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 2D graphics? If so, you can
draw an image by yourself. If not, an attempt to find a passing image in 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 graphics 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. (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 to the following.
1.7. Make a screenshot of the object. Press Cmd-Shift-4 and select
the area around the object. A “Picture 1” file will appear on your
Desktop. Pressing the shortcut multiple times will give you “Picture 2”,
“Picture 3” and so on.
2. Processing the image in Image Tricks
2.1. Open the image made at step 1.7. in Image Tricks.
2.2. Use the Crop tool to remove unnecessary white margins around
the image.
2.3. Apply the Edges filter to get the image outlined. (Now and
further, click the Apply button to apply the chosen filter).
2.4. Apply the Color Invert filter to have white image background.
2.5. Convert the image to black and white. For this, choose the
Color Monochrome filter and change the color to black.
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. Select 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 PDF image made in 2.6. Then click OK to confirm.
Your object has got a new image for the floor plan.
Nick Shubin
Published: August 2007
Last reviewed: April 2008
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