Coloring 3D Objects in Photoshop

In this step by step tutorial, I will demonstrate how to use color 3D objects using Photoshop. When doing this, I used Photoshop CS5 but CS6 should be very similar to it.

Step 1: Have an Object

For this example, I have a figure I downloaded from the website turbosquid. I chose a subject that is not too complicated and easy to demonstrate on.

Step 2: Begin Coloring
Go into the color swatch on the left and choose any color you want to use. You can now begin painting.

NOTE: When wanting to view the object you are coloring, you have the option on changing the position of the object. This is found on the menu bar right above the image. You can also physically move around the object by selecting the Position icon on the left menu bar.

Step 3: Reparameterize UV's
As I am coloring the figure, there are spots that are not being painted or are proving to be difficult to get. To smooth everything out and make it easier to paint the object, go to the 3D menu and go down to select Reparameterize UV's.

Of the two given options, select Low Distortion. This will prevent the object from becoming distorted and rearranged.

Step 4: Continue Painting
Once you have reparameterized the object, you will notice that painting becomes much smoother. Continue to paint- you can also add more details to the object, like eye and lip colors.

Step 5: Going into Diffuse.
As you can see in the above picture, there are still gray spots that are not colored in. Rather than spending hours changing the angle of the object in hopes of being able to paint it, there is a much quicker way. On the right hand side is a menu with the layers of the file.

If you hover the mouse over the layers entitled Diffuse , you will notice a small box image with patches of color pop up. Double click that.

A separate file will open containing what looks to be blobs of color. This is actually a 2D rendering of what you are painting. Upon zooming in, you can no see where there are patches and spots that need to be painted over.

Another helpful way of knowing where to color is by creating a wireframe. Go to the 3D options and down to Create UV Overlays. From that, simply select Wireframe.

By doing so, black lines will show up and map out the object more clearly.

I chose to rename the layer with the wireframe on it "Mesh". When you are working with these layers, make sure you are on the first layer with the colors and not the "Mesh" layer.

Step 6: Filling in the Whites
With the "Mesh" layer visible, you can go throughout the image and color in all of the boxes. When you are doing this, try to stay in the boxes.

Step 7: Save the File
In order to transfer the coloring you have done in this file, you must save it it. You can do this by either going into File-Save, or simply press the keys COMMAND-S.

To remove the wireframe from the 3D model, go back into the 2D rendering file and simply uncheck the visibility of the "Mesh" layer. When you go to the 3D model, the black lines will be gone.

 Step 8: Saving the Finished File
Once you are satisfied with the coloring ob the object, you can now save it. Simply go to File-Save As and save it in Photoshop format (.psd). This will allow it to be saved as a 3D object and also still be opened and edited in Photoshop.

Looking Back at the Past

One of the most interesting aspects in this asset mapping project was looking back into the history of New Paltz. One of the events we covered that I found most interesting was the incident regarding Excelsior Avenue. Currently one of the main concourses on campus, Excelsior Avenue was once an actual street in the town of New Paltz with private residences. In 1961, President Haggerty first proposed the acquisition of the street to further expand the campus.

This photo from 1962 shows four dorms, Parker Dining Hall and Smiley Arts Building. After this was taken, Excelsior Avenue was acquired by the school and construction began on Elting Gym, Sojourner Truth Library, the humanities and science buildings, lecture center and Jacobson Faculty Tower. 

Although there was opposition by many residents of New Paltz, the school was able to buy up Mohonk Avenue, thus displacing the residents.  The houses were torn down to make room for the new academic buildings.  This marked the first real event that caused tension between the college and the people of New Paltz. For many years after, the residents of New Paltz had little to no trust in the college.

It is thus quite interesting to look at where we are now. Almost 60 years later, the school has now proposed Park Point.  This proposals is to provide off campus housing for both students and staff and have their own community.  But it would require the school to buy land currently owned by a private landowner and would force the town limit to expand.  Taxation issues are also showing to be a major concern.

The Influence of the Wealthy

Last week, I found an interesting article about Mark Zuckerberg. As the creator and CEO of Facebook, he is one of the richest people in the world. Yet despite this, he rarely splurges on what we would think he would- mega-mansions, yachts, fancy cars. Rather, most of his money is given away to various charities and organizations. In 2010 Zuckerberg signed Giving the Pledge, in which he vowed to give away more than half of his money. He also has given almost $100 million to Newark public schools.

One particularly interesting project Zuckerberg is involved in is Code.org  This project serves as a beginning platform to encourage learning about coding and understand how it works. People of all ages can participate in the "Hour of Code" in which they go through various exercises that teach more about coding and how to do it.  The set up of the coding is quite similar to that of Scratch.  Upon completing the Hour of Code, participants are told various ways to continue to learn about coding. Resources given include an Intro to Computer Science Course, Tynker,  Scratch, Lightbot, and App Inventor.

And Zuckerberg is just one of many influential people involved in this project. The founder of Dropbox has donated money and various celebrities appear in their videos. But Zuckerberg in particular is listed as a founding donor of Code.org. And while the exact amount he has given is unknown, it it can be sure that with the support of the founder of Facebook, Code.org is having quite a bit of success. 

Alongside Code.org, he has also invested in other educational programs through school-improvement effort known as Startup: Education. With a $100 million donation, the effort has assisted a Massachusetts-based startup that analyzes data from teachers, parents and students to better advance schools. Also, last December,the effort also gave support to EducationSuperhighway,which is a nonprofit to help bring faster online connections to schools. 

While it certainly is extremely generous of Zuckerberg to say the least, what I find particularly interesting is the role of wealthy individuals providing supports for education. Bill Gates is another excellent example- one of the primary goals of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is to expand educational opportunities and give better access to information technology. Donations have ranged anywhere from $3.5 million to $1.5 billion. 

