Realistic Interior Rendering Photoshop Techniques

Introduction to Photoshop for Interior Design Rendering

Keyboard Shortcuts General Commands and Tools

Brush and Eraser

ctrl + z = undo

e = eraser

alt + ctrl + z = undo stepbackward

b = brush

p = pen tool

alt + click = pick color from canvas

u = shape tool

[ and ] = increase and decrease brush size

g = gradient or fill

#1-0 = increase or decrease brush opacity

t = text tool

shift + drag (with brush) = straight line

i = eye dropper x = alternate between fg or bg color

Layer Functions shift + ctrl + n = new layer

Selections and Marquee

alt + drag layer = duplicate layer

m = marquee tool

shift + layer selection = multiple selection

v = move / arrow tool

ctrl + e = merge layers down

ctrl + d = deselect

double click = open layer style

shift + ctrl + i = select inverse

right click layer = show layer options

ctrl + a = select all

Overview

Keyboard Shortcuts Creating A New File Layers Brush Tool Shape Tool Layer Styles Creating Textures Export From Sketchup

Perspective Rendering

Getting Started

Placing Textures

Shading Ambient Light

Lights ON Details

Accessories and Figures

Review

ctrl + c = copy

Screen and View

ctrl + v = paste

ctrl + (-,+) = zoom in and out

shift + ctrl + v = paste in place

f = change screen view (hide tools) tab = hide tools hold + space bar = pan r = rotate canvas viewport

Resources, Tutorials, and Learning http://helpx.adobe.com/photoshop/topics.html http://www.photoshop.com/learn http://www.photoshop.com/tutorials

http://www.smashingmagazine.com/2010/02/10/photoshop-keyboard-shortcuts-cheat-sheet-pdf/

Make a New File ctrl+n = create new file

Resolution 150 dpi is a good minimum to work at but 300 dpi is ideal. For printed material 300 dpi is standard.

CMYK vs. RGB CMYK (cyan,magenta,yellow,black) are the standard inks used in printing. Documents intended to be printed should be converted to this type of document to ensure desired colors.

RGB (red, green, blue) is the standard for digital media. All documents should be created in this color space for best results when materials are to presented digitally. It is also good practice to work in this color space and convert items to be printed to CMYK and color correct if the materials if desired.

Layers

Shift+ctrl+n = create new layer Layer Types

Layer Opacity

Commonly Used Multiply - Additive layer quality that darkens layers overlapping underneath. (Good for shadows) Screen - Additive layer quality that lightens layers overlapping underneath. (Good for highlights) Overlay - Additive layer quality that lightens, darkens, and increases saturation of layers overlapping underneath. (Makes lights and darks more intense) Color - Additive layer quality that changes the color of layers overlapping underneath.

Make new layer folder Make new layer Trash layer

Brush Controls

b = brush, alt+click = pick color

Brush Tip Shape

Brush Library Allows thick and thin lines

Changes brush angle and shape

Controls spacing of brush stamp

Shape Dynamics

Brush Controls

b = brush, alt+click = pick color

Scattering

Scatter brush stamp amount Allows brush transparency with pen pressure

Transfer

Brushes

b = brush, alt+click = pick color

2.

Making Brushes 1. Draw shapes, texture, patterns, etc.; Select area.

2. Edit > Define Brush Preset...

3. Name brush (Brush will show up at end of library) 4. Play with brush settings to get what you like.

5. Brush presets bar > Save brushes.

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Shape Tool u = shape tool

“U” will default to the shape last used.

Controls opacity of shape.

Make sure “Anti-alias” is checked or lines will be jagged.

Select “pixels” as shape method otherwise unneeded paths will be generated.

Bracket keys [ and ] change size.

Layer Styles double click layer

A quick style that will shadow all shapes on the layer.

Layer Styles

double click layer

A quick style that will color all shapes on the layer.

Layer Styles double click layer

A quick style that will apply a gradient to all shapes on the layer.

Textures

Textures for Photoshop renderings and 3D models

2.

Making Tiling Textures 1. Define material area as “power of 2� square. (256x256, 512x512, etc.)

