Use Blender to Convert Images to 3D printable models!

[@xevenau]

A follow up video would be awesome. I love the designs you have on the finished product. Would love to see how you manage to change up everything to make it look different from the original image.

[@ladsvideos]

Thank you so much for making this video! I've been searching on KZbin for hours and had given up hope until I found your video! Great tutorial, keep up the fantastic work

[@glennet9613]

Wow, I thought turning an image of a brass nameplate into a 3D model would take hours and come out badly but thanks to this I had it done in just a few minutes and it is perfect. I used DecalMachine to turn it into a decal

[@GeorgeCohen-ju8lt]

That's a great video - thank you. Clear, succinct, short - the essentials of what is actually a difficult task, and you made it very doable.

[@omnivertical]

Great work, a little difficult on my end. I'm using the latest version of Blender. I had to pause and revisit for a few instructions. Overall a good tutorial...

[@DROPTHEGRID]

Many thanks for making this. Great length and right amount of info. I have already had a go at this and messed it up. It didn't help that I used other software to displace and imported, caused unnecessary problems . There are details here I didn't know or think of. Gets a like from me!

[@MrTidx90]

That print rose like Lazarus. Grate job mate!

[@mikewatson5332]

Awesome, just what I needed. Loads of info step by step. Couldn't have figured that out without you, Thanks very much!

[@ChainsawDNA]

Fantastic workflow! Thank you for taking the time to post it.

[@fxsrider]

What a time saver!!! I'm going to have to order in another semi load of fresh material now!! Awesome!!

[@3d-illusions]

Thanks, I'm actually going to be releasing a newer version for 2024 in the coming weeks, so be sure to subscribe 👍

[@fxsrider]

@@3d-illusions Done!

[@CaptainKokomoGaming]

Mate I am a day one novice to blender but so far your video is one that making sense to me. Thanks mate. I am creating reliefs with depth maps for my CNC. The Zoe depth control net model makes pretty decent reliefs.

[@straightlevel.cruising2644]

Man, you are amazing -- huge knowledge of the subject and nice delivery! Thank you very much for sharing!!!

[@3d-illusions]

Glad it was helpful!

[@markomarjanovic8348]

Brilliant! And thanks for using one of our saints :) greetings from Serbia

[@adam.southside]

Good video - I previously could not get to work .. but now fine ... Thanks!

[@germanlizarazo3894]

Amazing; I have been looking this for years; thank you so much

[@rcbodyshopfr]

very nice tutorial, simple , nice rythm , thanks a lot!

[@3d-illusions]

No problem, I have an updated video coming soon for a better 2024 approach.

[@michaelmessuri7746]

THANKS for the video as it helps out a ton for those very new to blender (such as myself)

[@3d-illusions]

No problem. Check out the huge oceans video to learn a lot more 👍

[@mikekiske]

@@3d-illusions Hi, there. Is there any way for Blender to this automaticaly? I mean, he reads the original file, understands where are the shadows and where are the lights and he makes the relief for itself? Well, I iumagine if it could be possible you would have mentioned that, but just wondering. This seems a task an AI powered software could do. Thanks for the video.

[@3d-illusions]

@@mikekiske not currently 👍

[@michaeltolomei6623]

one small issue I ran in to after the fact. When attempting to make the model into a depth map using the compositor tab, for laser engraving, instead of the compositor nodes recognizing the models depth, it recognized the original png file. I end up with a greyscale of the png. I tried exporting the model as an stl, and reopening said stl, and compositing it, and still somehow the png effect stayed married to the newly generated model, how do you separate the model, from the original png file? even deleting the material, the model still stayed married to the png file which shouldn't be possible. Its funny I was originally overwhelmed with producing a model, and this video fixed that, but a totally new problem exists and it seems like no ones ran into this problem, or it's just very hard to explain.

[@3d-illusions]

I'm not sure, I'd probably start again to see what you're doing differently 👍

[@shawnoandrew]

I'm wanting to take images and c9nvert them to 3D action figures. Will this do this?

[@3d-illusions]

possibly mirroring and joining will provide a start point for sculpting.

[@ricardojaviergarnicapena6749]

Amazing video. is it possible to make this with a terrain map or model? Thank you

[@3d-illusions]

if you want to create terrain or map models, then I'd recommend getting the heightmap from ordnance survey or nasa for free. You could also use blendergis addon (I think it's called) which will get the heightmap for you directly from google maps.

