Oh, hello one more time!
Excuse the delay, I was busy and could not upgrade before. Well, I had in mind to make a virtual glasses or a suicide letter in this tutorial, but during the week I had to do a project in 3D and found a very interesting Render plugin for Sketchup, Google. The plugin is called Podium, and is developed by SU Plugin.
Some months ago, or an year, I don't remember, my brother midday, Nikollas, showed me an image where there is an image reflected in a sphere, in which there are several spheres. I was with her in my head for a long time, without having money to buy 3D Studio Max, didn't find another alternative to do it, until I saw what Podium can do.
From them I did several tests trying to reproduce the image I had seen. The result was fascinating! So I decided to write this tutorial from this image.
(Do a click in the link above to see in real size)Well, to do this image you'll need: 8 spheres of metal chrome (assortment of size), some potent imams (to make the spheres simulate 0 gravity), 6 silver walls, 1 source of white light and an invisible camera.
Or you can use Google Sketchup (wich can be downloaded here), the SU Podium plugin (wich can be downloaded here, the free version only allows the production of images up to 500 x 500 pixels), Photoshop and a little bit of provision.
After the instalation of Sketchup, install the SU Podium in a folder called "Podium", in anywhere, wich not be the Google Sketchup's folder (allways a problem ocurrs). Done this, copy the file "podium_load.rb" and the folder "Podium" to inside Google Sketchup's plugins folder. Now you have an amazing and free 3D tool and easy to use, united a plugin wich do an excelent effect.
First Step
Open Google Sketchup and read the "Learning Center", wich is open automatically when the program is opened. This is helpful to understand a bit the components of the program. One of those steps teachs how to do spheres, and he will be useful for us.
Before all, create a square with the "Rectangle" tool (you'll know that's an square when a dotted line cross the diagonal line of flat)
(Square on Sketchup)
Second Step
Create a sphere, as shown in "Learning Center", then do some copies (the "Learning Center" also teachs how to copy objects), to do they diferent use the key "S" (Scale), or go to "view"> "Toolbars"> "Modification" and select the tool.
Then, spread the spheres in the space of the square, in diferent positions and heights, and then select they all with the "Select" tool and the "Shift" key pressed. Paint one (hence all selected will be painted) with the "Silver" color, using the "Paint Bucket" tool. Paint the square with the same color.
Your image must be like this:
(Image with spheres and square painted)
Or you can use Google Sketchup (wich can be downloaded here), the SU Podium plugin (wich can be downloaded here, the free version only allows the production of images up to 500 x 500 pixels), Photoshop and a little bit of provision.
After the instalation of Sketchup, install the SU Podium in a folder called "Podium", in anywhere, wich not be the Google Sketchup's folder (allways a problem ocurrs). Done this, copy the file "podium_load.rb" and the folder "Podium" to inside Google Sketchup's plugins folder. Now you have an amazing and free 3D tool and easy to use, united a plugin wich do an excelent effect.
First Step
Open Google Sketchup and read the "Learning Center", wich is open automatically when the program is opened. This is helpful to understand a bit the components of the program. One of those steps teachs how to do spheres, and he will be useful for us.
Before all, create a square with the "Rectangle" tool (you'll know that's an square when a dotted line cross the diagonal line of flat)
(Square on Sketchup)Second Step
Create a sphere, as shown in "Learning Center", then do some copies (the "Learning Center" also teachs how to copy objects), to do they diferent use the key "S" (Scale), or go to "view"> "Toolbars"> "Modification" and select the tool.
Then, spread the spheres in the space of the square, in diferent positions and heights, and then select they all with the "Select" tool and the "Shift" key pressed. Paint one (hence all selected will be painted) with the "Silver" color, using the "Paint Bucket" tool. Paint the square with the same color.
Your image must be like this:
(Image with spheres and square painted)Third Step
Now let's build the walls. Use the tool "Orbit" to position the "camera" to a position which facilitates the production of the walls. Select the "Line" tool and, with the key "arrow-up" pressed, create a line from one of the corners of the square, upward, in order to override the higher sphere. Then, with the same tool and using the other arrows (as shown on the "Learning Center"), make the other walls and paint them with the same color you painted the spheres and basis of the "box".
When you raise the last wall, automatically the "roof" will also be created. To remove it just select it with the "Select" tool and hit "Del".
