Snagit Learning Center

Snagit 9 Tutorial:

Create 3D Art

A 3D piece of art made up of several different photographs, screen captures, or other images is impressive and is a great way to showcase your screen captures in a unique and eye-catching way.

This tutorial will teach you how to use Snagit Editor to create a 3D graphic using templates and stamps you can download for free from the TechSmith website.

About this Project

• Estimated time to complete this tutorial is 20 minutes including the downloading and installing of the templates and stamps.
• This tutorial does not demonstrate how to take a screen capture. To learn how to do this, see the Snagit online help.

What you Need to Get Started

You will need the following to successfully complete this tutorial.

• Snagit 9.0. If you do not have Snagit 9.0, you can download a copy here.
• The free 3D Shapes templates downloaded and unzipped to a folder you specify. In Editor, open the template called Flattetratriangle.png.
• The free 3D Shapes stamps downloaded and unzipped to a folder you specify in C:\My Documents\Snagit Stamps.
• Images to use for the 3D shape inserts. These should be open in Snagit Editor’s Open Captures Tray.

Skill Level: Intermediate

This tutorial is suitable for intermediate users of Snagit. Knowledge of downloading and unzipping a file, using the ribbon tabs, copying and pasting, and saving files within Editor is required.

Let's Get Started: Creating a 3D Image

The following section takes you through this tutorial step-by-step. To be successful, do not skip any steps.

This is the template image used for this tutorial. Four different images, called fill images, are used to create this 3D image.

Apply Fill Color for Transparency

Before you begin, make sure the template called Flattetratriangle.png is open in Editor. Also, it is important you leave this template image uncropped – the white space around the template is important.

1. In the Draw tab, select Drawing Tools group > Fill button.
2. From the Quick Styles Gallery, choose a color not in the images you will be using for the inserts. For this tutorial, purple will be used.
3. Click the canvas to flood-fill the section that will contain the first graphic.

   

Cut and Paste Template and Add First Image

1. Press <CTRL + A> to select the entire canvas.
2. In the Draw tab, select Clipboard group > Cut button.
3. Drag the first image to be used from the Tray onto the canvas.

   

4. In the Draw tab, select Clipboard group > Paste button. The template is pasted back onto the canvas.
5. Arrange the template so it is over top of the image.

Apply Transparency

1. In the Draw tab, select Styles group > Effects button. Make sure Transparent Background is enabled. It will have a check mark next to it if it is. If it is not, click on the option to enable it.

   

2. Your image will look similar to this; the purple will be opaque and the rest of the image is transparent.

   

3. Click on the template image to select it.
4. In the Image tab, select Canvas group > Canvas Color button.
5. From the dropdown, select the color used to flood-fill the first section. Immediately, the filled are becomes transparent and the rest of the template becomes opaque.

Resize and Flatten the Image

1. Move the template around until you find the section of the fill image you will use for the transparent section. If the fill image does not fit correctly, grab a handle of the fill image and drag it to fit.
2. When the fill image is sized correctly, right click on the it and select Flatten from the menu.
3. Move the template image around until it is positioned correctly. Do not worry if any “extra” parts of the fill image show around the edges of the white template space.
4. When the template is positioned correctly, right click on the template image and select Flatten from the menu. Your image will look similar to the following:

   

Add the Second Section to the Template

1. In the Image tab, select Canvas group > Canvas Color button. From the dropdown, select the color white.
2. In the Draw tab, select Drawing Tools group > Fill button. If it is not already selected, choose the same flood-fill color used previously.
3. Click the canvas to flood-fill the second section.

   

4. Press <CTRL + A> to select the entire canvas.
5. In the Draw tab, select Clipboard group > Cut button.
6. Drag the second fill image to be used from the Tray onto the canvas.
7. In the Draw tab, select Clipboard group > Paste button. The template is pasted back onto the canvas.
8. Arrange the template so it is over top of the image.
9. Move the template around until you find the section of the fill image you will use to for the transparent section. If the fill image does not fit correctly, grab a handle of the fill image and drag it to fit.
10. When the fill image is sized correctly, right click on it and select Flatten from the menu.
11. Move the template image around until it is positioned correctly. Do not worry if any “extra” parts of the fill image showing around the edges of the white template space.
12. When the template is positioned correctly, right click on the template image and select Flatten from the menu.

Add the 3rd and 4th Sections & Trim

1. For the remaining two sections, repeat the exact directions in the previous section starting with number one.
2. At this time, your image may look similar to this with some of the fill image showing and lots of white space: To remove the remnants of the fill images, and most of the white space grab the handles along the canvas edges and drag inward. However, don’t remove all of the white space at this time.

   

Add the Stamp with a Shadow

Stamping over the top of the 3D image will give it depth and a polished, professional look. You should have already downloaded and installed the 3D Shape stamps. If you have not, you will need to do so before this process can be completed.

1. In the Draw tab, select Drawing Tools group > Stamp button.
2. In the Quick Styles Gallery, browse and select the template shape you are using.

   

3. Click once on the canvas to create the stamp.
4. Move the stamp over the top of the image until the black lines line up correctly.
5. With the stamp selected on the canvas, in the Draw tab, select Drawing Tools group > Stamp button > Styles group > Effects button > Shadow. In the dropdown menu, click the All Sides shadow as shown below.

   

6. In the Draw tab, select Drawing Tools group > Stamp button > Styles group > Effects button > More Shadows. The Drop Shadow dialog box appears.
7. Adjust the Horizontal and Vertical Depth to 3. Also adjust the Opacity and Blur sliders to achieve the desired effect.
8. Click OK.
9. Right click on the stamp and select Flatten from the menu.
10. Optional: Click to add another stamp over the first one to give your 3D image real depth. Right click on the stamp and select Flatten from the menu. Your 3D image will now look like this:
11. In the Image tab, select Canvas group > Trim button. All the excess white will be removed.

Congratulations! You have just learned how to create a 3D graphic. Use this same technique for each of the other 3D Shape Templates that you downloaded.