygon Tool includes "rectangle, rounded rectangle, ellipse, polygon, straight line, custom" and other vector construction tools. The provision of these tools makes vector graphics more Creating is more convenient.
2) Output path in Photoshop
Select the "File → Export → Output Path to Illustrator" command under the "File" menu of Photoshop. A file saving dialog box will appear. Set the saving path and file name, and save the file as "*.ai" (such as map.ai) file, its purpose is to be easily called in 3DS MAX.
2. Import the path file in 3DS MAX and create a three-dimensional shape
1) Import the path in 3DS MAX: Enter 3DS MAX, select the "File→Import" command, select "Adobe Illustrator" in "File Type", which is the file format with the suffix .ai, and call it up in the corresponding folder For the "*.ai" (such as map.ai) file created and saved earlier, you will find that the path created previously in Photoshop has become a two-dimensional graphic here.
2) Modify and process two-dimensional graphics: Since the imported graphics are editable spline curves, you can make full use of the powerful modification tools in 3DS MAX to perform more precise point and line processing, and you can modify the entire curve. , and you can modify the sub-objects (such as "points") until you are satisfied.
3) Generate three-dimensional shapes: After the two-dimensional graphics are generated and satisfied, it is quite easy to generate three-dimensional shapes. We can use the "Extrude" command to make the map have a certain thickness. If it is other signs, we can also apply the "Bevel" command to create a certain chamfer shape, or use commands such as rotation and lofting to complete more complex designs. Various three-dimensional shapes.
Photoshop and 3DS MAX textures
1. Use Photoshop to create background or material maps for 3DS MAX
When making 3D animations, we often have to use some related backgrounds or apply texture effects to various 3D models, and many ready-made pictures may not be what we need, or they may not be satisfactory enough. However, with Photoshop, a powerful image processing master, everything has become very easy. Didn't someone say: "Take away my Nikon and leave Photoshop"! We can make full use of "selection", "mask", Tools such as "Channels" and "Filters" are used to create beautiful pictures (even if we can't draw). Pictures processed or synthesized in Photoshop can generally be saved as files in *.bmp or *.tga formats.
In 3DS MAX, select the "Rendering→Environment" command under the rendering menu, click the "None" button under Background, and select Bitmap to use the background image previously processed in Photoshop as an environment map in 3DS MAX. If you are applying a texture effect to the model, you should select the corresponding "shader ball" in the material editor, and we all know that different textures can be assigned to different faces or different elements of the same three-dimensional model.
2. Use Photoshop to create animated textures for 3DS MAX
3DS MAX is a master of animation production. It can create a variety of shapes and give various animation effects such as movement, rotation, scaling, etc. However, sometimes some simple plane animations that need to be expressed in three-dimensional animations, such as radar electromagnetic wave radiation, etc., can also be completed using Photoshop.
Create a new picture in Photoshop of a suitable size (such as 300×400) with a black background. Use the tool to create a light yellow arc. Drag the arc to the new layer in the layer panel to copy several arcs ( and have corresponding layers). Go to Image Ready and use the different number of layers displayed in different frames to create animations. When satisfied, use the Save Optimization Result command under File to save the animation in GIF format. It can be easily converted to AVI format using a variety of tools and software.
After creating a model in 3DS MAX, enter the material editor, select a material ball, open the Maps panel at the bottom, click the "none" button on the right side of the "opaque material" box, then click "Bitmap", and select the front Once the animation file (AVI) has been created, the material is assigned to the model.
Reprocessing of works
If we use 3DS MAX to first create a three-dimensional model, render the picture from the required perspective, and then use Photoshop to polish it, we can quickly and easily create a satisfactory work. Using 3DS MAX, three-dimensional animation is usually produced, and the movement of the camera allows people to observe the work from different angles, and images of the same model in different directions can be rendered from different angles and distances. The creative process can be roughly divided into: making models, editing materials (backgrounds), arranging lights, setting up cameras and setting animation key frames, etc. Finally, you can select a frame or a certain range to output image files or animation files (of course, you should pay attention to the output image It should be in high-quality formats such as TGA and BMP. Do not use compression formats such as GIF and JPG in order to reduce the size of the image). In order to enhance the visibility of image files and make them truly meet their own needs (especially advertisements, architectural effects, decoration renderings, etc.), Photoshop is used to reprocess 3DS MAX works. Use Photoshop image processing software to process and modify the results rendered by 3DS MAX, which generally includes the following aspects:
1. Add scenery: Add people, animals, flowers, airplanes and other scenery to the scene to make the whole picture lively and more vacuum-like. At this time, it should be noted that the size, perspective point, light direction, and brightness of the new scenery added should be in harmony with the original work of 3DS MAX.
2. Text description: Enter some simple description text or labels at the appropriate location of the scene. Photoshop 6.0 adds various deformation effects to text, such as fan-shaped, arc-shaped, fisheye, flag and other deformation styles, and each style can achieve different effects by adjusting different parameters. In addition, you can convert the text layer into an image layer or add shadow, relief and other effects to it through selection, filters and other tools.
3. Overall effect: Use tools such as color adjustment, brightness adjustment, transformation, etc. to adjust the color, light and shade, direction, proportion, etc. of 3DS MAX works. In addition, you can use Photoshop's various built-in and external filters to apply halo, blur and other special effects to your works, thereby producing dazzling works of art.
Photoshop is a master of flat image processing, while 3DS MAX is a master of three-dimensional animation production. Each has its own characteristics and expertise. If we give full play to their respective strengths in the creative process and let the two complement each other's strengths, we will be able to create exquisite works of art.