Photoshop CS4 - Everything and More!

Sorry to resurrect the necrothread, but I wanted to say thanks to Robin for putting together the basic AV meshes into single, easy to use files. Really a lifesaver when you don't have a proper 3d program lol. Found out that using the raw extract meshes in CS4 is pretty much a nightmare for scale, rotation, and alignment.. so thanks much for throwing that life ring out to us

So much to learn coming from CS1...
Oh yeah, any way to turn off the opening of new documents into the same window?
I keep hitting inactive tabs when dragging the window

Hello everyone,

I just got Robins .obj avie with templates on it to load up into CS4 and i can pretty mush paint over it but im a little confused, are there other templates that i need to load into CS4 to replace the existing ones that come with the avatar now? Also is there way i can bump up the resolution on the avatar in my 3d document? the rez right now of my doc is matching the rez of my monitor is 1360x768 but right now it looks really low rez and and the templates are really jaggy?

Thank You

Edit -> Preferences -> Interface -> uncheck Open Documents as Tabs

If you want to be able to combine windows into tabs by dragging one onto the other, check Enable Floating Document Window Docking. If you want to keep all your windows separate no mater what, keep that option unchecked.

Well, from someone that has "just" taken the jump into cs4 from cs2. the 3 d things has got me a bit. Do i just paint over the 3d model or do i have to get the normal templates onto them. If i do im "guessing i just need to drag the template layer across the the 3d layer to merge them , is that right???

Thanks everyone!

The "templates" are really UV maps, and are part of the mesh. You don't need to do anything to paint on the models except .. paint on them.

In fact, if you want to, you can open the model, double click on any of the Texture layers to open them, and then go to 3D > Create UV Overlays, choose Wireframe, and you'll see the "template" appear above the currently selected layer.

All PS is doing is reading the position of the vertices on the UV map, exactly like everything else that allows you to see a texture on your model.

(You can also look at a Shaded, or Normal Map view. And yes, Normal Maps look kind of like a Sculpty map; but no, that's not what it is, and you can't just upload it and have a sculpt of your avatar in SL.)

So, if you just want to paint on the AV, you don't need any kind of "template" at all. If you want to paint on the texture itself, when it looks flat, you do; but it's built in.

Other than that, painting on the model just works.

I hope to have time to do a mini tut about it soon. But I'm also gearing up to move house in RL (just put an offer down on a place today) so I'm not sure when that's going to happen.

Hope this helps!

hi there, just starting out with ps4 and wonder if someone could recommend the best book for a beginner. Amazon seem to have so many just wondered if any of you had personal experience of one.
thanks for any help

Oh man. I kind of wish I'd never seen this thread...

I don't know if I can justify shelling out the $279 for the student license for CS4 Extended when I've still yet to pull a profit in SL. Especially when that's half of what my parents have allotted me for food, clothing, and toiletries next quarter.

I'm a hardcore GIMP user, but I've played around a little with Photoshop in our labs and, well, I see why it costs what it does. But think of the TIME it would save me! I could probably make twice as much stuff... maybe it's worth the ramen noodles...

Ohh, moral dilemma time...

I just downloaded the trial and I think I might pee myself.
Is the full version really almost a thousand bucks?? holy moly! lol
But wow, this is awesome!!!!!
I'm going to try and fix these seams that were a problem w/ a new skin I was working on, I'm so excited!!

I have it, and have used it for textures. I still have to figure out how to import objects...at least the program works really well!

Kelek, you don't have to figure it out by yourself.

I have a tutorial up about how to import objects (and more) at
http://www.robinwood.com/Catalog/Technical/PhotoshopTuts/PhotoTutPages/CS4-3D-1_Open.html

Hope this helps!

Heya all,

I'm loving the fact that you can paint on the 3d meshes, but I've noticed when I paint on the seams, it get's all glitchy and pixelated. Does anyone know of any tricks to get past this?

Also, how can you merge down layers so you can paint on one layer, and it will appear on the 2d one? Whenever I merge down from a 2d to a 3d, it makes the 3d a 2d layer.

Thanks for any response.

Hi Peacefrog!

It shouldn't get odd and pixelated, unless the seams you are referring to are around the ankle, or other places where there's simply not enough room in a polygon to put a texture. (The AV has ... umm ... less than ideal UV Maps. Did you know that? )

As far as merging layers, your question is confusing me a bit.

If you merge a 2D layer down into the 3D then yes, it will show up on the object you are painting, and will become merged with whatever active layer you have selected in the .psb file.

It effectively drops down onto the model.

However, if you merge a 2D layer into a 2D, then the new layer should be a 2D layer, still floating above the model.

If you open the material, and merge layers in the .psb file, the new layer will still be in the .psb file, so it will still be shown on the model.

Are you asking about merging 2 3D layers? You can only do that if the camera for both layers is exactly the same. Then they merge perfectly, although I'm not sure why you would want to do that with the Avatar mesh.

You might want to watch the tutorials that I linked to in the post above yours.

Otherwise, can you please tell me exactly what you are trying to do, step by step? I'll be able to help you more when I know what you're after.

aaah, was a very easy mistake to make I think, but your very cool videos showed me the error of my ways. Basically I was highlighting both layers that I wanted to merge, so when I wanted to merge the 2d with the 3d, I highlighted them both, and hence ended up with a 2d merged image.

I think the glitches on the seams was just me not recognizing there's less pixels designated at the seams and certain areas of the mesh.

Anyway thanks,

P.

Cool! I'm glad you have it working now.