The program is intended for 2D to 3D conversion. The program converts a multilayered PSD file to several stereo viewpoints, that are used for lenticular image creating. Take any layered Photoshop file to generate any number of views. Besides every layer can contain a depth map in layer mask:
Layers and depth maps in layer mask (layer mask can be absent)
We set the parallaxes (or shifts) for every layer, and the degree of depth map warping also (if depth map exists). Layer without depth map is shifted, layer with depth map is shifted and warped.
PSD files are prepared in Adobe Photoshop, or Adobe Photoshop Elements, or Adobe Image Ready, where the layers are cut-out and the depth maps are drawn. PSD 3D Converter program process the ready PSD file to produce a 3D sequential series of images. Input image is PSD file in Greyscale, RGB, CMYK colour mode, output images - TIFF files in colour mode of input image, exept RGB. You can choose RGBA (RGB Alpha channel) option, and programm generates RGBA instead RGB (RGB with alpha channel, alpha channel is transparent). Besides you can save lenticular views as multilayered PSD file.
PSD 3D Converter is stand-alone program, does not require Photoshop installation.
Windows NT4/2000/XP/Vista/7.
2 GB RAM for the 32-bit version of the program, 4 GB RAM for the 64-bit version of the program.
For the 32-bit version of the program the PSD file size limitation is 150-200 MB, for the 64-bit version of the program the image size PSD file limitation is 350-400 MB.
Program Interface
Load a PSD file in Greyscale, RGB or CMYK colour mode.
Load file... - to load PSD file.
Unload - to unload PSD file.
Reload - to reload PSD file and settings.
At loading the table is filled:
At unchecked Preview we use the slide bar to list the PSD layers, at checked Preview we use the slide bar to list the 3D frames. You can see Show image button - it's for the layer image show, Show depth - it's to see the depth map (if the depth map is absent, you can see nothing). It work only at unchecked Preview button. Check Preview and generate the views in miniature.
Menu File contains the standart commands:
Save/Load settings (without PSD file path) saves/loads all the settings wihout PSD file. The settings are loded after PSD file loading. At first you load PSD file, then you load the necessary settings.
Project file has .p3d extensin. Settings file has .sp3d extension.
Menu Settings contains the three groups of settings:
Settings for saving:
Save as multilayered PSD is to save the views as multilayered PSD file.
Preview settings:
Anaglyph preview can only be viewed in 3D using 3D red/cyan glasses! Frame shift for anaglyph show determines the shift between frames what combine into stereo pairs. For example, Frame shift = 3 and stereo pairs are first and fourth frames, second and fifth frames etc.
Grid is used for some measuring.
Crop settings:
Cropping lines are to crop image. Shift the crop lines to remove the empty edges. We can fixed the proportion of crop lines. Choose Settings -> Crop settings, check-on Crop proportionally and enter the image propotion:
Uncheck and check the Preview to see the changing.
100% shift in pixels is absolut parallax (or shift)/ Default value is 1/6 of width of image in pixels. Enlarge this value to enlarge the all shifts and depth map warping.
Number of veiws is number of 3D frames. This number depends on print resolution and lenticular pitch:
(Number of veiws) = 2*(Print resolution, dpi) / (Lenticular pitch, lpi)
Shooting mode: (parallel, convergence) is method of 3D shooting. Parallel 3D shooting:
or shooting with camera rotation (convergence 3D shooting):
At convergence 3D shooting the parallel lines come together at infinity. For example, convergence 3D frames of Strasburg Cathedral Door:
Convergense 3D shooting requires two parameters. Click Option...:
This dialogue contain the figures. It's clear, what is the Field of viewing:
Look at three samples to see, that means the Field of viewing for the picture:
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Field of viewing = 0 degrees, or linear perspective (angle of rotation = 80 degrees) |
Field of viewing = 30 degrees (angle of rotation = 30 degrees) |
Field of viewing = 90 degrees, or wide-angle perspective (angle of rotation = 30 degrees) |
Set all parameters and click Preview to see the small 3D frame set. Move the slide bar to see all frames. Choose Settings -> Preview settins -> Anaglyph preview to see the anaglyph images with Red-Cyan 3D glasses (Red is for left eye). So, we can test the 3D effect.