To help with the handling of the "camera", you can go to "View">"Toolbars">"Views", which open new tools. These tools make reposition of the "camera" for basic positions, and that make life easier when you have to make adjustments in the model.
Now your image should be this:
("Box" and spheres)
Fourth Step
Not yet neither seems a little with the image of the link I've put in the beginning, after all where are the reflexes? And it is here where enter the Podium. He will not permit the live viewing of the final effect, but you can use the maximum speed and lower resolution to get a preview of how the image will be (selecting "preview" and clicking on the "render").
With this you can get an idea of how the catch angle of the image will be, and can make changes to your taste.
To create the effect of reflection on the spheres, select all spheres and open the SU Podium dialog box, on the "Plugins" tab. Lead the bar "Reflect" totally to right. If you have curiosity, follow the instructions above to see how is getting. The picture bluish due to the reflection of blue sky, which is present in the model.
(View of the effect)
Fifth Step
As the box is closed, we will have to put a light inside it. To it, make one more sphere, paint it white and click it until appears blue with small triangles. Then click with the right button of the mouse, select "Make Group" option, then go to the dialog box of Podium and lead the bar "Light" to 25% (may vary as the need for light and size of the box).
Now, with the "Line" tool, complete the roof of the box, creating a line from one of the angles to the other. So, select the white sphere, which will be the light, and bring her to the center of the roof of the box. Then, as if was corssing the roof, put half of the sphere inside, leaving the other half out.
Sixth Step
We are almost done with this program. Select the "Zoom" tool and go advancing to be within the box. When you're inside, paint the roof with the same "Silver" color, and then choose a sphere to be its "frame".
Now is a good time to use the preview that I taught.
Seventh Step
With the angle you want found, in the dialog box of the Podium, click on the Arrow> "Settings", then put the first bar completely to right and the second at about 25%.
After, click in the arrow one more time, but this time click on the "Render Size" tab and choose the size you want (I used the 1024 x 768 pixels). To change the folder where the images are saved go on the Arrow> "Settings" and change the location in the "Browse" within the framework "Output".
The process of "rendering" should take about 20 or 25 minutes (can be more or less, depends on your machine)
Eighth Step
Now you may have noticed that the sphere still have the corners a little angular, and here enters the Photoshop. Open the image in Photoshop, then enter "Ctrl + R" and create two guides entering slightly the area of the sphere.
(The blue guides enter a little in the esphere and are used to make perfect circles, in view of the original sphere)
Duplicate the layer and select the selection tool for elliptic forms. Create a circle with "Shift" pressed. When you have already selected the area inside, enter "Ctrl + Shift + I" and type "Del",excluding therefore, the angular parts of the edge.
Select the layer you doubled and do another backup. With the lower layer to the edges you delete selected, use the stamp tool (S) to fill the sides, erasing the traces of the original edges. Use the same process to round the edges of the shadow.
Ninth Step
If you are making an image 1024 x 768 pixels, can complete your work here, however still those who use larger proportions, and for those (like me) the tutorial continues.
My image is a 1280 x 800 pixels one, so I decided to recreate the background. For that I created a filling layer below all, where I used a gradient with shades of gray and white, adjusting to give the impression of light wich would be almost on top of the sphere, a bit hidden behind the sphere.
Then I created a layer that would be only the floor, a gray rectangle with low opacity, only to show the line breaks between the floor and the wall.
Tenth Step
Duplicate the layer of the sphere and hit "Ctrl + L". Then adjust the levels to have a more silvery tone.
Eleventh Step
Let's create a text to insert in the sphere (as I did with "Gavani"). With him writed, we will turn it a normal layer, and then do a double click on the text layer.
In the dialog box "Layer Style", inside the "Outer Glow" tab, create a bit of external brightness on your text, so it has a bit of emphasis on the middle of the sphere.
You can not have realism putting a normal text into a sphere. Go to "Filter"> "Distort"> "Esferize". Adjust according to the position, size and height of your text.
Then just enjoy the result. I particularly am very satisfied. I hope you have enjoyed.
Well, that's all for today, is 0:37 in the dawn. Until next time. See you.
Now let's build the walls. Use the tool "Orbit" to position the "camera" to a position which facilitates the production of the walls. Select the "Line" tool and, with the key "arrow-up" pressed, create a line from one of the corners of the square, upward, in order to override the higher sphere. Then, with the same tool and using the other arrows (as shown on the "Learning Center"), make the other walls and paint them with the same color you painted the spheres and basis of the "box".
