How to Make 3D Plastic With Photoshop Lighting Effects

Photoshop's Lighting Effects filter is like the Swiss Army knife of Photoshop tools. You can use it to add depth, dimension and even surface texture. Use the lighting effects filter to convert any selection into three-dimensional plastic.

Instructions

1. Open your Photoshop document. Use the shape tool to create a circle vector object, or make a circular selection from the image and copy it to a new layer. Fill the shape or selection with red.

2. Convert the selection to an alpha channel named "Ball" ("Save Selection" in the Select menu). With the selection still active, click on the alpha channel in the channels palette. Apply a white to black radial fill to the selection area with white as the center. This is just one example. You can use any filter or effect to create texture.

3. Apply a "Gaussian Blur" filter. The setting depends on the texture For this example, go to 20 pixels. Check that the white highlight area isn't sharply defined. If it is, redo with a higher setting.

4. Click on the "RGB View" mode in the Channels palette, but keep the selection active. Open the Lighting Effects filer dialog. Turn on the "Preview" option to see your changes.

5. Change the Light Type to "Omni." Click on the center point of the light in the Preview box and move the light center to just above the brightest point of the gradient. Turn "Intensity" on and set the slider to 30. Drag the Material slider toward "Plastic" (about -70).

6. Set the Texture Channel to "Ball." Check "White is High" and drag the Height slider toward "Mountainous" (50 to 60).

7. Close the dialog. Your circle will now look like a plastic ball.

Tips & Warnings

• If you have Photoshop CS3 or layer, convert the selection to a smart object before you apply the filter. This will allow you to modify the settings later.