14 DAY TRIAL // Adobe's Photoshop software already includes some 3D modeling features, but users aren't likely to start building models from the ground up any time soon. That's what Adobe feels anyway, so it decided to make it easy to revise pre-existing models.
So the company has updated the Photoshop Creative Cloud, adding a 3D printed tool that allows users to do precisely that.
One thing Photoshop will do is create temporary supports around and below the selected model, ensuring that it won't collapse during printing.
Another good thing about the update is that, since Photoshop CC is part of Adobe's subscription service, the update comes at no cost. And even if you're not a client, you can try it out for free for a short time.
Furthermore, Adobe created a tool called Perspective Warp, which can automatically correct for perspective distortion when manipulating objects inside an image. You can even modify the angle from which an image was taken.
What's more, and this is probably the most important thing here, Adobe has entered a partnership with MakerBot and Shapeways.
Through that partnership, it was able to give Photoshop CC the ability to show previews of how a model will look.
3D Systems' Cube printer will get printer-specific previews too, and others will be added over time too.
Since Shapeways has a made-to-order 3D printing service already going, it will probably benefit the most from Adobe's update, in the short term at any rate. That Shapeways has non-plastic materials available in addition to the plastic ones (colored sandstone, bronze) will make users warm up to it even further. Finally, Adobe Photoshop CC will be able to estimate how much the print job will cost.
Adobe Photoshop Creative Cloud is a fairly new cloud-based Create Suite business model of the famous software, and it hasn't really charmed everyone yet, but 3D printing support will help it along for sure.
