Transforming objects in three dimensions

Transforming objects in three dimensions

The 3D Transform filter lets you manipulate a flat two-dimensional image as if it were a solid three-dimensional object. Take for example a perspective photograph of a cereal box. You specify the corners of the box using a wire frame and you can then manipulate the box as if it were a three-dimensional object. You can reposition the box turn or rotate it shrink or enlarge it and change its field of view.

Transforming and manipulating objects

You can transform a two-dimensional object into a cube sphere or cylinder and manip- ulate it using wire frames based on that shape Cylinders can include anything from simple objects such as a can of soup to shapes whose sides are lathed such as a bottle or a lamp. You can create and manipulate any grouping of cubes spheres and cylinders in the same image For example you can create and rotate a box two balls and a bottle together in

the same image.

To add a wire frame:

Choose Filter > Render > 3D Transform.

Select one of these tools in the dialog box:

Cube to map the image (such as a file cabinet) to a cubic surface.

Sphere to map the image (such as a globe or ball) to a spherical surface.

Cylinder to map the image (such as a can or bottle) to a cylindrical surface.

Drag to create a cubic cylindrical or spherical wire frame over the image preview. Note: The anchor points should line up with the corners of the box or the top and bottom of the sphere or cylinder you want to manipulate.

To move or reshape the wire frame:

Select the selection tool or direct selection tool in the 3D Transform dialog box.

Do either of the following:

Drag an edge of the wire frame to move the entire frame.

With the direct selection tool drag an anchor point on the wire frame to move that anchor point.

Note: The wire frame turns red if you try to make a wire frame that would be impossible to re-create in three dimensions.

If you are creating a complex cylinder do any of the following:

To add an anchor point to a cylinder select the add anchor point tool in the dialog box and click the right side of the wire frame For example you can add an anchor point to more closely fit the cylindrical wire frame to a picture of a bottle.

To change an added anchor point from a smooth anchor point to a corner anchor point and vice versa select the convert anchor point tool , and click the point A smooth anchor point creates a gentle curve when you adjust it a corner anchor point creates a sharp corner.

To delete an added anchor point select the delete anchor point tool , and click the point.

For Field of View enter a value between 1 and 130 Alternatively drag the slider to the left to increase the apparent field of view right to decrease it. This can make the wire frame fit the image better If you know the field of view angle used to photograph the image you can enter it here.

To delete a wire frame:

Select the selection tool in the 3D Transform dialog box.

Select the wire frame and press Backspace ( Windows) or Delete (Mac OS).

To manipulate the object in three dimensions:

Do any of the following in the 3D Transform dialog box:

To move the object click the pan camera tool in the dialog box and drag the object.

To rotate the object in any direction click the trackball tool , and drag the object.

For Dolly Camera enter a value between 0 and 99 Alternatively drag the slider to the left to magnify the transformed object right to shrink it. This has the same effect as if you were dollying or moving the camera further from or closer to the image.

For Field of View enter a value between 1 and 130 or drag the slider to the left to increase the apparent field of view right to decrease it.

The 3D Transform dialog box previews only the active layer As you manipulate an object in three dimensions you can align it with the contents of underlying layers.

To align an object with an underlying layer:

Duplicate the layer with which you want to align (See Working with layered images"

on section 287

Within the existing stacking order place this duplicate layer directly under the layer you are transforming.

Merge the layer to be transformed with the duplicated layer.

With the Display Background option enabled in the 3D Transform options manipulate the object on the layer.

When the layer is aligned disable the Display Background option and click OK.

Modifying the preview image

Use the zoom and hand tools in the 3D Transform dialog box to change your preview of an image. These actions do not modify the transformation itself only your view of it.

To magnify or shrink the preview image:

Select the zoom tool in the 3D Transform dialog box.

2 Click the image to zoom in or Alt-click ( Windows) or Option-click (Mac OS) to zoom out.

To move the view of the preview image:

Select the hand tool in the 3D Transform dialog box and drag the preview image. This works only if you are zoomed in on the image.

Setting 3D rendering options

You can set the resolution and anti-aliasing of rendered images and specify whether to show the background from the original image in the 3D preview.

To set 3D rendering options:

Click Options in the 3D Transform dialog box.

Do any of the following:

For Resolution choose the quality of the rendered image. The setting has little effect on the image quality of cubes but will produce smoother curved surfaces in cylinders and spheres.

For Anti-aliasing choose the level of anti-aliasing to apply to the rendered image.

Select Display Background to include the portions of the original image outside of the wire frame in the preview and with the rendered image. Turn this option off to separate the transformed object from the original background.