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Curvy 3D: From Simple Drawing to 3D Object

Melissa ConwayMelissa Conway Posts: 590
edited December 1969 in The Commons

I made the crown in this image by “inflating” a 2D drawing in Curvy 3D. It was easy to do, but not easy to figure out HOW to do, so I thought I’d write down the steps in case anyone is interested. :)

In Photoshop (I use Elements), draw your design on a transparent background.
Go to the Effects panel (Fx) and click on the Styles tab.
In the “Select a Type” dropdown, choose “Inner Glows.”
You will see an orange/yellow button called “Fire.” Double-click to apply to your drawing.
In the Enhance menu, choose “Convert to Black and White.” In the dialog box, select a style (default Scenic Landscape is fine) and click OK.
In the Filter menu, choose “Filter,” “Blur,” “Gaussian Blur” and set the radius to about 3 pixels. Click OK.
Add a new layer behind your design, and using the Paint Bucket tool, fill with pure black.
Save your file as a bitmap.

In Curvy 3D, click on the Extras menu and choose “Inflate Image.”
In the dialog box, under Inflation Mode, choose “Auto.” Be sure the “Smooth” and “Mirror to create back faces” boxes are checked. Click “Image” and locate the .bmp file you created in PSE. Click OK.
The mesh that’s created is flat. To “bend” my crown to fit her forehead, I used the Soft Move tool.
Export as an .obj file.
Import into DAZ Studio, position/parent to your model. I used a metallic Iray shader.

Comments

  • Hermit CrabHermit Crab Posts: 874
    edited December 1969

    That's a very nice item you've created!

    Curvy 3d - another application I wondered about taking up. There are so many but it would have taken me ages to figure out how to make that Jewellery in the programs I already use - if I managed at all!

    Regards.

  • DiomedeDiomede Posts: 15,388
    edited December 1969

    Thank you for explaining the steps. I use a different program and this gives me an idea that might be worth trying in that. If it doesn't work there, might look into curvy3d.

  • DiomedeDiomede Posts: 15,388
    edited December 1969

    Oh, hey Marcus. I think we were typing at the same time.

    I was wondering if a similar PS Elements drawing method could be used to create the basic shapes to be used as a heightmap in Bryce or Carrara (at low resolution), then convert to a vertex object, and use soft-select to bend for the oval shape. Would have to adapt a little, but Melissa's tutorial seems like it could be a good start.

    What do you think?

  • Hermit CrabHermit Crab Posts: 874
    edited December 1969

    Hi Diomede64

    I've just seen your post.

    What you suggests sounds feasible as a starting point for the object. I think it would be hollow and 'backless'. Although in Hexagon (and in Carrara) you can make a symmetric duplicate and weld the halves together.

    Another possibility in Carrara could be the Spline Modeller. But the tiara is a very complex shape and would entail plotting many points.

    In the Carrara forum there was a recent post showing how to make a tyre (tire) and it linked to a youtube video. The technique there might be useable.

  • Melissa ConwayMelissa Conway Posts: 590
    edited December 1969

    Thanks Marcus and Diomede!

    Hope you figure out how to do what you need.

    M.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 40,063
    edited December 1969

    I have done simillar things with black and white drawings in carrara using displace in 3D view on a texture, exporting as obj then reimporting and deleting mesh from a side view in the vertex modeller after scaling up the y axis thickness, then zeroing the y axis scale, merging coplanar surfaces, adding thickness and triagulating polygons.

  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 40,063
    edited December 1969

    You could do it with the terrain editor too.
    Convert to other modeler vertex model.

  • Melissa ConwayMelissa Conway Posts: 590
    edited December 1969

    Good to know, thanks!

    I'm a huge fan of "work-arounds." ;)

    wendy♥catz said:
    I have done simillar things with black and white drawings in carrara using displace in 3D view on a texture, exporting as obj then reimporting and deleting mesh from a side view in the vertex modeller after scaling up the y axis thickness, then zeroing the y axis scale, merging coplanar surfaces, adding thickness and triagulating polygons.
  • WendyLuvsCatzWendyLuvsCatz Posts: 40,063
    edited December 1969

    Your crown looks great btw,
    I was mainly answering the carrara query as I used the method I outlined to copy a logo once.
    It is most likely a lot simpler to do it in curvy 3D though if one has it!

