3D How to make an indented shape

[Dustin Wadsworth]

I'm trying to recreate basically the attached picture in photoshop.
I've searched about every tutorial I could find that might be relevant but I'm not finding anything.
Not even sure if this is possible in photoshop.

This is what I'm trying to do:


Is there an easy way to do this in Photoshop or should I be looking at a different app? Any wise words would be appreciated.

 

[Paul]

This is just a very quick version of what you are after i think, if you take your time and use other tools to recreate your desired effect it can be done better, all i used was the pen tool and fill on numerous layers.

 

[Dustin Wadsworth]

This is just a very quick version of what you are after i think, if you take your time and use other tools to recreate your desired effect it can be done better, all i used was the pen tool and fill on numerous layers.

View attachment 22416

Thanks Paul,
That's kind of the route I'm avoiding because the actual shape that I'm using is way more complicated with slight curves and I'll need to use some lighting to get nice shadows that I'm afraid I just dont have the ability to do manually.

I'm mainly wondering if there actually is a way to do this in 3d in Photoshop.
I feel like there's probably a simple way but it's just not obvious or maybe it's just easier in another program that I don't have.

 

[Paul]

Yeah a good 3D prog would do it but you did ask for Photoshop versions, like i did state you can improve on what i showed vastly with time and different tools in the box.

Illustrator can help also http://layersmagazine.com/creating-3d-shapes-in-illustrator.html

 

[Dustin Wadsworth]

Thanks again paul. I guess to re phrase my question:
Is there a way to do this by using 3d tools without "building" layers of filled paths etc?
I really need this to be in a 3D space so that I can light it and have nice soft shadows.

I can make a 3d object and light it in photoshop no problem, the thing that I can't for the life of me figure out is how to have a flat plane and then an inverted shape with the red color!

Paul can this be done as a 3D object or is your way the only way this can be done?

 

[Paul]

My way is not the only way, Photoshop is a vast book of endless ways to do anything your mind can conceive.
I think you are answering your own question, you need a 3D program to do what you desire, but shop and illustrator would do it with time and know how.

Maybe post your 3D version that you can make in Photoshop, so we can have a look see at what level you are at?

 

[Dustin Wadsworth]

Not sure this is a good example of what level I'm at with using 3D in photoshop but here's exactly the shape I want to look like the reference above as a 3d object sans lighting.

What I'm doing is designing an invitation for an artists opening. The artist (who's work is the reference picture I posted) wants it to look like that but as the letter "M" and from there it's just typesetting and layout with 2D font.

If anybody knows how to do this in 3d in photoshop, I would be eternally grateful.

So I want this:

To look like this:

 

[Paul]

You could have a look http://sixrevisions.com/graphics-design/40-useful-adobe-illustrator-3d-tutorials-and-techniques/ That or you do need a 3D prog.

 

[Dustin Wadsworth]

Thanks for the link Paul. I bookmarked it, could come in handy.

So I just shifted my approach and I did end up answering my own question!

In case anybody reading this has the same problem I had: What I'm going to try is to make the "M" a negative space in a larger 3d object that covers the entire frame and simply snap it to the ground plane, which will be the red color I want.

I was looking for an actual tool that could do this as easily as it is to create a 3D object. Essentially this is the same process just a little different way to think about it.

I'll post what I came up with when I'm done.

 

[Dustin Wadsworth]

So this was what I ended up with in Photoshop.

I didn't end up needing to use Illustrator (though this might be the way to go in the future,) this can be done in Photoshop in 3D space!

The way I did it was to create a white solid, lay a text "M" down. Select the "M" and cut out the M shape from my white solid. Then turn that into a 3D layer.

So essentially I had a donut with an M shaped hole in 3D space.

I then rotated my M donut parallel to the ground plane. Snapped it to the ground plane. Colored the ground plane blue and lit it.

I'll probably never need to do this again but I'm still curious if there's a better way. Anyway, this is the way I did it and if anybody has questions I'm totally willing to help!

 

[IamSam]

Here's my rough effort with Ps 3D. I'm still learning Ps, so I couldn't figure out how to tone the shadows down. The color is off because I used the color of the M instead of the other image you provided, and I should have reshaped the M before I started, the bevels came out funny.