Inflate Tool Covering Image instead of Applying.

[Braden29289451gu7p]

I've recently started using Illustrator, and when using images with the 3D inflate tool, it won't apply. 

My process has been to, first, apply a colored background, then add the PNG image, then group them, and apply the 3D Inflate effect.

While it applies to the Backgroud Rectangle, and any other basic shapes I have grouped, it won't apply to the image. 

What should I do to fix this? 

[Bobby Henderson]

I'm not sure if I understand this correctly. Are you expecting the Inflate tool to automatically convert the subject matter in a 2D PNG image into something with 3D geometry? A PNG or JPEG image is nothing more than a flat rectangular plane containing a bunch of colored, square pixels. The Inflate tool and other functions in the 3D and Materials dialog box work best on vector-based objects.

[Braden29289451gu7p]

Hi, after converting the imagine to a vector object it gave more dimensions to the image, but can you get rid of the white outside on a Vector object? Since currently it currently has a white background. However, I could still just be totally confused, since I am new to all of this. 

[Braden29289451gu7p]

Okay, i've gotten my current Vector to work and inflate correctly, but i'm still wondering for ways to delete the white backgroud/outside. 

[Monika Gause]

This is not a tool, but an effect.

So you used Image Trace to vectorize something and then you applied the 3D effect? You should have deleted the white objects and then apply the effect. You can also delete them afterwards.

It always helps when you show the artwork you are having trouble with.

[Braden29289451gu7p]

I've figured everything out now, thanks for the help! 

[Kendra Dianne31067220yyys]

please share for those of us still figuring this part out how you fixed it!

[Monika Gause]

---

@Kendra Dianne31067220yyys  schrieb:

please share for those of us still figuring this part out how you fixed it!

---

You could post a screenshot of your issue to get help with it.

[Harry374425215pxc]

I to hadthis problem I finally overcome it by downloading the clipart file as a .svg file

[Harry374425215pxc · Accepted solution]

I'm overcome this issue by saving the file I needed to puff as a svg file then it inflates with using 3D inflate. It's trial and error realy, but remember to save it as a svg file and then it will work on the first heading on the top scan down until you come to place then click it and 5he file folder will open look for where you saved it and ok it then go through the normal 3D material inflate using your svg file 8t will work brilliantly

[Harry374425215pxc]

I to have had this trouble but I finally overcome it. You must download the file as a .svg

[Harry374425215pxc]

You can draw a star place it on the top of a rectangle then color it and groupe both the rectangle  and the star then go to the top in affects chose 3D materials and then inflate. It workswith texts as well just experiment arround with it until your happy.

[Harry374425215pxc]

I have the same trouble can yo write out how you overcome it please. Harry.

[Bobby Henderson]

It sounds like you're trying to convert a flat photograph of something into a 3D scene. There really isn't any automatic way to do that, even in a full-fledged 3D modeling application. Proper looking 3D objects usually have to be built manually.

Google Earth offers a pretty good example where you can see this difference. The digital globe application has a "terrain" layer featuring a lot of auto-generated 3D relief of hills, mountains, valleys and buildings. Much of this auto-generated stuff is very crude in nature. The buildings look like blocks of melting ice cream. Google Earth also has a 3D Buildings layer. If that layer is turned on you can "fly" into well-known locations, such as Manhattan, and see a lot of 3D models of skyscrapers that were manually built and texture mapped. The 3D models of well-known buildings tend to have more effort put into them.

The 3D effects in Adobe Illustrator are pretty basic in nature. They're good for quick-and-dirty tasks, such as applying 3D effects to some lettering or other simple vector-based objects. Illustrator is not the application I would use for creating a complex 3D scene. Applications such as Blender (open source) or Maya (commercial) are going to be far more effective.

[Lissa33802701y2ew]

Help please 😞 my client gave me an image with white background but want to change it to light brown then 3D. Used an online tool to remove the background of the image then used that image in Illustrator. 3d inflate does not work 😞 already tried everything i can. Im a newbie though.

1. I added first a rectangle in Light brown color
2. Placed the image with removed background
3. 3d inflate - no effect in the image 😞

Most of the time, it will only apply the 3d inflate in the light brown rectangle.

[Bobby Henderson]

Your client wants you to build a complete 3D modeled scene out of a photograph he supplied and do so using Illustrator? Depending on the subject matter in the image your client may have some very unrealistic expectations.

It would be one thing if the client just wanted the image he supplied to you manipulated in some way, such as the color scheme changed. Such things can be do-able using Photoshop. Creating actual 3D models of elements depicted in a 2D photograph can potentially turn into a mountain of time consuming work. That's even when using a full fledged 3D modeling application such as Maya, Studio 3D Max, Blender, etc.

[Jon360100881b2a]

Bobby it's kind of insane that you gave such a drawn out response without any actual help. I believe Lisa was looking for more of an immediate workaround rather than being directed towards some complex 3D software that no doubt has its own learning curve. Looks like Braden found that workaround. 

[Harry374425215pxc]

Can you please tell me how you overcome this problem as I have the same trouble.

[Monika Gause]

Can you please post a screenshot of your artwork and describe what you want to do with it?

[Harry374425215pxc]

Sorted it now by trial and error you need to download the file you will be using as a svg file.