[@BloxyBeegs]

Hello idk if u can help me but the bit when you go into modifier properties and you selected supervision surfaces. For me it doesn’t show supervision surfaces please help 🎉

[@3d-illusions]

you might have to scroll down a bit. It's called subdivision surface.

[@BloxyBeegs]

@@3d-illusions thank you so much this really helped

[@TOM-n2f]

This is a fantastic video for what I am trying to do with photos, however I can only seem to follow it to the 1:11 mark then I get lost, It moves too fast to follow as well as I think I have a different version of blender, cant seem to find the same buttons that I see in the video to do the same thing that is shown. This is my very first experience using blender so the problem probably stems from my end. I have tried stopping it every few seconds to make sure, but I cant seem to follow it past that point (1:11) before thing start going off coarse. Does any one know of other videos covering the same topic as this one? Thank you in advance for any advice.

[@katuzim.d.7888]

Awesome mate

[@NS-py9cw]

Haha great! Straight to the point. Thx

[@rsunghun]

Big Thank you for the video!

[@prairiefinish]

I have a question (as I`m new to blender)....how do I make my image `lay flat` on the grid like yours? Mine was essentially standing up.

[@3d-illusions]

alt r x 90 (or maybe -90)

[@3d-illusions]

you could also try alt g, and maybe additionally alt r

[@cloudcloud1]

✨Great idea✨

[@markmalonson7531]

Awesome

[@memeo8922]

Go to blender, ok but how to not have a box showing. Where is preferences? Lots of steps missing out here.

[@kiwifruit3d]

thank you

[@94akeepan]

nice one thanks

[@kathiley1407]

Great video. Thanks a lot. Just struggling with filling the bottom to have a flat surface. if I click "f" there is only a report saying that there are "no edges selected". How can I fix this?

[@3d-illusions]

thanks. You have to select the edges at the bottom first.

[@kingkappa9916]

Great work. Legend!

[@3d-illusions]

Much appreciated!

[@ladsvideos]

Hi, I've been trying to replicate this with a transparent PNG of a face, end product being a head shaped relief instead of a rectangular one. But Blender keeps running out of memory when I try to cut the face shape out. Any advice?

[@3d-illusions]

try using less subdivisions coupled with face set smoothing as shown in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/omPKamd4rs-ie7M It'll allow you to get the outline with less subdivs.

[@ladsvideos]

Thanks so much, I'll give that a go now!

[@XViereck]

Do you have a idea on how to have the smallest 3D AR file (we use .glb) size for a online shop? Want to use this for plants.

[@EasyED1992]

what happens if i dont do sculpt mode and just go with what Blender has decided to do with the image?

[@3d-illusions]

you wouldn't have modified heights.

[@jayc6159]

I don't get anything but a blank gray sheet when I unselect optimize display, what am I doing wrong?

[@florenciabruck]

same here

[@gokuhs]

Great tutorial! Thanks for sare :)

[@3d-illusions]

No problem 😊

[@pw3111]

At 1.21 minutes, when you select ctrl A, what are you applying it to? Lots of choices.

[@3d-illusions]

Scale

[@pw3111]

Thanks for that. The problem I’m having is when I get to the displacement and follow you through, I get two images in the preview screen ( same as you) but in the main screen it’s just a flat plane about 1 division below the origin. I don’t get the extrusion you do. I though the selection in the ctrl A might be the problem but it’s not. Any clues?

[@3d-illusions]

@@pw3111 difficult for me to know which step your missing. Maybe check your mouse is over the modifier before pressing CTRL A.

[@pw3111]

Fixed.. Thanks. I was using ctrl A over the image, not on the modifier section. All’s great now. Thanks for the videos - great help.

[@NS-py9cw]

Hi, I have problems with the blob brush, I cannot make it ”blob”, is it a laptop problem, ie. is my laptop not fancy enough? Or am I missing something? Many thanks, otherwise I can follow really well!😊

[@3d-illusions]

@@NS-py9cw you need to subdivide the mesh or apply the existing subdivision modifier. I’d recommend watching the sculpting videos in my intro to 3d playlist 👍

[@NS-py9cw]

Ok thank you great, I will check it out! Another question would be, now that I have you on the line, so to speak, is for casting, I need draft angles. Any ideas? Again thank you for replying so fast!🙏🏻👍🏻

[@3d-illusions]

@@NS-py9cw no idea 👍

[@NS-py9cw]

Haha great, straight to the point. Thx😅

[@5andjiggs]

I got to the part to "sculpt" but nothing is happening when I drag the mouse around. What am I missing?