2. Filter > Other > Offset 3. Make the horizontal and vertical pixels half of the overall size. (Ex: 512 / 2 = 256) 4. Use the rubber stamp tool or the healing brush tool to paint out the seams that appear in the middle vertical and horizontal.

5. Test your tile by placing the squares side by side in both horizontal and vertical directions.

A great resource for textures cgtextures.com 3.

4.

Paint seam

Paint seam

Paint seam

Paint seam

Export From Sketchup

Line drawings to begin rendering in Photoshop.

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Exporting 1. Hide layers and objects or delete unneeded items from your selected view.

2. Window > Styles > Select “HiddenLine.”

3. Increase “Profiles” and “Depth Cue” if needed for more line weight.

4. File > Export 2D Graphic...Click Options and make the desired resolution (6000 px recommended).

5. Export as desired file type.

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Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Getting Started 1. Open the exported image from Sketchup. Add more margin.

2. Place reference and materials into margin of image area and organize.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Placing Textures With the “Distort� Tool 1. Tile material swatches for appropriate coverage.

2. Edit > Transform > Distort (move corners to align with perspective).

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Materials Placed Base materials and colors placed; begin to apply light and shade.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Shading Ambient and Natural Light (lights OFF) Shade walls and objects according to the ambient and natural light.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Layer Styles for Rendering Apply basic textures with “Pattern Overlay” layer style. Add gradients and shadows with “Inner Shadow” and “Gradient Overlay.”

Example of layer style “Pattern Overlay” to achieve glass texture effect.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Adding Highlights, Shade, and Details After the initial texture pattern is established, add highlights and shading to describe the form in the established lighting scheme.

1. Apply environmental light and reflected light with screen layers.

Reduce opacity if needed. Apply shade with multiply layers.

2. Add mid-level details with established light and shade.

3. Add lines with the line tool for fine detail. Apply somewhat detail reflections if needed.

Finished rendered example.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Lights ON, Reflections, and Details Add screen, overlay, and multiply layers of light, reflection, and shadow details.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Reflections, and Details Once the base rendering is done, the object can be flattened, copied, and distorted to use as reflections.

1. Copy flattened object and flip it vertically. Edit > Transform > Flip vertical.

2. Scale object, set to overlay layer, change opacity if needed.

Section of stool copied and set to overlay.

Before reflections added.

Stool copied, flipped, distorted, set to overlay layer.

Stool copied, flipped, erased, set to overlay layer.

Reflections added.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Lights ON After ambient and natural light and shading is complete, interior lighting can be added over objects as screen and overlay layers.

Use the brush tool with a soft round brush and erase areas that will not receive light. Try applying several layers of overlay and screen for lights.

Before lights ON.

Lights ON.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Accessories and Figures

Once the lighting and shading is completed it’s good to flatten the drawing, except the lines, and continue. This will compress the file to a few layers and make it easier to work. Save the condensed version as a new file name. Add accessories and figures to enhance the image by showing scale and bringing it to life.

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Figures

When placing figures in an image think about the context and what the figures are doing. If a figure doesn’t look like it belongs in the image or it’s deformed and out of proportion it can be very distracting. Because of this it’s common for designers to take advantage of figure vector packages available for sale on-line. These are relatively affordable and can save valuable time and money.

Looking at the design helps the viewer to look there as well.

Interacting with the space.

Grounded on the floor plane.

Vector figure. (Can increase scale and change

shape colors without resolution issues).

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Accessories

Accessory images can be pulled from a personal collection of images or from store websites. Try to find images that go with your space and also work with your perspective. The images can be chopped up and distorted to match perspective and lighting better. They can also be shaded to reinforce the lighting situation. Artistic filters can also be applied to the images to make them feel more drawn or painted like the rest of the image.

Filter > Gallery / Artistic Filters

Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

Review

1. Line drawing exported. 2. Texture and color. 3. Ambient and natural light shading. 4. Lights ON.

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Perspective Rendering Color rendering in Photoshop.

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Review

5. Figures and accessories.