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Combine and convert 3D objects

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  1. Photoshop User Guide
  2. Introduction to Photoshop
    1. Dream it. Make it.
    2. What's new in Photoshop
    3. Edit your first photo
    4. Create documents
    5. Photoshop | Common Questions
    6. Photoshop system requirements
    7. Migrate presets, actions, and settings
    8. Get to know Photoshop
  3. Photoshop and other Adobe products and services
    1. Work with Illustrator artwork in Photoshop
    2. Work with Photoshop files in InDesign
    3. Substance 3D Materials for Photoshop
    4. Photoshop and Adobe Stock
    5. Use the Capture in-app extension in Photoshop
    6. Creative Cloud Libraries
    7. Creative Cloud Libraries in Photoshop
    8. Use the Touch Bar with Photoshop
    9. Grid and guides
    10. Creating actions
    11. Undo and history
  4. Photoshop on the iPad
    1. Photoshop on the iPad | Common questions
    2. Get to know the workspace
    3. System requirements | Photoshop on the iPad
    4. Create, open, and export documents
    5. Add photos
    6. Work with layers
    7. Draw and paint with brushes
    8. Make selections and add masks
    9. Retouch your composites
    10. Work with adjustment layers
    11. Adjust the tonality of your composite with Curves
    12. Apply transform operations
    13. Crop and rotate your composites
    14. Rotate, pan, zoom, and reset the canvas
    15. Work with Type layers
    16. Work with Photoshop and Lightroom
    17. Get missing fonts in Photoshop on the iPad
    18. Japanese Text in Photoshop on the iPad
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    20. Touch shortcuts and gestures
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    22. Edit your image size
    23. Livestream as you create in Photoshop on the iPad
    24. Correct imperfections with the Healing Brush
    25. Create brushes in Capture and use them in Photoshop
    26. Work with Camera Raw files
    27. Create and work with Smart Objects
    28. Adjust exposure in your images with Dodge and Burn
  5. Photoshop on the web beta
    1. Common questions | Photoshop on the web beta 
    2. Introduction to the workspace
    3. System requirements | Photoshop on the web beta
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    5. Supported file types | Photoshop on the web beta
    6. Open and work with cloud documents
    7. Collaborate with stakeholders
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  6. Cloud documents
    1. Photoshop cloud documents | Common questions
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    3. Manage and work with cloud documents in Photoshop
    4. Upgrade cloud storage for Photoshop
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  7. Workspace
    1. Workspace basics
    2. Learn faster with the Photoshop Discover Panel
    3. Create documents
    4. Use the Touch Bar with Photoshop
    5. Tool galleries
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    13. Touch capabilities and customizable workspaces
    14. Place Photoshop images in other applications
    15. Preferences
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    25. Presets
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  8. Web, screen, and app design
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  9. Image and color basics
    1. How to resize images
    2. Work with raster and vector images
    3. Image size and resolution
    4. Acquire images from cameras and scanners
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    6. View images
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    8. Viewing multiple images
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    10. High dynamic range images
    11. Match colors in your image
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    20. About color
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    25. Color cast
    26. Add a conditional mode change to an action
    27. Add swatches from HTML CSS and SVG
    28. Bit depth and preferences
  10. Layers
    1. Layer basics
    2. Nondestructive editing
    3. Create and manage layers and groups
    4. Select, group, and link layers
    5. Place images into frames
    6. Layer opacity and blending
    7. Mask layers
    8. Apply Smart Filters
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    11. Mask layers with vector masks
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    13. Layer effects and styles
    14. Edit layer masks
    15. Extract assets
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    17. Generate image assets from layers
    18. Work with Smart Objects
    19. Blending modes
    20. Combine multiple images into a group portrait
    21. Combine images with Auto-Blend Layers
    22. Align and distribute layers
    23. Copy CSS from layers
    24. Load selections from a layer or layer mask's boundaries
    25. Knockout to reveal content from other layers
    26. Layer
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    28. Composite
    29. Background
  11. Selections
    1. Select and Mask workspace
    2. Make quick selections
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    4. Select with the marquee tools
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    6. Select a color range in an image
    7. Adjust pixel selections
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    11. Create a temporary quick mask
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    13. Select the image areas in focus
    14. Duplicate, split, and merge channels
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    3. Healing brush examples
    4. Export color lookup tables
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    27. Filter
