3D Light Beams

This effect was discovered by a ‘happy accident’ and uses the 3D features inside of Photoshop CS4 Extended.

Corey Barker is Executive Producer of PlanetPhotoshop.com and is an Education and Curriculum Developer for the National Association of Photoshop Professionals. Corey has also made numerous appearances on the highly rated podcast, PhotoshopUser TV, and is co-host of Layers TV.

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38 Comments

Ahmed said on — January 23, 2010 @ 12:01 pm

Awesome as usual
John said on — January 25, 2010 @ 10:34 pm

Thanks Corey
Daniel said on — January 26, 2010 @ 12:44 pm

So very cool. I think I will try this with a portrait!
Top Ten Re-Tweets Of The Week #3 | Design by Firgs Pingback on — January 27, 2010 @ 3:06 am

[...] Corey Barker. I have a feeling that the Knoll brothers would love Corey if they ever met him. Corey has this way of stumbling on to the most amazing tricks with Photoshop just by playing around. His “happy accidents” are “treasured lessons” to me and I know that I’m not the only one. And this one – ROCKS! [...]
Denise Orford said on — January 27, 2010 @ 6:16 am

Absolutly fabulous as always.Denise
debbi said on — January 27, 2010 @ 6:24 pm

Love all the 3D stuff
Thanks so much!
Debbi
melih said on — January 28, 2010 @ 7:25 am

new volume from layer isn’t active. how can i active new volume from layer
Carpe D. said on — January 28, 2010 @ 11:39 am

Quick question, for anyone who knows… this video is great! How can you customize your background in Photoshop, rather than using black, white, or custom color? Looks much more appealing to work in if we can tweak it like shown in the vid.
Chris said on — January 28, 2010 @ 1:39 pm

So awesome …
I think i will try this … at home!
Keep up the good work!
- Chris
em said on — January 28, 2010 @ 2:01 pm

as i got a laptop it doesnt have a command button (what should i do instead)???helppp
LeonimuZ said on — January 28, 2010 @ 2:54 pm

That looks Cool! i used to do lights with the Radial Blur tool.
Michelle said on — January 28, 2010 @ 3:40 pm

Wow, this would be so cool for my seniors I shoot.

Imagine having their name burst out of a bg like this.

Thank you!

Crud, now i wish I had cs4
do you have to have the “extended” to utilize all the features shown here? or will the standard cs4 work?
rheya said on — January 29, 2010 @ 4:37 am

wow im starting to fall in love with photoshop.. great tutorial^_^
Kim cowie said on — January 29, 2010 @ 8:54 am

That was so very cool love it,
deepeye said on — January 29, 2010 @ 10:28 am

Wow, that’s really great stuff! Especially when I consider the amount of operations required to achieve something like this in specialized 3D packages and limitations there.
One question though. Is it possible to configure the “sampling”(f.ex. that’s how that parameter is called in 3DS MAX) of the rays(In PS here probably meaning the count of the ghosted copies of the text layer.), so the beam would be totally continuous like a normal light ray?
deepeye said on — January 29, 2010 @ 6:11 pm

Wow! Thanks so much fo this one.
One question though. Is it possible to change the count of the ghosted text layers so the light rays would be totally continuous like a real light?
Bryce Chapman said on — January 30, 2010 @ 9:49 am

NIce tut……but for some reason it wont let me select New Volume from layers
leroy said on — January 30, 2010 @ 1:18 pm

Love the tutorial, but my cs4 didnt come with the 3D tool, i wonder if i can achive the same effect without useing that 3D formular…..

so am asking Corey Barker, if he can make that same tutorial without useing the 3D tool.

Help me, for i will love to try it.

NAPP Member Here
Lee said on — February 1, 2010 @ 9:13 am

I can’t select the new volume from layers under the 3D Menu. Any help? How’d you put that blue japanese writing image in the background of your work space?
Corey Barker said on — February 1, 2010 @ 10:34 am

Make sure you guys have both the text layers selected before you go to the Volume feature. It will be grayed out if you only have one layer selected.
Sirius said on — February 1, 2010 @ 2:51 pm

I really loved the tutorial, easy and cool effect
Lee said on — February 2, 2010 @ 4:11 am

Selected the two layer copies of the text, still the volume feature is grayed out…I’m using the PC version of CS4 extended…I wonder why it’s not working…
Yorigami said on — February 2, 2010 @ 5:11 am

Hello and bravo Corey,
I have also this problem, I can’t select the new volume from layers under the 3D Menu, is gray.
I’m using Mac pro with 10.5.8 version of CS4 extended.
(Sorry for my English I am French.)
frank said on — February 2, 2010 @ 6:10 pm

I can’t use the volume feature either…I asume it has to do with the limited options that my video card has…time to upgrade…
Jeff said on — February 2, 2010 @ 6:34 pm

Great tutorial. I only wish I could get it to work for me. When I select New Volume from Layers nothing happens. I mean, even after I grab the rotate tool, I can’t see anything. Ditto, the slider tool. Any suggestions?
Allyn said on — February 3, 2010 @ 10:04 am

Say, this is a pretty cool design, simple yet effective. Question: How did you get the custom picture as your custom work space? I’ve been looking for that type of tut for a while now lol.
Pro said on — February 3, 2010 @ 10:10 am

I was unable to use the “new volume from layer” is greyed out! CS4 extended here?!
avn.rocky said on — February 5, 2010 @ 9:49 am

cool !! Thanks
Natalia said on — February 5, 2010 @ 6:49 pm

You are the BEST! Thanks for sharing it with us!
NM
berol said on — February 6, 2010 @ 4:38 am

very nice n simple thnx
TonyPearl said on — February 6, 2010 @ 7:57 am

TRAJAN – Tray•juhn (http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trajan)
Dirk Smith said on — February 9, 2010 @ 8:02 am

I have the same problem with ‘new volume from layer’ being greyed out. I’m guessing it’s my graphics card which isn’t on the list here: http://kb2.adobe.com/cps/405/kb405711.html#win3
Marizmendi said on — February 9, 2010 @ 3:15 pm

As you said, a veeeeeery happy accident…!
Thanks
Denise Orford said on — February 11, 2010 @ 11:25 am

I have selected the 2 layers as you said ,corey and it WORKS
very many thanks,I am so enjoying myself !
Link said on — February 20, 2010 @ 7:57 pm

Hi!
I only use the trial version of CS4 extended, ios that why I can’t do anything in 3D or should I activate 3D somewhere??
Nice tutorial
Rahul.M said on — February 22, 2010 @ 3:18 pm

Itz really awesome.i’m gona try it now………………..
George said on — March 9, 2010 @ 12:45 pm

That font and lighting and everything reminds me of the twilight title haha
BonFire said on — March 11, 2010 @ 10:20 pm

Yes, I do enjoyed. Pretty cool!

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3D Light Beams

38 Comments

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