Setting Photoshop layer z-distance workflow?

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Setting Photoshop layer z-distance workflow?

In Motion 5:

Let's say I have a Photoshop photo with 2 layers. The original photo has an object in the foreground - let's say it's a tree or something. In the background are some mountains in the distance. So I cut out the tree and put it in a foreground layer, and clean up the mountains in the background layer so the "hole" is covered as much as needed.

Now I import the file into Motion 5, switch it to 3D, and add a camera. I want to move the camera around and have the tree move appropriately, as well as the mountains in the background (which obviously move much less).

The only way I can figure out how to do this is to change the z-distance of the FG layer (or BG layer). The problem is that as soon as I change the z distance, it zooms the layer. Then I have to resize the layer in an attempt to get it back to the correct size and position, which isn't always a simple task.

Is there a better way to do this? Perhaps some way to tell Motion that the proportions are correct - just pretend there's distance between the layers?

Any help would be appreciated. This is really bugging me!

Thanks.

Dan

iMac (21.5-inch, Late 2012), OS X Mountain Lion (10.8.2)

Posted on Nov 19, 2013 11:38 AM

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Answer 1

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fox_m

Level 6

12,226 points

Nov 19, 2013 2:27 PM in response to Dan Thomas (DAGWare)

You can really only do what you want *easily* with the HUD display.

First (very important) -- line up the Anchor Points of both layers with the center of the canvas (also assuming your PS image is currently centered in the canvas.) If necessary, Show Rulers and drag out guides to mark the center of the canvas. Use the Anchor Point tool (it's easy to align the up and right arrows to the guides.)

Next, select the layer (or layers) you want to move in space (this works with multiple selections too).

Open the HUD -- in the lower third of the display is a set of box icons with directional arrows -- they are controls you can use to maneuver an object in space. The basics of this are: HOLD DOWN the COMMAND key and drag on the leftmost icon to move the layer either forward or backwards in space. If you are in the active camera view, it will appear as if nothing is happening (the object is simultaneously moved in Z-space and scaled at the same time.) ...but that's just part of it:

In order to "monitor" your positioning, you need to use a split view. [Note: The *active* pane will have a yellow outline around it.]

From the Display menu (top right corner over the canvas just to the right of "View") select one of the split views. Set one view to Active Camera and one to Perspective. Orient the perspective view slightly off center so you can watch the progress. Click in the Active Camera pane to activate before using the hud/command-drag on the layer -- otherwise, it will screw up! [the active pane gets the "action" from the hud and be relative to the current viewpoint.]

Keep in mind that if you use the controls in the upper right corner of the canvas in Active Camera view, you are altering the transposition parameters of the camera. If you make any changes in *any other* view, using those controls makes no changes to camera parameters...then they're just "look" controls. Just... pay attention to which pane is active when you play around with those controls. If you need to scale the Active Camera View, use Shift - Z with the pane selected or the %scale menu over the canvas.

HTH

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Answer 2

Nov 20, 2013 8:34 AM in response to fox_m

Thanks. This helps a lot.

Dan

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