[Rafiq Elmansy]Photoshop 3D for Animators(pdf){Zzzzz}

Photoshop is not just for photographers anymore. Photoshop 3D for Animators is one of the only titles available that discusses 3D Photoshop techniques specifically for animators. Now with Adobe CS5, 3D Digital artists can integrate 3D models into Photoshop or create 3D models in Photoshop with the high capability to customize, edit and animate.

With Photoshop 3D for Animators, explore the new 3D tools and techniques that will enhance your animation pipeline and workflows with the Adobe Suite softwares, including After Effects and Flash. Explore the ins and outs of Adobe Photoshop and expand your 3D expertise with the comprehensive guide to Adobe 3D toolset for animators. Customize Adobe CS5 tools for your specific, animation workflow and integrate your 3D models with Adobe Flash and the entire Adobe Suite platform with ease. Learn to manipulate 3D images as well as import 3D content from the Adobe creative suite. With in-depth, step-by-step tutorials, explore lighting, digital painting, texturing and rendering for 2D and 3D the power of Adobe Photoshop software. Enhance your digital workflow and expand your expertise with this hands-on guide to Photoshop CS5. Includes a DVD with source files, working samples and models.

About the Author
Rafiq Elmansy is a graphic designer for 10 years with background in traditional art and sculpture. His experience in graphic design includes working in different design projects as well as creative directing. He runs his own design company Pixel Consultations. He is also an Adobe Community Professional, Adobe Certified Expert and the founder and manager of the Adobe user group in Egypt (AUGE). Rafiq is also part of the Adobe Prerelease Program. Rafiq Elmansy is an author in the graphic and design field, his articles are published in Adobe design and developer center, Adobe Edge magazine, communitymx.com and his design blog www.graphicmania.net. Recently, he becomes a Friend of Icograda (the International Council of Graphic Design Associations).

Publisher: Focal Press; Pap/Dvdr edition (23 November 2010)
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0240813499
ISBN-13: 978-0240813493

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

Photoshop 3D Not Just For Animators 28 April 2011
By MyBeesWax -
Despite what the title suggests, this book is NOT primarily on animation per se. In fact, it only has one chapter out of fifteen that talks specifically about animation (Chapter 11: Understanding Animation in Photoshop and 3D Animation).

Instead, it is a book that's geared more towards laying the groundwork necessary for learning animation in Photoshop. The main focus of the book is on explaining the use of the 3D tools in Photoshop (first introduced in CS3) and on how to use Photoshop in conjunction with 3D modeling programs (like Adobe Acrobat 3D, 3D Studio Max, Maya, and Google Sketchup) and animation programs (like Flash and After Effects).

The topics covered include 3D Tools in Photoshop, 3D Objects in Photoshop, Repoussé, Textures and 3D Painting, Lighting, and 3D Camera Views. Do note that Photoshop 3D is not a full-featured 3D program that allows you to construct 3D objects from scratch (although it provides a predefined set of 3D shapes you can work with). To make full use of the 3D feature, you would need to import 3D models that you've constructed in other 3D programs.

For a complete Table of Contents, click on the "Click to LOOK INSIDE" link on the product page.

The book also includes helpful information on system configuration, setting up Workspaces and Keyboard Shortcuts, and managing resources with Adobe Bridge.

Bottom line: You don't need to be an animator to make profitable use of the book. Photoshop 3D For Animators is a thorough and concise guide for learning the 3D manipulation tools in Photoshop (Extended version). Highly recommended for both animators and non-animators.

Learn what you need for 3D Animation in Photoshop 12 December 2010
By Scott Valentine -
Focal Press now has two books out on 3D in Photoshop, and each is worth owning. While Zorana Gee's title (3D in Photoshop) is great for reference, Rafiq has put together more examples and discussions on using the tools in every day work.

Photoshop 3D For Animators is formatted like an ongoing lesson from start to finish, and progresses through concepts and applications for each tool. The text typically introduces an idea, then backs it up with step-by-step instructions. Even better, the included DVD has plenty of models so you can follow along and actually put the ideas to use right away. This is essential for getting new tools into your brain quickly and making the ideas stick.

Rafiq starts with general 3D concepts and moves to the more specific tools, including Repoussé and working with lights and cameras. In fact, these tools are each given their own chapters, alongside chapters dedicated to 3D textures and developing animations. The breakdown is very logical, and each chapter builds on the previous materials to help new users integrate the features more readily.

The animation sections are thorough, and while I don't do animation myself, I found the chapter on preparing for renders to be chock-full of great tips on setting up for video. There are even sections on integrating with Flash and AfterEffects, as well as 3rd party tools like Daz|Studio and Strata, and importing from supported sites like 3DVia. If I have one criticism, it's that these chapters could be expanded to include additional tools, but the information that is provided is very solid.

As for readability, the format is really aimed at working through the book from start to finish. It is difficult to drop in to any given spot and pick up something new; you pretty much have to start at least at the beginning of a chapter. This is personal preference, however, and is probably the best choice for classroom situations or those that learn best by taking larger chunks in at a time. Having said this, the text is approachable and clear so it's easy to work from start to finish without getting bogged down.

I believe this book is aimed at classroom settings more than anything else, so if you can set aside a few minutes each session to work through the chapters, you will get a lot out of Photoshop 3D for Animators in a short span of time. This is especially good for those with no previous experience in 3D, but are at least familiar with Photoshop. And no other book on the market right now covers animation with 3D in Photoshop.

Exploring 3D Capabilities of Photoshop 11 December 2011
By Dr. Bojan Tunguz -
Photoshop is one of the most powerful and widely used photo editing tools. It has become a de-facto standard in the world of image editing and altering. Almost every anywhere serious photographer is either using Photoshop or a similar software suite. However, Photoshop's power extends well beyond image manipulation, especially with the latest few releases (CS3 and later). It is slowly becoming an all-powerful tool for all sorts of visual projects and creations. One of the most fun new features of Photoshop is its ability to create and manipulate 3D objects. These can be used either in animation, or for a variety of other artistic and design purposes.


Excellent - Very informative Photoshop 3D handbook. 19 January 2012
By Jim Francis -
Adobe CS5 can process 3D models into Photoshop with the ability to customize, edit and animate. This is great for Animators, and this book explains in detail how to use these new 3D tools and techniques to enhance your animations.

Highly Recommended!
Despite what this book's title says, this is not a primarily animation-centered resource. It is aimed at creative professionals and non-professionals who have a need to incorporate 3D images and objects in their work for a variety of reasons and purposes. The book is very well written and designed, with a lot of large color examples and screenshots. It is very pedagogical, and readers with any level of expertise can benefit from using it. It comes with an included DVD with all of the relevant examples and files that are used in the book. Some of the topics covered include "Working with 3D Files," "Working with 3D Tools in Photoshop," "Textures and 3D Painting," "Understanding Animation in Photoshop and 3D Animation," and several others.