[@3d-illusions]

apply the subdivision modifier before going into sculpt mode.

[@5andjiggs]

@@3d-illusions got it didn't realize I needed to apply inside the modifier box thanks.

[@carolynli2093]

help!!! when i tried to use the blob tool it didn't do anything to my image and i follow all the steps correctly. how do i fix this?

[@3d-illusions]

Apply the subdivision modifier

[@lordwander]

@@3d-illusions thanks. That worked. Also another question. Is there a way to erase a part of the sculpt? So instead of a rectangle I want my final product to be a circle. I’m trying to make a 3d print of a coin from an image but since the jpeg file is a square my 3d extrusion is always encase in a square and I don’t know how to get rid of it. Please help.

[@3d-illusions]

@@lordwander yes you can use a cylinder to boolean the outer part away.

[@sibusisotshabalala8701]

Exactly what I was looking for thank you 😭😭 Quick question though, is there no way to isolate the figure/person alone to make this? Like not having the square or oval border. To just have a 3d relief of the person with no background whatsoever

[@3d-illusions]

Hi, in scultp mode you can draw a face set around it, then use the mesh filter to relax the face set (until the perimiter of the face set becomes smooth), hover over the face set and press h, go to edit mode, press either delete or x to remove the selected face set, press alt h to unhide the rest of the model, then exit edit mode. Do this instead of the selection method shown in the video prior to solidifying.

[@BroPanth]

@@3d-illusions could you make a video demonstrating this, please? i am a visual learner.

[@3d-illusions]

@@BroPanth kzbin.info/www/bejne/omPKamd4rs-ie7M

[@BroPanth]

@@3d-illusions thank you so much!! for anyone else looking for this info, in the video they linked, go to 8:49

[@TiXeNo1]

Thanks for the guide but a bit to much shortcommands. Should show menu-way also for the beginners.

[@3d-illusions]

I thought that when I first started learning Blender, I probably even made a similar comment. Pretty quickly I was grateful to be taught by shortcuts alone, because the speed at which you can work is hugely faster.

[@nainikasharma2031]

How would I take a render of this

[@hopeclark6990]

Hey! When I use the blob brush....nothing happens. Any advice?

[@3d-illusions]

apply the subdivision modifier.

[@hopeclark6990]

@@3d-illusions I did before going into sculpt mode, but it still isn't working :(

[@3d-illusions]

@@hopeclark6990 no idea then sorry.

[@DaSmokeDaddy]

How would you do this using an image and its depth map.

[@3d-illusions]

same way but you'd plug the depth map into the displacement instead of the image. You probably won't need to do as much sculpting either because the depth map will have done most of it for you👍

[@DaSmokeDaddy]

@@3d-illusions Thanks very much for the tutorial. I'm new to Blender, and am not familiar with all of the commands and interface. I followed your tutorial and everything worked out nicely for my subject. I did get stuck in the beginning since my image was imported on a different axis for some reason. My plane came in vertically. I had to extrude the plane on a different axis but never was able to fill it for some reason.

[@3d-illusions]

@@DaSmokeDaddy you can use the r key to rotate. Press R then choose the axis to rotate around by pressing x or y, then type 90 and press enter.

[@3d-illusions]

@@DaSmokeDaddy ps, if you're interested in learning Blender properly, here's a 75% discount on my course (first 3 vids for free) www.udemy.com/course/learn-3d-with-blender-fundamentals-to-advanced/?couponCode=LEARN3D75

[@brunoriyuoficial]

Good work !!

[@gailid]

@3d illusions Any idea why the image disappears when adding the modifier? Import, change texture, add modifier, and no image. If I click to disable the preview button, it re-appears.

[@3d-illusions]

not sure, perhaps the image as plane addon has changed. Try right clicking convert to mesh before giving it the modifier, and also make sure you changed the viewport to show textures.

[@gailid]

@@3d-illusions thanks for the replay. just tried converting to mesh first, then modifier. still just disappears. im running blender 3.3.0

[@3d-illusions]

@@gailid not sure, you’d be better going to blender.chat support channel so you can share some screenshots with the folks there 👍

[@michaelgriffis6450]

Brilliant!

