Import jpeg to DAZ,convert jpeg to 3D?
Sorry if this is a repeat. I tried to post these questions last night, but don't see my message anywhere.
Right now, I mostly work with 2D images of animals to make stencils and silhouettes. I am delighted with the way DAZ can easily change a figure, then render and save it as a jpeg that I can take back to Photoshop.
I have no prior experience with 3D modeling programs.
DAZ has several good animal bundles, but not all that I need! Is there a "simple" way to import my 2D drawing into DAZ (or something like Hexagon) to transform it to a 3D image that I can tweak in DAZ, then bring back to Photoshop?
I tried to import a jpeg to DAZ, but it didn't seem possible. I understand that Hexagon would show me how to create boxy shapes, but not sure what's involved in creating curves or whatever I'd need for an animal shape.
If none of this is relatively easy, can you point me to other sources of 3D "clipart" that I could use in DAZ.
I'm so new to all of this that I don't know the terminology for some of it. I've come across references to silhouettes, brushes, models...
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There is no program that I know of, that can turn a 2D image into a 3D mesh, it would be wonderful. There are some that claim to do that, and they may have some limited success.
DAZ Studio can import 3D mesh objects, add textures, pose etc., and then produce a 2D image of that object. You can import JPG images into Hexagon as a background, or put it on a plane to help with the modelling process, but there is no automatic way to turn it into a 3D model, you will have to do the modelling yourself.
I am not sure what you mean by '3D clipart'. There are lots of free 3D models available on ShareCG, that work with both DAZ Studio and Poser, and also Adam Thwaites produces free animal models every few weeks, you could try his site as well
http://www.most-digital-creations.com/freestuff.htm
To accomplish what you desire and I am answering based on my knowledge and there may be others out there that may have more to offer, but from what I know as a zBrush owner... You can take your 2D image and bring it into zBrush and use Shadowbox. You create a front image, side imge and a top image of your 2D image placing each side inside Shadowbox, then you begin to sculpt a 3D figure using your image as a guide. There is also a way to do it without using Shadowbox where you your front, side and top images as reference but you have to go back and forth between your images and your sculpt but it can be done.
Another method is to use Autodesk 123D catch application which can scan a photo and auto create a 3D obj file from it. However to do this you will need to take between 20 and 50 photos of the object of interest by moving around the object. As you move around the object by taking a step, snap a picture, take another step, snap a picture , take another step snap a picture and after you have move 360 degrees orbing the object you take additional pictures like view from above or below. Then you sumbit all your photos in to autodesk 123D catch it processes, creates an obj and it even creates a texture too. Once you have your obj file you can import it into zBrush or Hexagon and make changes as needed.
Each method requires work and I don't know of any easier method at this current time.
One option I've seen in various sets and scenes is to use a model plane and apply the image plus a transmap to it. Trees, bushes, items that do not require anything but a one angle view for the most part can be added to scenes this way. But watch the shadows!
The sample I have handy is this one. The transmap is not solid black hence the smokey glass look which is what this is supposed to be. For a clear look, one would use solid black.
Thanks for the suggestions and sources!
It's incredibly helpful to have directions for safe sites. When I surf the net for images and info I always wonder if I'm going to trip over a land mine. One of DAZ's tutorials also clued me into GIMP. Without a recommendation like that, I would have been afraid to download it. Eventually, I hope to replace my old version of Adobe with it. I poured lots of money into Adobe when I first bought it and am irritated that there isn't any upgrade path. I refuse to buy into their membership program!
Thanks again.
Any other suggestions gratefully received!
Hi
What sort of images do you produce out of photoshop?
I'm not clear how you use the 3D in your work.
My idea of stencils and silhouettes is flat, black and white! LOL
GIMP users may hate me but, IMHO Paint Shop Pro would be a better tool than GIMP. $41 on Amazon. And I totally agree with you on Adobe's new subscription plan.
To respond to several comments:
1- I'm not married to the idea of GIMP. It's just the first alternative I came up with. Will be glad to look at IMHO Paint Shop. $41 is not bad at all.
2-My final output IS simple 2D stuff. DAZ probably seems over the top for what I do, but it was free and you can't beat it's options for image manipulation. In the past, I've often had a good photo or piece of clip art, but needed to make some changes to make it workable as a stencil. Sometimes the necessary changes are difficult to make. But if I have an appropriate 3D model in DAZ a simple rotation of the image or slight shifting or morphing of a body part will make all the difference! Then I can save it as a jpg and take it back to Adobe (or whatever).