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    30. Make selective color adjustments
    31. Replace object colors
  13. Adobe Camera Raw
    1. Camera Raw system requirements
    2. What's new in Camera Raw
    3. Introduction to Camera Raw
    4. Create panoramas
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    9. How to make non-destructive edits in Camera Raw
    10. Radial Filter in Camera Raw
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    12. Open, process, and save images in Camera Raw
    13. Repair images with the Enhanced Spot Removal tool in Camera Raw
    14. Rotate, crop, and adjust images
    15. Adjust color rendering in Camera Raw
    16. Feature summary | Adobe Camera Raw | 2018 releases
    17. New features summary
    18. Process versions in Camera Raw
    19. Make local adjustments in Camera Raw
  14. Image repair and restoration
    1. Remove objects from your photos with Content-Aware Fill
    2. Content-Aware Patch and Move
    3. Retouch and repair photos
    4. Correct image distortion and noise
    5. Basic troubleshooting steps to fix most issues
  15. Image transformations
    1. Transform objects
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    3. How to crop and straighten photos
    4. Create and edit panoramic images
    5. Warp images, shapes, and paths
    6. Vanishing Point
    7. Use the Liquify filter
    8. Content-aware scaling
    9. Transform images, shapes, and paths
    10. Warp
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  16. Drawing and painting
    1. Paint symmetrical patterns
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    3. About drawing
    4. Draw and edit shapes
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    6. Create and modify brushes
    7. Blending modes
    8. Add color to paths
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    10. Paint with the Mixer Brush
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    13. Gradient interpolation
    14. Fill and stroke selections, layers, and paths
    15. Draw with the Pen tools
    16. Create patterns
    17. Generate a pattern using the Pattern Maker
    18. Manage paths
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    21. Create textured brushes
    22. Add dynamic elements to brushes
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    24. Paint stylized strokes with the Art History Brush
    25. Paint with a pattern
    26. Sync presets on multiple devices
  17. Text
    1. Add and edit the text
    2. Unified Text Engine
    3. Work with OpenType SVG fonts
    4. Format characters
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    6. How to create type effects
    7. Edit text
    8. Line and character spacing
    9. Arabic and Hebrew type
    10. Fonts
    11. Troubleshoot fonts
    12. Asian type
    13. Create type
    14. Text Engine error using Type tool in Photoshop | Windows 8
  18. Video and animation
    1. Video editing in Photoshop
    2. Edit video and animation layers
    3. Video and animation overview
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    5. Paint frames in video layers
    6. Import video files and image sequences
    7. Create frame animations
    8. Creative Cloud 3D Animation (Preview)
    9. Create timeline animations
    10. Create images for video
  19. Filters and effects
    1. Use the Liquify filter
    2. Use the Blur Gallery
    3. Filter basics
    4. Filter effects reference
    5. Add Lighting Effects
    6. Use the Adaptive Wide Angle filter
    7. Use the Oil Paint filter
    8. Layer effects and styles
    9. Apply specific filters
    10. Smudge image areas
  20. Saving and exporting
    1. Save your files in Photoshop
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    3. Supported file formats
    4. Save files in graphics formats
    5. Move designs between Photoshop and Illustrator
    6. Save and export video and animations
    7. Save PDF files
    8. Digimarc copyright protection
  21. Printing
    1. Print 3D objects
    2. Print from Photoshop
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    4. Contact Sheets and PDF Presentations
    5. Print photos in a picture package layout
    6. Print spot colors
    7. Duotones
    8. Print images to a commercial printing press
    9. Improve color prints from Photoshop
    10. Troubleshoot printing problems | Photoshop
  22. Automation
    1. Creating actions
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    3. Scripting
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    6. Add conditional actions
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    8. Record tools in actions
    9. Add a conditional mode change to an action
    10. Photoshop UI toolkit for plug-ins and scripts
  23. Color Management
    1. Understanding color management
    2. Keeping colors consistent
    3. Color settings
    4. Work with color profiles
    5. Color-managing documents for online viewing
    6. Color-managing documents when printing
    7. Color-managing imported images
    8. Proofing colors
  24. Content authenticity
    1. Learn about content credentials
    2. Identity and provenance for NFTs
    3. Connect accounts for creative attribution
  25. 3D and technical imaging
    1. Photoshop 3D | Common questions around discontinued 3D features
    2. Creative Cloud 3D Animation (Preview)
    3. Print 3D objects
    4. 3D painting
    5. 3D panel enhancements | Photoshop
    6. Essential 3D concepts and tools
    7. 3D rendering and saving
    8. Create 3D objects and animations
    9. Image stacks
    10. 3D workflow
    11. Measurement
    12. DICOM files
    13. Photoshop and MATLAB
    14. Count objects in an image
    15. Combine and convert 3D objects
    16. 3D texture editing
    17. Adjust HDR exposure and toning
    18. 3D panel settings

