Preserved Topic: Need help - Creating an inversed arch

Greetings all

Yesterday a friend asked me if I could make him an (inverse)arched "nameplate" ... sure thing I thought ..an inversed reflected gradient right?
So I experimented a bit but no matter how hard I tried the shape still looked like sh*t!

This is the reflected gradient

and I need to "inverse" this gradient so it looks like a to-the-rear-arch. I realized that an inversed reflected gradient won't do at all. This is the inversed reflected gradient

Obviously I can't make it using gradients like I thought...but then what? I guess a 3d app could do some magic here, but I know this can be done in Photoshop ...I just need to know how

Sincerely

P.Olsen

Edit >> placement of the two images


[This message has been edited by PunisherOlsen (edited 02-01-2002).]

I misunderstood the question. I don't think I know what he's asking you for...

[This message has been edited by Jeni (edited 02-01-2002).]

maybe the illusion will work when you add text. Ummmm let me think about this.

Cheers!

www.homestead.com/reitveld

Another gradient try and some cheap pillow bevel


Well its better...but its still not convincing

Cheers

Curves.

Jeni => I think you understood the question ...as always I have a hard time explaining what I want/looking for.

Cheers

WJ => Did that in the last version and it didn't do anything.

PSD ~150K

Edit >> Well curves did help, but not enough

[This message has been edited by PunisherOlsen (edited 02-01-2002).]

Let me see if I get this: you want to make a plate that arches away from the viewer, with your friend's name on it?

Assuming that's correct, one thing that will make a big, big difference is what you do with the text. It will need to "curve" to the shape of the arch, and will be a big visual clue for the viewer as to the fact that the arch is curving away. Something like making the text slightly shorter in the middle, to create the illusion that it's getting further away in the middle.



There are a lot of strange people in the world. I should know; I'm three of them...

You've read my mind Wangenstein!

curving away ahh I better remember that sentence

I'll try to see what I can do with the text.

Cheers

If Wang just described what you want, then Curves will do the trick. Read Curves by Steve. Beer in mind that you don't have to leave the upper-right and lower-left corners alone -- they can be dragged around as well.

Along the lines of what Wang said: visual clues! For example, tapering the corners a bit.

Sorry, this is a 2 min. quickie, butis this the kind of thing you mean?

If so, I`ll put the psd up for ya. If not...nevermind.

Thats pretty close to what I need Bob ...lovely if you would post the PSD.

Cheers

OK docilebob, I don't know how to do that yet.... so.... um.... errr..... will ya..... um..... you know..... like uhhh.... (clearing throat) well, would you tell me how its done?

Cheers!

www.homestead.com/reitveld

Before you can attempt it in Photoshop, you need to understand the principles behind it.

Try drawing it on paper a few times. It stands to reason that the better you can do it on paper, the better you can do it in Photoshop.

Key issues -

1) The total shape will need to curve away....doesn't matter how much light/shadow you have if your edges are flat.

2) Any text on the object, or bevles on it, will also need to reflect this curved shape and the light/shadows created by it (the light source on the text and/or bevels will change as it curves....)

3) Body. The object will have to have a little, with the proper perspecive applied, ot it will look ike a fortune cookie paper.

Ok, Basicly all I did was displace a grey rectangle with text on it. The D-map is in the channels pallette. ( you`ll have to save it as a psd for the Displace filter to work ) Settings were something like horizontal=3, vertical=-15, wrap around.
(These will vary, depending on the size of your image and how much curve you want.) Then lay a radial gradient over the top, and clip it.

In case you`ve not done this before,

1) Create the image, copy to new layer ( open new layer, CTRL+SHIFT+ALT+E)
2) Go>>Filter>>Distort>>Displace>>enter values
3) point the displace fliter to the psd you saved.
4) lay a radial gradient over the top on it`s own layer for shading
5)ALT+click the line inbetween layers to clip it.
6) clean up shape w/tools of choice
TADA !

<disclaimer> : This just a quick example. Tweaking will make it smoother/ deeper/not so deep/play with the d-map brightness values and settings</disclaimer>

the psd

Erhm, I get a "The site was not found" on the link?
edit> hmm strange. well its working now. Thanks Bob

[This message has been edited by PunisherOlsen (edited 02-02-2002).]

Np. Hope it helps.

As I`m reading through my post, it doesn`t seem as clear as I thought...If it needs more explaination, let me know.

there is a good way, but it is also hard.
it involves looking at this link.

good luck!

___________________
b u n c h a p i x e l s

I knew you can do it with displace but I wanted to do it with gradients (in the beginning) because I somehow thought this would be a hell lot easier... It wasn't

Cheers

The Pen tool and some good old fashioned hand brushing will do wonders in this scenario.

Yeap. Pen tool. The day after this post, I took a crack at with Pen tools. Alas, I'm too lazy to post my example. Maybe tomorrow if I'm in the mood. Maybe not.

I'm such a slacker.

how about that...? (won't bother to explain how I did it.. too simple.. but use the "warp text" options to do the text...)

PO - well then, how about some lighting effects?
then of course, there's the "natural talent" filter that dl-44 is referring to. unfortunately, i have the limited skills edition of photoshop.

___________________
b u n c h a p i x e l s

Buncha...erhm lightning effects mate? M'kay, but how would you design the greychannel/heightmap for a task like this?? Sounds interesting....com' on tell me

Sonic that's good, but I think it needs more shadow.

Regarding the old fashion brushing and the so-called natural talent...give me some slack guys, i just recently moved from my little fantasy creatures to more serious drawing...and you know what? it takes time

Cheers

Edit {> Too bad I spend my entire childhood drawing bumblebees and fantasy landscapes and creatures... if I had used the time drawing swords and things like that I might even have possessed a talent know

[This message has been edited by PunisherOlsen (edited 02-05-2002).]

Yep. Takes time.

And practice.

So take this time to get some practice in.

I realize this is the PS forum but Illustrator can do this in a snap.

Show me how Kromaz! I also work with Illustrator but my experience are limited. So could you please tell me how you did that...thats exactly what Im aiming for.

Cheers

Mine too, that's why I got a little help from FILTERit4 3DTransform.
I've got no qualms using the odd filter once in a while if it gets the job done and not overly used.
I'm sure Michelangelo would have used the services of an air compressor had it been available,
but that's whole other topic.