Using the 3D features in Photoshop CC, I was able to create two images that incorporated placing 3D text in a photo, as well as creating a 3D textured background and images.
** The Merry Christmas image is 3D rendered, while the gears image is not. When I rendered the gears image, the colors and lighting in it changed so much that I did not like the way it looked. So, what you see is the non-rendered gears image.
Steps for the Merry Christmas 3D image:
Stock photo source: publicdomainpictures.net
1) Uploaded a stock photo that featured snow and a Christmas ornament.
2) Typed in the text, chose a red color for it and kerned it so each letter would not touch each other.
3) Went under the 3D menu and chose “New 3D Extrusion from Selected Layer”.
4) Moved the text down, in front of the ornament.
5) Selected the “Merry Christmas” item in the list and changed the Extrusion Depth so the depth would not extend so far to the back for each letter.
6) Clicked on the Background Layer in the layers panel and then selected and copied the image.
7) In the 3D text layer, I selected “Environment” in the 3D panel, went to the properties panel, and clicked on the map icon next to IBL. I then chose “New Texture”.
8) I went back into the same menu, but this time chose “Edit Texture”.
9) Going back to the 3D panel, I clicked on “Merry Christmas Front Inflation Material” and in the properties panel, I adjusted the reflection and roughness to what I thought looked appropriate.
10) Selected “Merry Christmas Extrusion Material” in the 3D panel and again set the reflection and roughness to what worked well.
11) I selected “Merry Christmas Extrusion Material” again and in the properties panel, clicked on the Diffuse color swatch and changed the color to a golden yellow for the sides of the text.
12) With the main “Merry Christmas” object selected in the 3D panel, I went to the 3D menu and chose “Split Extrusion” to separate each letter.
13) I then clicked on each letter and rearranged their positioning.
14) I added a source light, by choosing “Filter By: Lights” in the 3D panel and choosing Infinite Light. The positioning of the light was moved to the top left. The shadows behind each letter was softened as well by setting lowering the percentage of the Shadow Softness.
15) I then selected “Merry Christmas” as a whole and slightly rotated it outwards.
16) To add the snow in front of the text, I extracted the snow from the same photo, and put it in its own layer in front of the text.
17) Everything was then 3D rendered.
Steps for the rusted gears image:
Gear brushes from: obsidiandawn.com
1) I uploaded a stock textured background.
2) Opened up a new document and used brush shaped gears to create the three gears. I used stock image of rust and the clipping mask to give them a rusty look, as well as giving them a beveled edge.
3) Going back to the textured image, I selected the Background layer and chose “New 3D Extrusion from Selected Layer” and set the Extrusion Depth to 1.19 px.
4) Back in the gears image document, I selected the layer and dragged it over to the textured layer, having it in front of the textured layer. The gears layer was then turned into a 3D object by setting the Source menu to “Selected Layer(s)” and the “3D Extrusion” radio button being selected.
5) In the 3D panel, Environment was selected and in the properties panel the opacity in the Ground Plane shadows section was changed to 60%. The Intensity was also changed to 54%.
6) The gears item was selected in the 3D panel and in properties the Extrusion depth was changed to -382.12 px.
7) The Cap icon was selected and in the properties panel, the Angle was changed to 45 degrees and the Strength to 33%.
8) Both layers, the gears layer and the textured bg layer were merged together by choosing Merge 3D layers.
9) A new bump map for the textured bg layer was created by double clicking on the Background sub layer and duplicating the file.
10) In the duplicated file, the color was removed by desaturation. The image was then inverted and then the levels were changed by changing the highlights and shadows to bring out the details of the image. The file was then saved.
11) Back in the main document, in the 3D panel, Background Front Inflation Material sub layer was selected. In properties, the folder icon next to Bump setting was selected and Load Texture was chosen. The bump file that was recently created was chosen.
12) Further textured was added by selecting Environment in the 3D panel, going to the properties, and selecting the map icon near IBL. Replace Texture was selected.
13) To add the lighting, I clicked on Filter By: Lights and selected Spot. The Intensity was set to 167% and the shadow was set to 22%. The source of the light was moved to top left corner.
14) The Field of View (FOV) in the properties was set to 10mm
15) The move tool was then selected, as well as the Slide the 3D Object Tool. The entire image was then brought closer.
16) The Rotate the 3D Object Tool was selected and the entire image was rotated upwards, towards the right.
17) Another textured layer was added to the top of all layers in the Layers panel, blending mode was changed to Overlay, and the opacity was dropped to 54% to give the image a more dramatic mood to it.