When you raise the last wall, automatically the "roof" will also be created. To remove it just select it with the "Select" tool and hit "Del".
To help with the handling of the "camera", you can go to "View">"Toolbars">"Views", which open new tools. These tools make reposition of the "camera" for basic positions, and that make life easier when you have to make adjustments in the model.
Now your image should be this:
("Box" and spheres)Fourth Step
Not yet neither seems a little with the image of the link I've put in the beginning, after all where are the reflexes? And it is here where enter the Podium. He will not permit the live viewing of the final effect, but you can use the maximum speed and lower resolution to get a preview of how the image will be (selecting "preview" and clicking on the "render").
With this you can get an idea of how the catch angle of the image will be, and can make changes to your taste.
To create the effect of reflection on the spheres, select all spheres and open the SU Podium dialog box, on the "Plugins" tab. Lead the bar "Reflect" totally to right. If you have curiosity, follow the instructions above to see how is getting. The picture bluish due to the reflection of blue sky, which is present in the model.
(View of the effect)Fifth Step
As the box is closed, we will have to put a light inside it. To it, make one more sphere, paint it white and click it until appears blue with small triangles. Then click with the right button of the mouse, select "Make Group" option, then go to the dialog box of Podium and lead the bar "Light" to 25% (may vary as the need for light and size of the box).
Now, with the "Line" tool, complete the roof of the box, creating a line from one of the angles to the other. So, select the white sphere, which will be the light, and bring her to the center of the roof of the box. Then, as if was corssing the roof, put half of the sphere inside, leaving the other half out.
Sixth Step
We are almost done with this program. Select the "Zoom" tool and go advancing to be within the box. When you're inside, paint the roof with the same "Silver" color, and then choose a sphere to be its "frame".
Now is a good time to use the preview that I taught.
Seventh Step
With the angle you want found, in the dialog box of the Podium, click on the Arrow> "Settings", then put the first bar completely to right and the second at about 25%.
After, click in the arrow one more time, but this time click on the "Render Size" tab and choose the size you want (I used the 1024 x 768 pixels). To change the folder where the images are saved go on the Arrow> "Settings" and change the location in the "Browse" within the framework "Output".
The process of "rendering" should take about 20 or 25 minutes (can be more or less, depends on your machine)
Eighth Step
Now you may have noticed that the sphere still have the corners a little angular, and here enters the Photoshop. Open the image in Photoshop, then enter "Ctrl + R" and create two guides entering slightly the area of the sphere.
(The blue guides enter a little in the esphere and are used to make perfect circles, in view of the original sphere)Duplicate the layer and select the selection tool for elliptic forms. Create a circle with "Shift" pressed. When you have already selected the area inside, enter "Ctrl + Shift + I" and type "Del",excluding therefore, the angular parts of the edge.
Select the layer you doubled and do another backup. With the lower layer to the edges you delete selected, use the stamp tool (S) to fill the sides, erasing the traces of the original edges. Use the same process to round the edges of the shadow.
Ninth Step
If you are making an image 1024 x 768 pixels, can complete your work here, however still those who use larger proportions, and for those (like me) the tutorial continues.
My image is a 1280 x 800 pixels one, so I decided to recreate the background. For that I created a filling layer below all, where I used a gradient with shades of gray and white, adjusting to give the impression of light wich would be almost on top of the sphere, a bit hidden behind the sphere.
Then I created a layer that would be only the floor, a gray rectangle with low opacity, only to show the line breaks between the floor and the wall.
Tenth Step
Duplicate the layer of the sphere and hit "Ctrl + L". Then adjust the levels to have a more silvery tone.
Eleventh Step
Let's create a text to insert in the sphere (as I did with "Gavani"). With him writed, we will turn it a normal layer, and then do a double click on the text layer.
In the dialog box "Layer Style", inside the "Outer Glow" tab, create a bit of external brightness on your text, so it has a bit of emphasis on the middle of the sphere.
You can not have realism putting a normal text into a sphere. Go to "Filter"> "Distort"> "Esferize". Adjust according to the position, size and height of your text.
Then just enjoy the result. I particularly am very satisfied. I hope you have enjoyed.
Well, that's all for today, is 0:37 in the dawn. Until next time. See you.
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