3-When I asked about sources for 3D clip art I probably should have said 3D models, but I also have a need for regular 2D clip art.
4-I downloaded some "props" from Adam Thwaite, but don't understand the instructions about how to get them into DAZ. Will search the forum. This must have been covered already!
Inside the ZIP file for most of Adam's stuff, there is a folder called 'Runtime'
All you need to do, is drag and drop that folder into your DAZ library (My DAZ 3D Library), and it should merge (assuming you are using Windows of some kind)
You will find the items in the Content Library pane, under Poser Formats. This month's freebie is a prop, so you will find it in the Props folder.
Getting Adam's things to show up in the content library was more complicated than I expected.
I followed the procedure as described, but the props did not show up in the content library tree until I:
a) clicked on the pp2 file and told it what program should open that type of file (DAZ, of course)
b)clicked the image again to actually open it in DAZ for the first time.
After that, it showed up in the drop down list.
I'm glad I figured this out, but I'm deleting most of the prop downloads, because they aren't the quality I was hoping for.
If you merged the runtime folder in the main DAZ Studio library folder, it should appear in DAZ Studio the next time you run it.
If you had DAZ Studio open at the time, then you would need to have right clicked on the Poser Formats label, and selected 'Refresh'. It is not a good idea to install content with DAZ studio open, particularly while using the DAZ Install Manager (DIM).
Two quick comments on this point:
First, make sure that you are actually using the correct materials for your object. For example, some objects might load with a basic texture you would never use, and it is expected that you would then apply one of several nice materials to it. Basic human figures and some of the animals are like this, and might look like a plastic doll or a chocolate Easter candy before you get photo-realistic textures applied to them. (see screenshot with V3 default texture and with an actual texture you might use. both are still only in the viewport, not rendered yet.) Also, your viewport is intended as a quick preview and doesn't represent exactly what you will see in a final render, plus the default lighting may not do the objects justice. Even knowing all this, I had some set that I thought was horrible at one point for years before I realized that I had somehow never found the good materials that came with it.
That said, there are definitely lower quality objects available. However, don't immediately dismiss them. I thought the same thing, but finally realized the value of lower quality appearance objects way off in the distance for background filler, where they are so small you can't see the issues. (You might not be using DAZ Studio that way at the moment, but perhaps you might decide to in the future.) Furthermore, extremely simple objects MIGHT use less resources, and thus allow you to add more items to the scene, or work or render faster, which would actually make them more valuable in certain situations when the higher quality isn't needed. I have a lot of things that I downloaded long ago, said "ick" and deleted, and now I'm downloading them again if and when I find them. :-) I'm starting to mark these items in my content library so I can tell at a glance before even loading them if they are low resolution or not.
Good point about future use. You never know.
One small problem with instructions: they often assume that I know more than I do. For example, the first, goofiest mistake I made while trying to load new props from Adam- I thought I was supposed to somehow drop the item directly into the opened DAZ program, into the content library tree!
How do you mark the low res items? Nice idea.
You can do it whatever way works for you. Personally I'm just renaming the subcategory containing the item to include the phrase "LOW RES". I'm not sure how well that's going to work yet, since it obviously makes the name longer and harder to see. You might want a different system. This works for me because I have already manually created a subcategory for each product; if you have lots of things combined together in the same category it might not make sense.
To rename a subcategory, right-click on it and select "Rename" from the context menu.
There is a Program that sort of can create a mesh from a image file. It has a learning curve, it is not easy or fast to work with and the finished mesh will need to be cleaned up, UV'ed properly and then Rigged. But it only took me a week to figure it out. I do not use it anymore but I do own it. Let me hunt you a link to it. Here you go...
http://www.archipelis.com/home.php?
Hi I have an older version of Photoshop and it will not install on Windows 8.1. I use my old time favorite Paint Shop Pro which does everything I could do in Photoshop
What version of Photoshop do you have that it don't work on Win8. Have you checked adobe's forums to see if anyone else had the problem and what the fix was. The may be an update to allow it.
Have you tried running the installer in compatibility mode? I never upgraded from Win7, but I've heard one of the major plus points about Win8 is its ability to run older programs made for earlier Windows versions (e.g. Win95, XP).
That being said, Photoshop is pretty high on the list of programs known to be extremely fussy about the system they'll run on; you might just be out of luck, but it's worth a try.