  Discontinuation of 3D features in Photoshop

Photoshop’s 3D features will be removed in future updates. Users working with 3D are encouraged to explore Adobe’s new Substance 3D collection, which represents the next generation of 3D tools from Adobe. Additional details on the discontinuation of Photoshop’s 3D features can be found here: Photoshop 3D | Common questions on discontinued 3D features.

Combine 3D objects

Merging 3D layers allows you to combine multiple 3D models in one scene. Once combined, each 3D model can be manipulated separately, or you can use position and camera tools on all models simultaneously.

  1. Open two document windows, each containing a 3D layer.

  2. Make the source document (the file from which you are copying the 3D layer) active.

  3. Select the 3D layer in the Layers panel and drag it into the window of the target document (the file which will contain the combined 3D objects).

    The 3D layer is added as a new 3D layer in the target document. It becomes the active layer in the Layers panel of the target document.

  4. In the Tools panel, select a 3D camera tool.

  5. In the options bar, from the Position menu, select the layer name for the original 3D layer in the target file.

    After you match the camera position of the two 3D layers, the two 3D objects appear together in the scene. Use the 3D object tools to reposition the objects before merging.

  6. From the Layers panel options menu , choose Merge Down.

    The two 3D layers are combined into one 3D layer. The point of origin of each model is aligned.

    Note:

    Depending on the size of each 3D model, one model may appear partially or completely embedded in the other model after merging 3D layers.

After merging two 3D models, all meshes and materials from each 3D file are contained in the target file and appear in the 3D panel. In the Meshes panel, you can select and reposition individual meshes using the 3D position tools in the panel. See 3D Mesh settings.

Note:

To alternate between moving all models at once and moving individual models in the layer, switch between the 3D position tools in the Tools panel and the tools in the Meshes panel.

Combine 3D and 2D layers

You can combine 3D layers with one or more 2D layers to create composite effects. For example, you can place a model against a background image and change its position or viewing angle to match the background.

  1. Do one of the following:

    • With the 2D file open, choose 3D > New Layer from 3D File, and open a 3D file.

    • With both a 2D file and a 3D file open, drag either the 2D or 3D layer from one file into the open document window of the other file. The layer you add moves to the top of the Layers panel.

    When working in a file with combined 2D and 3D layers, you can temporarily hide the 2D layers while working with the 3D layer.

Hide layers for better performance

In a multi-layer document with 2D layers above a 3D layers, you can temporarily move the 3D layer to the top of the layer stack for faster screen rendering.

  1. Choose 3D > Auto-Hide Layers For Performance.

  2. Select a 3D Position or Camera tool.

When you hold down the mouse button with either tool, all 2D layers are temporarily hidden. When you release the mouse, all 2D layers reappear. Moving any part of the 3D Axis also hides all 2D layers.

Convert a 3D layer to a 2D layer

Converting a 3D layer to a 2D layer rasterizes the 3D content in its current state. Convert a 3D layer to a regular layer only if you no longer want to edit the 3D model position, render mode, textures, or lights. The rasterized image retains the appearance of the 3D scene, but in a flattened 2D format.

  1. Select the 3D layer in the Layers panel, and choose 3D > Rasterize.

Convert a 3D layer to a Smart Object

Converting a 3D layer to a Smart Object allows you to retain the 3D information contained in the 3D layer. After converting, you can apply transforms or other adjustments like Smart Filters to the Smart Object. You can reopen the Smart Object layer to edit the original 3D scene. Any transforms or adjustments applied to the Smart Object are then applied to the updated 3D content.

  1. Select the 3D layer in the Layers panel.

  2. From the Layers panel option menu, choose Convert to Smart Object.

  3. (Optional) To reedit the 3D content, double-click the Smart Object layer in the Layers panel.

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