Coin Rotate

[kiwis]

I have a 2D image of a coin.

I want to have the coin rotate forwards as if it was falling. How can I do this?

 

[IamSam]

Hi kiwis and welcome to PSG.

You would have to photograph the coin from a higher angle.

As the coin falls forwards, it begins to reveal the top edge of the coin. This information is simply not available in the 2D image.

 

[IamSam]

Here's an example. (I just happened to find these two images on the net)

A 2D Coin has no information about it's edge(s).



As it rotates forwards, you see the edge being revealed.



You could of course, try to recreate the edge, which can be done. It would be fairly involved though.

 

[kiwis]

The use of the image is going to small and there will be many many instances of the image on my application. Could it's thickness be 0px? as the user wouldn't notice as such.

 

[IamSam]

In that case, just duplicate the original and use the transform function to manipulate it into looking like it's leaning forward.

 

[kiwis]

I'm really new - step by step by any chance?

 

[IamSam]

Sure, I'll try. Post your coin image.

 

[kiwis]

THanks - try this image

 

[IamSam]

Open your coin in Photoshop. In the layers panel name it COIN.

Create a duplicate of the COIN layer. It should name itself COIN copy.

Turn off the original COIN layer.

Highlight the COIN copy layer.

Hit the Command/Control + T keys to enter the Free Transform mode.

Right click within the transform box and choose DISTORT.



Grab the top center handle and pull straight down to about here...



Right click again within the transform box and choose PERSPECTIVE.



Grab the lower right or left handle and move slightly towards the center about like this....



Hit enter of click the checkmark to accept the transformation.

Next, create a new layer above the COIN copy layer. Name the layer GRADIENT.

Hold the Command/Control + mouse click the COIN copy's thumbnail.

This will create a selection around the coin.

Make sure your new layer is Highlighted.

Hit the letter D on your keyboard. This resets your Fore and Background colors to a default of black and white.

Select your Gradient Tool. Open your Gradient Editor by clicking here...



Select the Foreground to Transparent preset....



Create a gradient starting at the bottom and going upwards like this....



When done hit Command/Control + D to deselect, lower the GRADIENT layers opacity to suite.

Next create a new layer below the COIN copy layer, name it EDGE.

Select your Elliptical Marquee tool. Create an ellipse like the following....


NOTE: You can move the ellipse around for positioning while your creating it by holding down the space bar.

Open your COLOR PICKER...



Sample a darker area of the gold color. Click OK.

Fill the the elliptical selection with this newly sample color.

Hit Command/Control + D to deselect.

You should be done....

 

[MrToM]

Nice tutorial IamSam.

Quick question...
Is there any advantage to selecting 'Distort' after Ctrl / Command + T ?
Couldn't you just grab the center top handle and scale it downwards after going into free transform mode?

I've tried both ways and can't 'see' any difference, but knowing you there must be otherwise you wouldn't have done it!

Regards.
MrTom.

 

[IamSam]

MrT, No, there's no particular advantage, I just had distort on my mind from another coin I had been playing with which did require distort to straighten out. Either way works.

 

[SCTRWD]

You can get what you want easily using 3D tools in PS

 

[IamSam]

You can get what you want easily using 3D tools in PS

Why yes you can. Sometimes the the answer lays in the path of least resistance...............if your getting what I'm saying?

 

[Paul]

You can get what you want easily using 3D tools in PS

Gonna show us then..............please.

 

[kiwis]

how many frames would I need to make a gif flow?

I don't have CS6 so no 3D

 

[Paul]

Depends how fast you want the animation to run at, you could do a coin fall in probably three frames but would be very fast and clunky, a smoother version would be by using say seven frames and then adjusting the frame speed rate.

 

[Paul]

save this and then run it to see how many frames.

 

[kiwis]

but how do I make it smooth?

 

[Paul]

Simple answer lots of frames with the image moving very slightly in each frame, takes a bit of time but the results are more believable.

 

[kiwis]

anyone able to do this one for me?