I am looking to upgrade my photoshop 7 to CS3. I am looking at the extended version for the Obj import but not sure if it is worth the money. What want to do is pant a texture on a morphed figure and export the texture back into Poser. Can CS3 do that?

You don't paint directly on the figure like you would with Bodypaint, but you can edit the 2d texture and see the immediate results on the figure.

 - Noel   

noel, can you post a screencap of the texture-editing function in CS3E? I've asked elsewhere with no results.

here's some free tutorials on CS3 ext, there's a  two part tutorial on the new 3D layers (requires Quicktime to view):

http://www.digitaltutors.com/digital_tutors/tutorials.php?cat=ps

Rick

It's actually a fairly simple system.

It just opens the texture as a seperate image, when you are done you save the image and it retextures the obj file.

The videos mentioned above do a great job of showing it all off.

 - Noel

o.k., thx rick and noel. those videos explain it well IMVHO.

apparently, one of the ideas behind allowing viewing and manipulation of 3D files in cs3e is that it speeds up the workflow. I think the guy in the video (excellent work by the way) said something about not having to shut down photoshop and start up maya (or something to that effect) in order to see the changes in the texture on the model itself. however, assuming the guy made that video using standard techniques, and didn't cut out frames during video edit, the video shows the real-time effects of changing the texture, then viewing the change on the model. going with this assumption, I had photoshop open with a model's texture, and carrara open with the model in the texture room. I edited the texture in photoshop, saved it (a time-consuming step that is still required in cs3e), then switched to carrara (OS X dock). it took about 0.5 second longer to click on the dock, then click on the "reload texture" button in carrara, than it did for the guy in the video to switch to the 3d layer screen. but in either case, the result is the same. hence I think cs3e is an excellent app, but not certain the extra $$$ is worth it, if it only saves me 0.5 second in workflow.

I'm not sure what you mean by it being time consuming to save in Photoshop.  You hit ctrl-s and you've saved the texture.

But most of the CS3 model support, is for those using 3D elements in their document, not to replace a 3D application.

 - Noel   

what I meant was that the most time-intensive step in the process (other than editing the texture) is resaving the texture. it takes a second or two, depending on how large the file is. if they cut out the part where one hasta resave the texture to view the change in cs3e, that might make it sell better. but if they're pitching this to folks who have $$$$ to spare and already own maya, I reckon $999 is petty cash, even if they don't need this feature. perhaps the ones who will buy cs3e will be those who don't own maya or any other 3d app, but wish to use 3d models they purchase or download. personally, my main interest in cs3 is the ability to edit hdri files.

I've been experimenting with CS3 Extended.  It is unfortunate that it can't (especially considering the high price tag) generate UV maps on models.  I think it will be very useful for editing textures and seeing immediately how it looks on your model.  For instance say you wanted to add a tattoo to a body texture and exported your model to PS CS3, you can open the texture layer,  add the tattoo, save it to update your model and get immediate feedback.  Unlike in the past when I had to import the map in Photoshop, guess how it would look export it, load it into my 3D application, retexture the model and if it didn't look right repeat the process all over again.  When you get something you like you can export the texture map by itself and then reload it into your application.  Since this will only work with mapped models I was wondering it I could load a texture map template to my model as a texture and then start from scratch--I'll have to see.

I think that where CS3 Extended will shine is in the ability to composit 3D models into pictures, I think it's rendering and lighting tools too limited to do portrait work, but will suffice for many things--like adding props and models to photos and better integrate them into a picture.  I do find it rather annoying that rendered objects in CS3 Extended don't cast shadows, but I can add shadows with Alien Skin Eye Candy.

You can cast shadows in CS3 without any additional plugins.

You just use the layer styles and use the drop shadow choice.

Works great!

 - Noel

I'm having difficulty importing obj's into cs3 extended.

I export the obj, but cs3 doesn't have the texture with it.

I'm using Maya complete 4.5 and exporting using the default settings.

Is this a 4.5 specific problem?

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

You need to also have a material file (mtl) for an OBJ file to import correctly with textures.

I don't have Maya, so I don't know how you would do that within Maya.

 - Noel

Unfortunately I too have been having trouble with .obj files not importing properly into PS CS3 Extneded.  I've been doing the video training onf Lynda.com and it was revealed that Photoshop is fussy about textures, some don't import properly--and as mentioned above your texture files must be in the same folder that the .obj file is for Photoshop to find them.  I've had the greatest successs importing u3d files, which is like Abode's native 3D format that's used by Arcrobat.  Daz Studio at www.daz3d.com is free and it can export u3d files.  So a work around for you may be to import your .obj models into Daz Studio then export them in u3d.  Sounds like a lot of work I know, but Daz Studio is fun and comes with some nice free content, plus they have free give-away models every week.  If you don't want to do that you might want to try exporting in 3ds format, or another format that Photoshop is supposed to support.

You would still need to re-attach the textures after importing them to DAZ Studio, for the textures to export to U3D format.

I would think it would be easier to find a way to do the obj export plus the material file than go through so many steps.

 - Noel

NomiGraphics, Tomsde

Thanks for the help.

Exporting from DAZ Studio works. It's kind of a round about way, but it does the job.

My company is planning to upgrade to the newest version of Maya within the next few months. It may work better with the current version.

Anyway, thanks again.

-Barry

I'm hoping that future service releases for Extended address the straggling 3D issues.  The fact that scaling and transforming the 3D model will degrade your texture maps is unacceptable to me as you can transform and scale in any 3D app without affecting texture quality.  Even the free Daz Studio doesn't do that.   I have high expectations for future improvements.

