How do I wrap an image around a 3D polygon?

[savannahs82895027]

I'm trying to create a potion bottle, or what looks like a perfume bottle. I want it to appear that green smoke is swirling around inside, so I chose to just turn the photo of the green smoke into a 3D polygon. The problem is that I can only figure out how to make either just a bevelled polygon, or just another cube or sphere with the image mapped onto it.

[Monika Gause]

You cannot build that type of object with Illustrator's 3D effects. You will need a 3D application to build it.

Probably Adobe Dimension offers you this kind of object or you can download it from the web to apply the label in Dimension.

[Myra Ferguson]

You can also create some convincing effects in 2D with masking and blend modes, but I'd recommend using Photoshop for that instead of Illustrator.

[rcraighead · Accepted solution]

1. Draw 6 pentagons
2. Convert photo into swatch by dragging to Swatch Panel
3. Fill pentagons with image swatch
4. Selecting each filled object one at a time and:
5. Click "R" to activate Rotate tool
6. Hold down "~" key while rotating. This will rotate ONLY the fill, not the object.
7. Add gradient overlay on each pentagon to create highlights/shadows.

[savannahs82895027]

Thank you!!! I'll try this out later.

[JonathanArias]

thats cool. i would have said do it in photoshop.

[tromboniator]

Nicely done, Ray!

Peter

[Danny Whitehead.]

rcraighead's solution is great, but I'd definitely recommend giving Dimensions a try for a more photorealistic result. I've been too intimidated by 3D software for decades but I've found it pretty easy to learn.

There's a dodecahedron like that in its built-in shapes, and you can apply the green smoke image as a 'decal'.

[rcraighead]

I agree 3D would be great. I haven't played with the "new" Adobe Dimensions. But if you REALLY want 3D power I'd recommend downloading the FREE Blender 3D. It is well worth learning.

[savannahs82895027]

This is what I have now. It kind of looks like I could have just drawn the shape and then layed it over the pic of the smoke, but I'm happy with what I learned! Also, how can I move the object without the fill shifting? I grouped them together, but that didn't work.

[rcraighead]

Well done! Additional rotating of the patterns will help. And imagining a directional light then adjusting gradients to create light and dark sides will improve 3D appearance.

As for moving without changing fills:

1. Select all
2. Click "Make New Symbol" in Symbol Panel
3. Click "Static Symbol" (my preference)

This will make the artwork act like a placed graphic you can scale, rotate, duplicate and move without effecting the fills, etc. Just edit the Symbol by double-clicking it in the Symbols Panel if you want to make changes to the "master" artwork.