Custom Image for the 2D Representation

Working on a project in Live Interior 3D, you can come to the necessity of using third party 3D objects. While importing an object to Live Interior, you will be asked to define an image to display the imported object on the floor plan (so called “2D representation”). The built-in library of images (Type & Representation dialog) contains outlines for more or less common objects. Sure, a rectangle will be fine for tables, wardrobes, bookcases, etc. But what if you want furniture or other objects look more recognizable in 2D? Or, if you have imported some unique piece of decoration? For such cases, Live Interior lets you use a custom image for the 2D representation.

Great, but are you familiar with computer graphics? If so, you can draw an image by yourself. If not, an attempt to find a passing image on the Internet will fail — there are too many images on the web to look through. The method below can help you to create an image without any experience in graphic software. Note, the method is useless (and there is no need) for objects with flat top like tables. Use simple shapes (rectangles or circles) for such objects.

What you need: Live Interior 3D and a graphic program supporting Core Image filters. As the second program, Image Tricks can be used as it supports Core Image, has a crop tool (which is helpful), and is a freeware.

Let's think that the object has already been imported to Live Interior. A chair below will be used for this example.

1. Preparations in Live Interior 3D

1.1. Create a new project (File > New Blank).

1.2. Draw a floor. Open the Materials tab of the Inspector. Choose the “Matte paint” category of materials and scroll thumbnails to find white color. It is at the very bottom of the thumbnail box. We need this to get rid of the green color in the background of the 3D scene.

1.3. Copy the object imported into your working project and paste into the blank project. Move to the 2D view. Place the object to the middle of the floor.

Move to the 3D view. Switch the Inspector to the Cameras tab and choose “From Top” in the Predefined Cameras section.

1.5. Use the walk controls to position the point of view right over the object. The chair shown above looks like the following.

Note that by changing the point of view slightly, you may show or hide some overhung parts (door handles, for instance).

1.6. Select the Lights Only lighting method (View > 3D View > Rendering Quality > Lights Only) to have bright light with no shadows.

1.7. (optional) Change materials of the object. For our purpose, it is better to use solid-colored materials (from the “Matte paint” category) instead of textured like stone and wood. Use different (contrast) colors if the object requires several materials. The chair was changed this way.

1.8. Create a screenshot of the object. Press Cmd-Shift-4 and select the area around the object. A graphic file will appear on your Desktop.

2. Processing the image in Image Tricks

2.1. Open the image made at step 1.8. in Image Tricks.

2.2. Apply the Edges filter to get the image outlined. (Now and further, click the Apply button to apply the chosen filter).

2.3. Apply the Color Invert filter to have white image background.

2.4. Convert the image to black and white. For this, choose the Color Monochrome filter and change the color to black.

2.5. Use the Crop tool to remove unnecessary lines that may appear along the image edges.

2.6. The image is ready. Save it to the PDF format.

3. Changing the 2D representation image to a custom one

3.1. Open the project you work on in Live Interior.

3.2. Right-click on the object whose 2D image should be changed, and choose Type & Representation in the context menu.

3.4. In the Type & Representation dialog box, click the Custom image button and navigate to the new image. Then click OK to confirm.

Now, your object has a new view on the floor plan.

Nick Shubin
Published: August 2007
Last reviewed: May 2010