I'm not sure what you mean it degrades your texture map.

I've done extensive resizing without any issues.  You just have to give Photoshop time to recalculate the texture map.

 - Noel   

Well if you move your model around a lot then render it will get very ugly and pixelated, according to the Lynda.com video, that is because Photoshop is destructively resizing the map interactively.  I've seen it myself when I did a lot of transforms on a model, it won't be pretty for close ups--trast me on this one.  I think that moving the camera, rather than the models can accomplish similar results without the degradation problem. 

I've done just what you speak of, without any form of issues.

I move the model, resize the models, rotate the models.  Not a single problem on the textures.

There is a brief pause, as it updates things, are you sure you're not confusing the update with a permanent situation?  Or are you just going off someone elses video?

 - Noel

I've experienced it myself, and the video confirmed it.  However, if you're not having issues that's great!  The original resolution of the map could also have an impact, if you are using a very hi res map it can take more adustments.  Individual users will have to decide for themselves, I'm just speaking from my personal experience and what the graphic designer on Lynda.com experience was.   The import size may also play a role, I was using the default 1024 x 1024 settings.   As we all know, there are no absolutes in the computer world--experiences may varry.  Those of you experimenting may wish to also comment on your observations.

Generally speaking I was expecting more from Extended, but this is Adobe's first 3D forray--I'm sure bigger and better things will come!  This is my own fault, I should have tried the demo before buying.  I am sure I can still do some very exciting and intersting things I couldn't do with Photoshop before.  All in all CS3 is very worthy upgrade, I love the new tools and interface!  I will say this, in terms of stability and performance I've never had a better upgrade experience than with Adobe's products. 

I dunno - I'm not necessarily thinking of CS3E as any foray into 3D. YES, you can import a few different format models (with what sounds like mixed results) but it's not really a 3D space - it's simulated, like in After Effects. This is also why it won't cast shadows - specifically related to the shapes and contours of the objects the shadows fall on. It's the lighting from the 3D app that just hits what you can see on the model.

It's just an approximation so that you can texture your model, then export it's new texture back out to the 3D app you're using - not to replace the 3D app at ALL. More like a half-replacement for BodyPaint - I say "half" because you can't paint directly on the model, which would make it absolutely indespensable!

Part of the price tag also reflects what you can do with video - it's the ultimate rotoscoping tool! Wanna do hand-drawn animation - it's got onion-skinning. Wanna do complex wire removal - not only can you use the onion skinning to make sure your cloning matches up, but you can clone from frame to frame. You have ALL the tools and adjustments available in PS that are NOT available in AE - and they can all be animated to match your footage - this is gonna be incredible for the video and film industry!
-Lew ;-)

This is a Stupid Photographer Question (which can be taken two ways, of course). I am trying to import some .obj files into CS3 Extended, and it's not working. These are files a client has given us, and came from Maya, tho' I'm not sure which app or version. When I bring them in to Photoshop, the best I can see is a pattern of dots, if I chose Render Mode-Vertices. Otherwise, I can't see anything at all. I mean absolutely nada. This happens if I Open the obj files, or if I do a New Layer from 3D File. At first I thought it might be a video card issue, but I've tried to open the obj files now on two completely different systems (Mac Mini Intel and G5 iMac), both of which seem to comply with the system requirements listed by Adobe. My guess at this point is that something's not right with the way our client is exporting the files, but I have no idea what to tell them to do differently. I could send one of the files to someone here, if looking at them would shed any light on my problem. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated! Thanks in advance, Dan Clark

Does the OBJ have an actual "material" that is comprised of a jpeg or TIF, or is it a Maya Shader (which PS won't be able to read)?

Have them apply "some image" to it - whether it's fully UV mapped or not - and see if you can see it in PS. If you have ANY 3D app yourself, try to open it and give it an image-based texture - "save" the new OBJ and try opening again in PS.

And you didn't mention this, but is there a Layer that says it's a material - if I understood your above post, you only described that you can't see the actual model in the viewport. If there's a Material Layer, open it and fill with a color or pattern - "save" and see if it updates as a surface to the model. It might very well be there - but if it doesn't have any material/texture on it that PS can read it will just be be invisible.

Good luck-
-Lew ;-)

Lew - These are all good questions, no doubt. I know Photoshop well, but am a complete novice to 3D. I don't even know what I don't know ;-) I'll forward this to our client, in case there's a better way for them to export the files they're going to give us. I'm assuming your last paragraph was describing options in the 3D part of Photoshop, so I will go try your suggestions. Are you saying that if someone gave me just a wireframe model, it wouldn't be visible in Photoshop? Thanks, Dan

The only format I've not had a problem with is the U3D format, Adobe's native 3D format.  The imports from Poser have been terrible, and when I've tried other .objs from other programs I've not had much luck either.  You might want to download the free Daz Studio, which I believe allows you to import objs and then try exporting in U3D. 

There's a new update for Photoshop, perhaps that will help.

Are you saying that if someone gave me just a wireframe model, it wouldn't be visible in Photoshop?

Yes, if your model doesn't have an image based texture (instead of a shader - which is different code from 3D program to 3D program), then what you have is a theoretical shape in 3D space - it has no "skin" to see what that shape is.

But, when you get it in PS, if there is the layer that is for the material, double-click it and see if it comes up, just fill it with a color, "save" and see if your model now has "skin".

@Tomsde - did your Poser models have bitmap textures, or shaders for skin, eyes, etc.?
Good luck-
-Lew ;-)