  • Melissa ConwayMelissa Conway Posts: 590
    edited December 1969

    Thanks, Wendy!

    Yeah, I figured you were replying to the other posts. ;) I'm a bit OCD and always feel compelled to respond when I'm the one who started the thread. %-P

    It really was simple to do in Curvy. Easy button!

    M.

    wendy♥catz said:
    Your crown looks great btw,
    I was mainly answering the carrara query as I used the method I outlined to copy a logo once.
    It is most likely a lot simpler to do it in curvy 3D though if one has it!
  • DiomedeDiomede Posts: 15,388
    edited December 1969

    Didn't mean to hijack the thread. The idea of using PS Elements to create the base shape to be used as a heightmap and then converted to a vertex object for completion could also work in a Bryce to Hexagon workflow. Jewelry is just one application of the concept. The point is that a workflow that goes (PS Elements drawing to greyscale heightmap to vertex object) might simplify beginning many types of very complex objects. I just thought Bryce and Carrara users might want to ponder a related approach.

    It looks like Curvy3D makes it even easier - which is very good. Thanks for pointing it out.

  • TSasha SmithTSasha Smith Posts: 27,253
    edited December 1969

    I think I have curvy so this could come in handy.

  • Melissa ConwayMelissa Conway Posts: 590
    edited December 1969

    You didn't hijack it! If I didn't have Curvy, I'd want to hear alternative ways of accomplishing this. :)

    I wish I could afford more than Elements. If I had Photoshop C6, I could create my own style/height map instead of jury-rigging the style I used.

    diomede64 said:
    Didn't mean to hijack the thread. The idea of using PS Elements to create the base shape to be used as a heightmap and then converted to a vertex object for completion could also work in a Bryce to Hexagon workflow. Jewelry is just one application of the concept. The point is that a workflow that goes (PS Elements drawing to greyscale heightmap to vertex object) might simplify beginning many types of very complex objects. I just thought Bryce and Carrara users might want to ponder a related approach.

    It looks like Curvy3D makes it even easier - which is very good. Thanks for pointing it out.

  • TSasha SmithTSasha Smith Posts: 27,253
    edited December 1969

    Melissa Conway said:
    You didn't hijack it! If I didn't have Curvy, I'd want to hear alternative ways of accomplishing this. :)

    I wish I could afford more than Elements. If I had Photoshop C6, I could create my own style/height map instead of jury-rigging the style I used.

    diomede64 said:
    Didn't mean to hijack the thread. The idea of using PS Elements to create the base shape to be used as a heightmap and then converted to a vertex object for completion could also work in a Bryce to Hexagon workflow. Jewelry is just one application of the concept. The point is that a workflow that goes (PS Elements drawing to greyscale heightmap to vertex object) might simplify beginning many types of very complex objects. I just thought Bryce and Carrara users might want to ponder a related approach.

    It looks like Curvy3D makes it even easier - which is very good. Thanks for pointing it out.

    So Photoshop CS6 can make style or height maps? I have that as I got it before Adobe went to the cloud version.

  • Melissa ConwayMelissa Conway Posts: 590
    edited December 1969

    Yep! I found a decent tutorial, too:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9j7cWf5Xt0M

    Kulay Wolf said:
    Melissa Conway said:
    You didn't hijack it! If I didn't have Curvy, I'd want to hear alternative ways of accomplishing this. :)

    I wish I could afford more than Elements. If I had Photoshop C6, I could create my own style/height map instead of jury-rigging the style I used.

    diomede64 said:
    Didn't mean to hijack the thread. The idea of using PS Elements to create the base shape to be used as a heightmap and then converted to a vertex object for completion could also work in a Bryce to Hexagon workflow. Jewelry is just one application of the concept. The point is that a workflow that goes (PS Elements drawing to greyscale heightmap to vertex object) might simplify beginning many types of very complex objects. I just thought Bryce and Carrara users might want to ponder a related approach.

    It looks like Curvy3D makes it even easier - which is very good. Thanks for pointing it out.

    So Photoshop CS6 can make style or height maps? I have that as I got it before Adobe went to the cloud version.

  • ModernWizardModernWizard Posts: 904
    edited December 1969

    This tutorial is extremely relevant to my interests, as I am reasonably proficient in Elements, but have little modeling experience. Elements knowledge + 30-day demo of Curvy3d + tutorial = simple objs?! Must investigate...

    --MW

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