Photoshop CS4 for 3D painting?

[Supernova87]

I was just sifting through the forum about best painting/texturing software and I came across PS CS4 that allows for 3D surface painting now.

I was wondering if anyone's actually tested the capabilities of it and how performance handles plus ease of use etc.

It sounds too good to be true?

[kageko]

it kind of works... i havent rly tried out the 3dpainting part extensively, since i found that just opening the obj in one window and the texture in the other allows me to work more freely and tbh i find it easier to work in this way, most of the time i just work with maya and ps because its easier...

If u rly want to pain in 3d id suggest using zbrush instead, especially with a plugin called ... errr.... cant remember it atm someone else can fill me in tho, one press in zbrush and the image you have in your viewport gets exported into photoshop, then u just press ctrl s once youre done in ps and in projects the image onto the 3dmodel in zbrush, its simpler than i make it seem tho because of my crappy explanationskills xD... anyway, try zbrush :D

[Vailias]

Personally I love it.

The interface takes a little getting use to, ie the 3d controls are different than the 2d (not terribly surprising). But the 3d transformation tools have their own hotkeys too. one for cam, one for object. It works fastest with smaller textures, but should still be good for larger texture maps.

Also be sure to turn raytracing and raytraced shadow casting off in ps's render settings or your update speed goes to crap.
you can swap over to the texture flats themselves quite easily, and you still have photoshop's full brush engine and layer control etc. Layers per each texture and full layer effects are done from the individual textures.

Give it a good solid shot.
I Textured this entirely in PS mostly using its 3d paint, and yes I could push the textures further... just was running out of time quickly.
http://vailias.com/Misc/Vamp_Pose_WS_sm.jpg

She looks like this without the vampire getup

http://vailias.com/Misc/Vamp_Pose_WS_NonGoth_sm.jpg

[Supernova87]

I guess i could try the "zbrush technique" you mentioned kageko.

So Vailias, you mean you could just easily go to and fro from the 3D version in PS and the 2D (UVW template or "flat" version) in PS just like that and it'll update on both sides just like that?
Either way, I probably will give it a good shot at and see it's true capabilities (and hopefully not see my laptop "cry"!)

Cheers for the comments guys.

Btw, nice little demo of the "vampire lady"!