Lengthen or shorten areas
A typical application of this filter is the lengthening or shortening of angular, geometric shapes, such as skyscrapers. In my example, this is the skyline of Baltimore. First, you define the grid: To do this, click on Filter>Escape point in the menu or Alt+Ctrl+V on the keyboard.
Baltimore Inner Harbor / Stock photo File #: 12656510 / © Dwight Nadig / istockphoto.com
The rather large vanishing point dialog opens. The Create Layer tool is already selected, so you can start creating a grid right away. It is of course advisable to use the zoom tool to enlarge the relevant area slightly. If there are vertical or horizontal lines, such as the window lines on this skyscraper, use these as a little help.
Use the Create layer tool to set a first point, whereby holding the X button for a moment displays the area of the mouse pointer at twice the zoom level. In this way, each point can be set with pixel accuracy. And by holding down the space bar, you can activate the hand tool and change the image section.
This is followed by points two and three, where you should work very precisely to achieve realistic effects. Incorrectly placed points (and therefore perspectives) quickly become clear, especially with strong extensions.
At the fourth point, you can already see the grid. If the grid is yellow or red, Photoshop is not quite or not at all satisfied with your selection. It is then easy to touch and position the grab points afterwards. As the skyscraper is to be extended upwards, this is even a must. To do this, drag the topmost grab point further upwards using the Edit layer tool.
To extend the grid (so that the second side of the skyscraper is also included), hold down the Ctrl key and drag out another grid. This will not always fit the angle that Photoshop is currently setting. To solve the problem, go over one of the center grab points and hold down the Alt key. This way you can easily change the angle. This can also be done numerically as an option at the top of the dialog box. The grid size can also be set there.
Once the grid has been created perfectly, you have the options of painting, cloning, copying and pasting. However, you should first confirm the filter via OK to save the grid and create a new layer via Shift+Ctrl+N. If the filter is called up again, the grid is still available. Practical.
If you now want to extend the skyscraper, you can simply select an area with the selection rectangle tool. The special feature here is that the selection within the grid is in perspective. In general, a soft edge and the opacity of the tool can be adjusted in the upper area of the filter dialog, and there is also a repair function and a move mode.
Ctrl+C copies the content of the selection, Ctrl+V pastes it. Now you can grab the center and move the copy upwards. After releasing the mouse button, the section is adjusted. Ctrl+D then cancels the selection. Incidentally, you can also copy the selection more quickly by holding down the Alt key.
An alternative would be to use the stamp tool. The diameter, hardness and opacity are determined and then a source is defined as usual by holding down the Alt key. Repair should be switched off. Now you can clone areas based on the structure. As the vanishing point is set, the copies are aligned with it. The world's tallest skyscraper is gradually being created. In this example, the reflection in the water has resulted in a few more work steps.
Editing perspective surfaces
Photos or even text, if previously rasterized, and in principle any layer content, can also be stored in perspective layers. If, for example, a stone wall is to be equipped with text, this is first converted into pixel material using the right mouse button on the layer and Rasterize text. Then, as described above, create a suitable grid in the vanishing point filter and confirm with OK.
Select the content of the layer by holding down the Ctrl key on the layer thumbnail and copy it using Ctrl+C. Press Ctrl+D to deselect and Blender the text layer. An empty layer is created and the vanishing point filter is called up. Ctrl+V now inserts the content of the clipboard.
Romantic dress / Stock photo File #: 16263283 / © KRproductions / istockphoto.com
Move the mouse pointer over the center of the text field and move it over the grid. The text is immediately brought into the specified perspective. You can also use Ctrl+T to apply the typical transformations such as scaling or rotating. By the way: Ctrl+H also hides and unhides the frames and grids for the moment. Unfortunately, Photoshop only inserts the layer content as a floating selection, i.e. not on a separate layer, but only for the moment for editing as long as the selection exists.
In this example, the text should of course still be integrated into the wall. An easy way to do this is via Layer>Layer Style>Flatten Edge and Relief. The style selected is Relief on all edges, Technique: Hard chisel, Depth: 80% and Size: 2 pixels. To preserve the original structure of the wall, click on the layer thumbnail while holding down the Ctrl key, activate the layer with your original photo and press Ctrl+J to copy the contents of the selection. This copy will now be positioned above the text layer (with the style you have just created).
In the menu, go to Layer>Create clipping mask and reduce the opacity to 80%. Reduce the area of the layer below to 40%. The opacity affects the layer content and the styles. However, the styles remain 100% visible on the surface. You could now lighten the layer with the structure using the gradation curves.
