URGENT: super fast way to get 2d sketches into 3d models needed!

[mixedupmacandpc]

Hi all, I need to find a super fast way to get 2d sketches into 3d models. I have a bunch or raster drawings that i want to make into models very quickly for some prototyping with end animation in something like c4d or AE or whatever, I don't care. But I need to get the flat files extruded quickly. What would you do? thanks!!!!
:cheers

[dogtrombone]

You could get the sketches into Illustrator 8 format, import them into the spline modeller of Carrara, and extrude them there.

[mixedupmacandpc]

hi dog, i was thinking along those lines too and right now i am trying to take the sketches, which are in PSD layers, into Illustrator Cs2 (what's version 8?) and then doing a live trace and maybe an extrude. Not going so well so far...

so dont extrude but vectorize using live trace no? then export in illi 8 format into carrara? i can do that...
:notworthy

[Edited on 10/8/2007 by mixedupmacandpc]

[dogtrombone]

CS2 is version 12. Carrara only imports Illustrator files up to version 8. You would need to save your Illustrator file in version 8.
If you're interested, I've got a real good Quicktime video tut of the Carrara process. It's 9.5 Mb, if you want it and your inbox can accept... let me have your email address.

[mixedupmacandpc]

crap, there is no carrarra pro 6 import for .ai, is there?

hmmm, what about making a 3d layer in PS and exporting to obj and bringing that in.... hmmmm...i need to get this done fast. maybe i should just start modeling!

[dogtrombone]

Carrara 6 Pro does import .ai files (I've done it myself).

[mixedupmacandpc]

Originally posted by dogtrombone
CS2 is version 12. Carrara only imports Illustrator files up to version 8. You would need to save your Illustrator file in version 8.
If you're interested, I've got a real good Quicktime video tut of the Carrara process. It's 9.5 Mb, if you want it and your inbox can accept... let me have your email address.

my email is just 5 or 6 i think...but i would like to see...

i think i got it figured out (i think cpro6 has a bug in the import dialog) but i got the .ai into a spline but it's just an extruded block....

[dogtrombone]

That's a start... now depends on what you want to do with it. In spline modeller, you could bevel the edges, or if you want to do more, you could take it into the vertex modeller for more options.

[TheSecret]

Hi...Strata software is great for converting 2D into 3D and has photoshop plug in facilities...

[G-Quay]

Did you ever get it to work?

I remember trying the same thing a few months back..now Im doing it in reverse. Make the model from a sketch..then turn into a vector image. I found that extruding the image wasnt enough. I also played around with pixels, sort of like the old school video games. That turned out pretty cool. If you turn the sketch into a colored vector then extrude the vector image at an angle. I wanted to do something like that in the design challenge 8, didnt have the time.

[mixedupmacandpc]

My god I started this thread in October...pre-leopard and a new mac. I think what I wound up doing with the sketches was to scan the sketches into Manga Studio and using the extrude there, which gave a nice effect but kinda worthless as a model. Then I decided just to build the models from scratch using whatever made sense, Poser, C4D, and a little Vue and Carrara thrown in just for fun. For me, the time to convert or to figure it out was taking more time then actually doing it by hand. Good info however, thanks!

[w@rtistic]

hehehe :lol

[stephenmorphey]

Hi mixedupmacandpc,
I think you can do it by converting your sketches into Illustrator 8 format, then importing them into the spline modeller, and extrude them there.
i recommend you use either carrara 6 or CS12. both of them allow version 12.

[mixedupmacandpc]

the thread that refuses to die! thx stephan!