Apply 3D object to background, add transparency map & animated lighting to a 3D object

In this tutorial, you will learn:
A. Apply a background image
B. Select a 3D object
C. Adjust the light setting and apply the 3D object as a background image
D. Set the material transparency of the 3D object
E. Add animated lighting
F. Export as an animated GIF

Tutorial resource

Project File:

apple.epp

 

Steps:

A. Apply a background image

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Select Background button to step to the background page.
2. Select the Background-B category from the Background Category pull down menu.
3. Click to select the BG_B17 thumbnail displayed in the Background Gallery.
4. Press the Apply button to apply the image to your project, changes you make to your project will be visible in the Preview Window. 

B. Select a 3D object

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Select Object button to step to the Select Object page.
2. Select the Food category from the Object Category pull down menu.
3. Click the Apple thumbnail to highlight the object in the gallery.
4. Press the Apply button to add the 3D object to your project. 
5. Using Zoom, Roll, Move, Rotate to adjust the objects position.

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Lighting Effect button to step to the lighting page.
2. Select the Standard light category from the Lighting Category pull down menu.
3. Select the light 9 setting.
4. Press the Apply button.
5. Cast a shadow from light 1 by turning on the shadow option.
6. Change the position of the lightsource by dragging within the preview window of by entering the position values 108 and 113.
7. Click the Apply to background button to copy the 3D object and its settings to the background
8. After applying to background button, you can click the Move button and drag the object, you will notice a copy will have been applied to the background image.
9. Click the Redo button to move the 3D object back to its original position.
10. Remove the shadow cast from the light 1 by turning off the shadow option.

D. Set the material transparency of the 3D object

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Material Effects button to step to the material page.
2. Select the Transparent category from the Material Category pull down menu.
3. Select the Yellow Dot material setting thumbnail.
4. Press the Apply button. 
5. Click the Set Color button, in the color panel select the light yellow color.
6. Adjust the material parameter values to the following: Specular 1 and Glossiness 98.
7. Click Apply Setting button to update the changes to your project.
8. Click the Advance tab to switch to the advanced setting.
9. Change the mapping method to Box.
10. Change the Repeat and Scale values to
    Repeat X=4 Y=4
    Scale X=2 Y=2
11. Click Apply Setting button to update the changes to your project.

E. Add animated lighting

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Animation Effects button to step to the animation effects page.
2. Select the Lighting effects category from the Animation Category pull down menu.
3. Click the Moving Light thumbnail to highlight the animation sequence in the animation gallery.
4. Press the Apply button to apply the animation to your project. 

F. Export as an animated GIF

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Export File button to step to the export page.
2. To export your result as an animated GIF, select the GIF tab.
3. Set the Anti-aliasing option to Best, ensuring the highest quality exported file.
4. Click the Play button located in the Animation Control Bar, this will begin to animate your object in the Preview Window.
5. Change the image resolution to 128*128.
6. To loop your animation, check the Loop button.
7. To estimate the export file size, click the Estimate button.
8. Press the Export image file button, a Save As dialog box will appear, enter a filename and click OK, your file will begin to render, once complete the file will open in your default viewer.