Perspective retouching
It is relatively easy to retouch areas with objects or just dirt and stains in Photoshop. If the background is rather monochrome, a single click is often enough. It becomes problematic if the object is in front of a patterned background, be it wallpaper or a wooden floor. In my example, it's a brick wall, where the white spots on the otherwise black-painted wall bother me (see right leg).
Hard rocker / Stock photo File #: 15291689 / © Iakiv Antypenko / istockphoto.com
As usual, the copy stamp could now be used in conjunction with Photoshop's repair tools, but then further work steps are added, as the perspective of the pattern must be taken into account. It is easier to click on Filter > Vanishing point in the menu to create a grid in perspective using the Create layer tool. If you want to save the grid, confirm with OK.
Create a new layer. Back in the vanishing point dialog, select the Stamp tool and set Repair to Luminance or On. This turns the Stamp tool into something like a repair brush. Photoshop analyzes the brightness values and the colour mood of the surroundings and adjusts the copy accordingly.
Hold down the Alt key and click on a source in the image and then paint over the errors. If the original colors are too strong, improve these areas with the repair function switched off. Step by step, the error will disappear.
Rasterizing objects
In the Extended version of Photoshop, there is also the option to render a raster. This functionality can of course also be used creatively. I would like to trace the following blocks with a grid and then place them on a separate layer.
Modern Architecture Lighthouse Cube / Stock photo File #: 7138520 / © Mlenny Photography / istockphoto.com
Create a new layer. Then call up the vanishing point filter and use the zoom tool to enlarge the area in which you want to create the first grid. Use the create layer tool to set a first point, followed by three more, which will enclose one of the sides. You can use the grid size to determine how coarse or fine the grid should be.
Using the Edit layer tool and holding down the Ctrl key, drag out a second side. This will probably not have the right angle, so hold down the Alt key and rotate it slightly. This will also create the other grids. It is helpful to briefly press the X key when setting the points.
If the angles are too different, the grids will look unattractive. If the angle can no longer be adjusted, move the position of the individual gripping points. Then go to the settings and commands for vanishing point at the top left and select Render grid in Photoshop.
After confirming with OK, the lines have been placed on the layer. As the grid was not necessarily intended for creative purposes, it is necessary to rasterize it several times to check the implementation. The result looks interesting, but one must not forget that this is an experimental technique.
Further extras in the extended version
The measuring tool is interesting for architects or forensic engineers, as they need to know how large objects in an image are. Very special, and only available in the extended version, which is why a quick run-through will suffice. After creating a grid, select the measurement tool.
If there is an object in the image whose size you know, draw a line along it. Enter the length of the object at the top left of the dialog window. All further measurements are then based on this initial size specification.
If you want the grid to be aligned with the measurements, activate this option next to the length input. The end points can also be moved at any time. If you only want to change the angle, hold down the Shift key; if you only want to change the length, hold down the Ctrl key. You can show and hide measurements and render measurements via settings and commands for vanishing points.
New York City / Stock photo File #: 13528159 / © rabbit75_ist / istockphoto.com
The perspective plane can also be passed on to the 3D functionality via settings and commands for vanishing points. Exporting as DXF (for AutoCAD), 3DS (for 3DS Max) or AfterEffects is also no problem. So there are many options, but only specialists will be interested in them.
Painting in perspective
After these special features, which are not available to every user, I would like to talk about another general function: Painting with a color in the Vanishing Point dialog. Create a new layer and select the vanishing point filter. One or more layers are created. Now the brush color should be defined. You could use the eyedropper tool for this or select the brush directly and set the brush color in the color picker.
Unfortunately, only the size, edge smoothness and opacity can be defined in the tool options. It would be very practical to be able to select brush presets in order to set them in perspective, or to apply blending modes. Unfortunately, however, we only have a simple, round brush for further steps. Repair is switched off by default. If Luminance is activated, Photoshop adjusts the color to the lighting of the surroundings. The On option ensures that the lighting and color are adjusted.
At the top left, under Settings and Commands for Vanishing Point, you could also deactivate Allow cross-surface operations. Then you can only draw in the perspective of a plane. If you want to continue painting outside the boundaries of the current layer, deactivate Crop editing operations to surface edges. When painting, the tip of the brush is always aligned with the perspective of the current layer.
Incidentally, you could also create perspective selections beforehand and paint within them. This will make the edge a little cleaner. However, the results are generally not outstanding. The vanishing point filter definitely shows its strengths in the perspective alignment of copied areas or copied layer content.
