The purpose of this studio room is to show how images derived from three-dimensional computer models can be changed significantly after they are rendered into PICT or other image formats. These changes must be done in an image-editing application. To my mind, no better program exists for this work than Adobe Photoshop. All scenographers who make three-dimensional computer models should have this application on their computers.
Color Changes Using
Photoshop Variations Option
Fig. 1 Colors of Real World Model
This is a digital camera shot of a real-world model for William Shakespeare's The Tempest.
The colors shown in figure 1 reflect those of the paints used on the model. Once this image has been captured as a digital file, the tonality of model image, unlike the colors on the real-world model, can be quickly changed using Adobe Photoshop. Using the Variations Option in Photoshop (fig. 2), scenographers can explore various tonality possibilities in a matter of seconds. If an alternative scheme is selected,such as those shown in figure 3 and figure 4, the new version can be saved as a separate file using the Save As . . . option leaving the original file untouched. If further changes are made, or if original decisions are reconsidered, the original files are still available.
This is how the Variations Option appears in the Photoshop menu:
Fig. 2 Variations Option in Adobe Photoshop
Fig. 3 Gold Variation
Fig. 4 Blue Variation
A more controlled way to change tonalities of model images can be done in the Hue / Saturation Photoshop option dialog box shown below (Fig. 5).
Fig. 5 Hue / Saturation Dialog Box in Adobe Photoshop
This dialog option is helpful for fine tuning images. The hue, saturation, and lightness of an image can be done for the entire image by leaving the Master button or, by selecting buttons below the Master button, individual color can be altered.
Creating Scrim Effects in
Adobe Photoshop
It is difficult to predict the exact effect scrim images will have on real-world models. There is no real practical way to show how a selected image will act under performance conditions. For computer-generated 3-D models, however, it is a relatively easy matter to simulate the effect of a scrim that bears a painting of a desired image. The way this is done is to use the Layers options in Photoshop version 3 or higher (or any other computer paint program that supports layers). The steps needed are demonstrated in the illustrations that follow:
Figure 1 shows a rendered image of a 3-D model constructed in Strata Studio Pro and opened in Photoshop.
Fig. 1 Luther: John Osborne
Figure 2 shows an image of Matthias Grunewald taken from a site called the WebMuseum, Paris.
Fig. 2 The Crucifixion: Matthias Grunewald
Figure 3 shows the Layers option dialog box where the scrim image above is placed over the setting shown in figure 1 with the Opacity slider set at 50%.
Fig. 3 Layers Dialog Box in Photoshop 3.05
Figure 4 shows how the scrim image appears with the Opacity slider set at 100% (or completely opaque).
Fig. 4 Scrim at 100% Opacity
Figure 5 show a larger image of the point when the lights behind the scrim have been raised 50% to reveal the setting behind it.
Fig. 5 Luther Setting Behind Scrim
This effect can be saved as an active file (that is, retaining its ability to show the scrim effect dynamically) only in the Photoshop file format. This creates a very large file; too large to put on a High Density floppy disk (although it is easily transported on a Zip disk or on a Jaz disk). The alternative is to capture separate pictures of the 100% image and of the 50% image in two different files. These may be saved in more space-saving formats such as JPEG or GIF like the images used on this site.
