Page 238 - Enhancing CAD Drawings with Photoshop

4386.book Page 222 Monday, November 15, 2004 3:27 PM
222 CHAPTER 7 CREATIVE COMPOSITING

chapter are specific to VIZ. After you understand the compositing process, you can adapt the proce-
dures you learn in this chapter to your favorite 3D software package (such as 3ds max, formZ, Light-
wave, Maya, and others).
TIP The building model is provided in additional file formats (.3ds, .dxf, and .wrl) on the com-
panion CD for greater compatibility with other 3D programs.

Exploring the 3D Model
One of the strengths of compositing CGI in Photoshop is that you can use a basic 3D model to start
the process. You’ll save a lot of time in VIZ not having to worry about designing realistic materials,
placing physically accurate light sources, building a highly complex model, or rendering with radi-
osity or mental ray because all the realism will be added with Photoshop. You need only begin with
a simple massing model in VIZ, in a scene having the basic materials, lighting, and camera setup. It
is important to familiarize yourself with the VIZ scene because its structure determines what you will
be working on in Photoshop later in this chapter.
1. Launch Autodesk VIZ 2005.
2. Open the file Building.max from the companion CD. The Perspective viewport appears max-
imized in the VIZ interface (see Figure 7.1). Notice the various parts of the scene, including the
model, light sources, and camera.

Figure 7.1
Omni lights
The 3D model in VIZ

Camera Direct light Building 3D model Ground plane