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Brian22033132w63c
Participating Frequently
July 13, 2022
Question

Turn a 3D PDF into a file I can edit in Dimension and apply new artwork

  • July 13, 2022
  • 5 replies
  • 4104 views

Hi, 

I have a 3D PDF of my product. It is an awkward shape carton. I know there are versions of this carton that you can apply artwork to in Dimensions, so I assume this is the best option.

 

I am hoping I can basically turn this PDF file in a Dimensions file so I can apply artwork to the surface in place of the existing artwork I have on it with a simple drag and drop approach. 

 

Alternatively, if someone knows a way I can do this directly with the 3D PDF that'd be great too.

 

Photoshop is not a good option due to angled surfaces connecting to the sides that means to continuity of my artwork is bad (and outside my skillset).

Thanks so much in advance,

B

This topic has been closed for replies.

5 replies

Ussnorway7605025
Ussnorway7605025
Legend
July 20, 2022

i'd say there are 3 models here; the carton itself [which has some old folds], the cap and the mess of dots that I think was the clip on top of the carton... if the maker does have these as seperate models then yes that would be great

 

reapiring the carton on two of the faces can be done with the magic wand because they are just a flat surface, select it with the wand and get a new material will auto generate a new UV map for that area which any inage can slide onto

 

the other two faces have part of their area covered by folds so if you want your artwork to wrap around the fold then that takes a skilled 3D artist time to unwrap the carton itself i.e, the actual model, then you remap the flat model UV map onto the folded model you have now using a software like 3Dwrap... not quick but, it is doable

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Brian22033132w63cAuthor
Participating Frequently
July 20, 2022

Who'd have thought it'd be so hard to make a fancy box work! xD 
Your & Ussnorway's logic certainly paved a path to getting the end result and learning the skills though. 

I'm guessing it is not possible to draw around a shape and create UV lines from scratch (also deleting all existing UV lines) rather than having to manually select the seams generated and marking them one by one? 

I'll certainly try the magic wand technique mentioned by Ussnorway. If the side and top will connect properly turning from side to side should be quite manageable for most artwork I have created with little lining up required.

Ussnorway7605025
Ussnorway7605025
Legend
July 21, 2022
quote

I'm guessing it is not possible to draw around a shape and create UV lines from scratch (also deleting all existing UV lines) rather than having to manually select the seams generated and marking them one by one?


By @Brian22033132w63c

its not possible with Adobe Dimension but the magic wand is a workaround in some cases because whatever new selection you make on the model will get a new UV map made when you change the material type

you don't normally need the UV map to be everywhere... as long as a few faces have a good map thats normally fine for adding a label for a product shot

 

  • generally Blender is MUCH better tool for any kind of UV work with different auto options and control over where the edges of the map go on the model

 

side note; what you also have to watch out for is assume objects are 3D just because the Pdf shows them that way... its very easy to trick a human eye into seeing 3D with nothing more than a few dots moving in a path

Ussnorway7605025
Ussnorway7605025
Legend
July 19, 2022

well I took a shot at it

    davescm
    Community Expert
    davescmCommunity Expert
    Community Expert
    July 19, 2022

    Hi

    I just had a quick look at the obj file you sent. The problem is that the UVs are separated for each model face and distributed almost randomly over the UV map. What you want is the UVs to be set out the same way as the flattened artwork would be as it goes to the printers. That way you could just overlay your artwork onto the model and scale as appropriate.

    What is not clear to me is whether the UVs in the file you sent, are set out the way you received them, or whether you have gone through a process of generating them (which has split them up and distributed them randomly).

     

    Ideally, I would ask the packager for a model with UV that you can just use directly. If that is not possible then you can start assembling the UV islands in a different order (using Blender) as shown by USSNorway. However for that to work with your artwork, you would need to drop the artwork as an image into Blender and then move each part over the relevant part of the artwork. You can watch live to ensure each part is appearing on the right bit of the model.That will take a bit of patient work but once done, replacement of the artwork image is simple.

     

     

    Dave

     

     

     

      Ussnorway7605025
      Ussnorway7605025
      Legend
      July 15, 2022

      at this point I would make a new map in Blender as the best fix of the model

      @davescm 

      p.s, the holdup is because i can't open that PDF to get anything but the model UV you show has been cut up by computer... did you try using Dimensions magic wand on the model to make a new UV i.e, select all the out edge with the tool then apply a new material and export UV?

      Ares Hovhannesyan
      Community Expert
      Ares HovhannesyanCommunity Expert
      Community Expert
      July 16, 2022

      @Ussnorway7605025  Here is screenshot from Acrobat. 

      I also can suggest Generate UV in Dimension befor using Export UV. 

        B
        Brian22033132w63cAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        July 16, 2022

        I gave that (generate UV) a go too and it look the same as the screenshot unfortunately. 

        Ussnorway7605025
        Ussnorway7605025
        Legend
        July 14, 2022

        show us the 3D PDF please... willing to best its actually 2D but without seeing it we can't really guess what steps are needed

        B
        Brian22033132w63cAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        July 14, 2022

        Hopefully it is 3D xD It does rotate to give any angle. 

        Please note it may take a while to load etc and an option may have to be checked before the image will show. 

        Thanks so much for any assistance! 

        Ares Hovhannesyan
        Community Expert
        Ares HovhannesyanCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        July 14, 2022

        You have to extract 3d object from pdf. Here is some tips. Different Ways to Extract a 3D Model From a 3D PDF File – big little pictures

        You can use Photoshop (preferably old version) otherwise Ps will prompt you to make changes in preferences as in latest version some 3d properties are deprecated. Select layer and export 3d object. Than import into Dimension.

         

        If your customers need only it from one angle you can export it as jpg and change image.  

        If they have created 3d object, send them image and ask them to replace it. My 2 cents.

         

        Let's see what @Ussnorway7605025 can suggest.

        Ares Hovhannesyan
        Community Expert
        Ares HovhannesyanCommunity Expert
        Community Expert
        July 13, 2022

        You can use png, jpeg file for placing on the object in Dimension. As Dimension can't import pdf you need to extract png or jpg from your pdf file for importing into Dimension,

        Dimension also can import Illustrator and Photoshop file. In that case you have to open or import PDF files into Ai or Ps and save them as ai or psd file for importing into DImension 

        B
        Brian22033132w63cAuthor
        Participating Frequently
        July 13, 2022

        Thanks Ares, but in dragging the PNG file in I'd lose the 3D aspect and ability to then add artwork onto it?

        I really need to replace the artwork that is on the carton on my 3D PDF, if you have any ideas perhaps outside of Dimension for this?

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