Click Generate to make the final 3D frame set. Enter the name of sequence (name01.tif, name02.tif, name03.tif ...).
At first, we create the layered PSD file and depth maps. The main work of 3D designer in Photoshop - cut the fragments out one or several photos, combine to layered PSD file, draw the depth map for some layers. Upper layer contains the nearest fragment, the background - remotest.
All layers must be bitmapped. For the vector text - Layer->Rasterize->Type. For the transparency layer mask - Apply (select the layer mask, click the right mouse button and choose Apply Layer Mask) (We use the layer mask as depth map, but transparency map). For layer style - Create layer (select the layer filter, click the right mouse button and choose Create layer). Rasterize all layers.
We can use the cut-out layers to create the 3D frame set. But better to draw the depth maps and create the more natural and various 3D effects. How draw the depth maps? Here you can find some methods of depth map making:
It's very simple. Some images are depth maps for itself. Only desaturate it, sometimes make a inversion.
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Make a layer mask |
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Pait it with black colour |
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Layer mask is transparency mask in Photoshop. Click the right mouse button and choose Desable Layer Mask. |
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Select the butterfly wing using, for example, Lasso Tool. Draw attention, the selection is some more the wing size. Don't select precisely to the wing form, otherwise the edge can be blured and disfigured (especial with anti-aliasing option for selection). |
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Attention, attention, attention!!! Click Alt and the layer mask simultaneously to edit the layer mask. Don't forget - Alt key! |
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So, paint the wing using the Gradient Tool. Draw attention, Gradient Tool has a different form, we can use it for different depth map drawing. In this case, we use only linear gradient. |
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Repeat for the left wing. Depth map is ready! |
We use a butterfly as a sample. Of course, other images require other methods of depth map drawing. Improvise!
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Make the layer mask. Select the invisible area with Magic Wand Tool. |
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Click Alt and the layer mask simultaneously to edit the layer mask. Don't forget - Alt key! Paint the area with black colour. |
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Deselect. |
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So, we choose the Gaussian Blur filter. |
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Choose the radius of bluring. And mask is ready! |
It's simple, very, very simple and suitable for many objects with different form. For concave form, make the inversion.
Depth map drawing for is not very easy for complicated objects. It require some experience and skill. One way is selection of deep layer, greyscale painting and bluring with Gaussian Blur filter:
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Select the fragments with different deeps, make a new layers, paint the grey colours. Background is black, next layer is dark grey, next layers are lighter, than previous layer. Upper layer is white. |
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Now use the Gaussian Blur filter. Finally, flatten all layers to single layer, copy and paste into a layer mask. |
The program has full automatically processing from the PSD file to the interlaced image print.
Attention! Number of views must be equal for PSD 3D Converter and PhotoProjector programs.
Command line looks like: [path name to the PSD 3D Converter program] [path name to the PSD file],[path name to the PSD 3D Converter settings file],[path name to the frame set basename]
For example:
"C:\Program Files\Stereosoft\PSD 3D Converter\P3Dconverter.exe" "D:\Users\Jane\Documents\pushka.psd","D:\Users\Jane\Documents\pushka.sp3d","D:\Users\Jane\Documents\frame"
or
"C:\Program Files\Stereosoft\PSD 3D Converter\P3Dconverter.exe" "D:\Users\Jane\Documents\pushka.psd","D:\Users\Jane\Documents\pushka.sp3d",frame
Attention! Photoprojector must be installed to C:\Program Files\Stereosoft\
Photoprojector project file must be named PhotoPro.ini and located in the same folder as PSD 3D Converter project file.
Attention! Set the best quality settings in your printer driver as default settings. Run Devices and Printers, select the printer, choose from the contest menu (right button mouse click) Printing preferences, set the best quality printing settings and click the button Apply. Your settings will be default.
Of course, select Set as default printer from the contest menu (right button mouse click for the printer icon).
If the target image is black, source files are not in correct format or colour mode (perhaps in Indexed Colour).
If you can not load the PSD file, look at attentively to the colour mode (Image->Mode in Photoshop menu). Image must be in Greyscale, RGB, CMYK with 8 Bits/Channels.