[@DougieD61]

At 1:12, you turn off optimal display, the image goes away, and the rectangle turns orange to show the "decent amount of detail.". How did you get it to do that? My image stays there, and I don't get the detail view. (I don't have a center button on my mouse.) Then you say something about "solid mode." Did it automatically revert to solid mode, or did you do something to get it there?

Just press Z key :)

[@DougieD61]

@ Thanks!

[@KennTollens]

A master says you just do a couple of these easy things.

[@CheeseSlappio]

Hi, thanks for the vid! I have a question, in my "subdivision surface modifier" im only able to increase the "Levels Viewport" to 6 instead of 10. I tried different image sizes with no success so far. Any help would be appreciated:)

[@3d-illusions]

No problem. You have to type it because the slider has a lower limit.

[@CheeseSlappio]

@@3d-illusions Dude, I would have never thought of that. Thanks

[@jambreadd]

thank you so much.

[@3d-illusions]

no problem 👍

[@nicolasloukaides8535]

hi..i have a problem when i do "apply"..Control +A it appears a Apply menu..apply how..

[@3d-illusions]

have the mouse over the modifier (if that's what you mean)

[@nicolasloukaides8535]

@@3d-illusions i try

[@nicolasloukaides8535]

that's was!!!Thank you!!

[@red_adept]

I've been trying to follow this for an hour and all it does is make a really shitty height map that I can make in 3D Builder in 30 seconds.

[@3d-illusions]

If your result is shitty it's because your scultiping skills are shitty like mine :) I'd be interested to see your 3d builder results though if you want to upload a vid 👍

[@florenciabruck]

My plane disapears when I add the subdivision modifier.

[@gailid]

Mine as well

[@Heavenofsound4U]

was hoping to get it repeated but in the newest B;lender version obviously many menues are either displaced or not present, like for example the most important modifier! I guess will looking for a much easier and more straight forward software to create 3d models from grayscale 2d images.

[@112productions]

Great idea, I can see me using this. Cool video and I laughed a lot at .. 7:40

[@Cupheadsadvocate]

Why does blender keep crashing when I try this

[@3d-illusions]

Not sure, best to report a bug from Blender's help menu if it's not a hardware issue.

[@DefundTheFringes]

Bloody labor intensive, eh? This is where A.I. is useful.

[@MonkeyNBananas]

The issue I keep running into is the alpha

[@Redmuffin699]

Bro turned Jesus into 3d☠️☠️☠️☠️

[@abdimohamedcomedy]

His voice sounds like Captain Jack Sparrow😂😂😂

[@3d-illusions]

This is the day you will always remember as the day you almost caught Captain Jack Sparrow.

[@alanrobinson6257]

impossible to follow this I dont see the menu's you see

[@3d-illusions]

I've just followed along in Blender 4.2 Alpha, and it all seems the same except for the modifier menu being re-organised into sub menus. What are you missing exactly?

[@alanrobinson6257]

@@3d-illusions I think the problem is I have never used this before so I am struggling to try and find what you are using. I thing I need to get a grip of the basics before trying this.

[@3d-illusions]

@@alanrobinson6257 I have a course available that will teach you basics to advanced. It's on sale at the moment too: www.udemy.com/course/learn-3d-with-blender-fundamentals-to-advanced/?referralCode=FE8E787077EBF2A9BC24 Took 3 years to make, and it crams 30 years of experience into nearly 19 hours of fun video content.

[@highpointfurniture]

That was terrible 😂

[@raidergoons]

Is there any way you could assist me with this? I've followed the portion where you extend the thickness of the model 4 times and still can't figure it out. it's like it copies the model and doesn't thicken at all.

[@3d-illusions]

Yes, it's supposed to copy and not thicken. If you continue watching you'll get to the bit where I bridge the gap after you've moved the duplicate 👍

[@raidergoons]

@@3d-illusions Every time I bridge it my blender crashes

[@3d-illusions]

@@raidergoons time for a new pc then probably.

[@raidergoons]

I agree. It's randomly lagging for no apparent reason,

[@3d-illusions]

@@raidergoons make sure you don’t have any subdivision modifiers in the model with high settings. That could be causing problems if enabled when bridging the edge loops.