Scribble Machines!

A scribble or a drawing Machine is "a motorized contraption that moves in unusual ways and leaves a mark to trace its path". Something interesting about these machines is that they can easily be made from simple, everyday materials and anyone has the ability to make one. The idea of a scribble machine is not just about the marks that can be made but also the process of making it. Figuring out how the machine works to create specific marks requires experimentation and an open mind.  It also allows for people to learn the general set up of an electric current and creating a motor from that set up.  

Scribbling machines can range from relatively simple designs…

… to more elaborate and complex ones.

Scribble machines of all variations can be created as tools of experimentation and creating pieces of fine art. Students are able to learn the dynamics of how different components come together to create their very own personalized scribble machines. It also involves a lot of trial and error in figuring out where to place the mark making objects and the motor.  Every little detail can make all the difference in the making of the machine and this kind of project creates an experimental and learning experience. 

Diorama with a Twist

A diorama is defined as being "a model representing a scene with three-dimensional figures, either in miniature or as a large-scale museum exhibit." since elementary school I have made numerous dioramas for different classes but with this project, it was nice to add the element of including a circuit and a working LED light. 


As for the subject of my diorama, I decided to do a scene from the first Harry Potter book focusing on the Mirror of Erised. The Mirror is actually a magical object that has the ability to show someone their deepest desire. Each person sees something different in the mirror- Harry Potter sees himself happily with the parents he never knew, Ronald Weasley sees himself as Head Boy and Gryffindor Quidditch Captain, while Professor Dumbledore sees himself holding a pair of socks. 

Learning what one wants or desires is an important part of a person's development. Having desire is not necessarily a bad thing but there is line between desire and greed. Too much desire can be dangerous dangerous and can make someone lose themselves to obtain what they want most. Rowling uses the dark lord Voldemort as such an example. In his desire for power and eternal life, he ultimately gives up his own humanity and any good in himself. The Mirror of Erised serves as an important plot device that help's teach Harry, and the reader, the difference between such desires. 

Something particularly interesting about Rowling's creation of the mirror is the the inscription on the top of it. Though at first is seems indecipherable, it is actually mirror writing, symbolizing how everything is a mirror reflection is flipped. Read reversed, it says I show not your face but your heart's desire. 

Because this is such an important object in the Harry Potter series, it was important to emphasize that in the making of the diorama.  I made it so that when the door is opened, the light positioned under the mirror will light up the mirror and emphasize the importance of this one object in the room. There is much more to it than meets the eye.

History of Pong

     Almost everyone know about the video game, Pong. Released in 1972, it was one of the first video games created and its design and graphics were quite simple. Yet there is something almost addicting about it and quickly became one of the most most popular arcade games. It was based on the back and forth action of a tennis ball between two players.

     Pong was developed by Atari, the first video game/console maker. After seeing how popular Pong was as an arcade game, it also got its own console in 1975 to allow people to play at home. It was a great success and even in limited release, almost 150,000 units sold. This was the beginning of video games becoming something to not only play in the arcade, but at home. 

     Since its release in 1972, there have been numerous copies, rip-offs, and parodies of Pong. It is a game that almost everyone has played at some point.  Pong is a game that is easy enough for small children to understand and complex enough for older people to get lost in the game. It also inspired French artist Pierre Huyghe to create an installation in which people play on an illuminated ceiling. 

Programming Made (Frustratingly) Easy

With the increase of using technology in the classroom environment, programming is just one of many digital platforms being explored as a way of art-making. Through the MIT Media Lab, young learners can access the website, Scratch. Created in 2006, Scratch allows anyone the opportunity to program and create their own stories, animation, and games.  

Pros:

It is a great and interesting way to incorporate technology in art-making, and gives students a new perspective. Art is not just drawing or painting, but can also be made on the computer, requiring a completely different way of thinking.

Scratch also offers different options in what you can make. Aside from creating an animation, you can also create games and stories. With so many options, children are encouraged in thinking of new ideas and how they can portray them using programming.

The way the Scratch website is set up allows for it to be a community of creators to share their work and get ideas from others. It is a great way to gain feedback and brainstorm new ideas. 

Cons:

Despite it being a fairly easy concept, the actual programming in Scratch can be overwhelming for someone unfamiliar with it. I have also experienced numerous glitches, from being unable to program a number to being unable to save properly. For this reason, I have found myself quite frustrated in using the program and even when following direct instructions, my animations won't come out as I would like it.

This is a sight I became quite familiar with. 

Below is my progress of using Scratch.

Attempt #1- Dino

Attempt #2- Friendly Ghost

Attempt #3- Cat Dance Party

Attempts #4, 5, & 6- Remix the Pong Game

I had come up with the idea of remixing the classic pong game to allow the play to be in outer space and protect their space station from a persistent asteroid. Unfortunately, it didn't go as well as I hoped. The most common problem was that after less than two seconds, the asteroid-sprite would stop completely.

Eventually I was able to get a working pong game, but the Save failed to keep it. 

Final Thoughts:

I honestly have very mixed opinions on Scratch. It really is a great way of introducing children to programming and informing them of different ways  programming can be used for artistic purposes. It is a new medium that they may very well grow into, with today's emphasis of digital technology incorporated in the arts. Yet despite it having so much potential, it also has its flaws. The glitches I mentioned before play a major part in my distaste towards Scratch. The constant interruption from creating and unreliableness quickly wears on you. I am sure one day, Scratch's creators will have fixed these types of problems from occurring as often as they do, but until then, I think that I will appreciate Scratch from afar.