Designing a 3D Software Box
In this tutorial, we are going to create a 3D software box using Photoshop. It’s rather simple but the results can be quite realistic, providing a creative way of going about and creating box designs for your own personal use.
Before starting this tutorial, you’ll need some “Box Art” or Cover art to work with as source materials. If you’d like some similar materials to what we’re going to use, you may want to check out our Abstract Dust and Specks Tutorial.
Step 1
When creating your box art, remember to create all the sides you want to show. The best way is to have a different layer for each side.
Step 2
Now we are going to transform the shape of the front side. Select all the layers that are associated with this side, preferably place them all in a group. If there are any text layers you need to rasterize them (Layer > Rasterize > Type)
When you have all the layers selected, use the Move Tool (V) and make sure the “Show Transform Controls” box on the top is checked.
Go to Edit > Transform > Distort to start transforming the image. Grab the upper right corner node and while holding down Shift drag it downwards. Do the same thing with the lower right corner, but drag it upwards. This should result in an image like the one below.
(Tip: If you’d like to adjust the perspective so that the top and bottom right corners both adjust the EXACT same, hold Ctrl + Alt + Shift while dragging the transformation nodes.)
The perspective looks a bit off if you compare the front side with the one on the flat image, it looks stretched now. To fix this illusion we need to shorten the front side. Go to Edit > Transform > Scale and use the middle right point to drag the right side to the left until you’re happy with the result. I ended up with something like this:
Step 3
With the front side complete we move over to the side. Use the same method to change the corners and the width of the side. It can be a bit tricky to get it to look correct — my best advice is too look at a box in real life and how it looks from different angles. This is something that is very important in design overall, you want to compare it to reality, even when you’re doing unrealistic creations.
Due to the angle I’ve chosen my side looks rather slim. If you want your side wider you need to change the angle of the viewpoint, which will result in different angles for the front side as well.
Now the box is actually complete, the only thing left is just touch-ups.
Step 4
This box needs to be placed in some sort of scene to look better, what I’m going to do is rather simple. Let’s start with the background.
Create a new layer and place it just above the background layer. Select the lower 1/3 of the image using the Rectangular Marquee Tool (M). Use the Gradient Tool (G) and select the Radial Gradient on the top bar. Edit the gradient, by clicking on the gradient preview in the upper left, and set the left color to a lighter shade and the right one to be transparent. Drag the gradient tool from the center of the image downwards toward the bottom. Give it a few tries before you’re happy with the result. Mine ended up looking like this:
Step 5
Adding just a hint of gradient on the side will give it more depth.
Ctrl-click on your side layer to load the selection. Create a new layer and make sure you still have your selection of the side. Use the Gradient Tool and select the Linear Gradient on the top bar. Select a color that is darker then your side, and dragging from outside the side into about mid point to create a soft gradient. This should add some sense of depth to the box.
Step 6
In this step we will create a reflection of the box.
Duplicate the layers used in the box. Select all the duplicated layers and go Edit > Transform > Flip Vertical. Move it so that the upper part of the flipped layer is placed at the bottom of the box like this.
Now using Transform > Skew (each side of the book separately) drag the corners so that all sides connect. Lower the opacity on both layers to around 50%.
The reflection looks good, but it needs to fade off a bit. There are many different ways to do this, using a layer mask is one option. I chose do use Layer Style and applying a Gradient Overlay with the background color as one of the colors in the gradient and the other one set to transparent. Change the Location %–value on the background color until you find a good value. On this image I found it to be around 65%.
The box is now complete — try different angles for different effects. Below I’ve used another angle and used a lighter background with darker background gradient just to show how you can mix it up.
Hitting shelves 2008*!
63 Comments
Nice one, i’ll pick it
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial, thank you :)
Flag as inappropriateThank you. i have tried it and the result is good :) Good to learn at little bit 3D.
Flag as inappropriatewow thanks so much.166
Flag as inappropriatewow thanks so much.153
Flag as inappropriatewow thanks so much.148
Flag as inappropriategreat tutorial . Thanks
Flag as inappropriateNice tutorial, thank U. It is a pity not in Russian
Flag as inappropriateawesome !!!
Flag as inappropriateThank you! The result is awesome.
I think that for some specific tasks it is good to use additional apps. For example, if you need not simple box, but something more complex, for example DVD box or “Vista” box, or book, it may be time-consuming or difficult to draw this in Photoshop. And special tools such as eCover Suite Elite (a Photoshop addon, http://www.ecoversuiteelite.com/) or IndaSoftware Cover Professional (a standalone app, http://www.indasoftware.com/coverpro/) relieve us in such cases. There you can rotate objects, add/remove reflection with single click, etc.
Good luck! Thank you for great tutorials.
Flag as inappropriateGreat. But how do you create the reflection if the box was a can of paint instead? How do you create a curved reflection?
Flag as inappropriateThe 3d effect is really awesome, then add the cool reflection effect! this technique really make a good 3d effect on other arts… thanks man for teaching this
Flag as inappropriateGreat work! I would like a tutorial on making a spiral effect at the side, more like a notebook… I have searched for a tutorial of that kind and have not found any.If you could make one on that it would be greatly appreciated.
Flag as inappropriateGreat cover tutorial – love the 3D feel. Just a little problem on the 3-pt. perspective on your last image. It’s tricky :D
Flag as inappropriateVery cool. Going to be using this on the box art project I’m working on currently.
Flag as inappropriateAll your Tutorials are extraordinary.
Flag as inappropriateThanks
Great tut, love it, wel explaned and looks professional.
Flag as inappropriate!!!
@David -”I think a lot of websites/software companies actually use this technique in place of taking pictures of their actual cover art. It’s would think that it provides a cleaner image.”
Yeah, I’ve heard that too and it’s almost certain that Adobe use photoshop to create their product shots. They look too clean to be photos (I could be wrong though :) )
Anyway here’s one tool that I’ve heard is pretty cool for creating digital product shots ‘n things- eCoverSuiteElite | eBook cover software – thought you might want to check it out.
Cheers for the tutorial.
Flag as inappropriate- Phil
Great tutorial! Very useful, thanks
Flag as inappropriateI found a free action script that creates some really nice looking software boxes and it only requires that you have Adobe Photoshop installed.
Flag as inappropriateCheck it out here: http://www.absolutecovers.com/blog/2008/10/22/free-software-box-creator
Why the box is leaning forward? Right edge of the box is misleading here – it should be parallel to the left edge.
Flag as inappropriateThanks for the great tutorial. One little suggestion for the reason I came to this tutorial:
Under step 6, you say, “Transform > Skew” – It might be important to say don’t select the corners and/or show an icon representative of the up & down arrows selecting the side.
I repeatedly selected the handles (or whatever they are called) to skew.
Thanks again!
Flag as inappropriateNathan Mallamace
it s damn good man keet it up hope for more tut in futures
Flag as inappropriateSorry Fredrik,for missing your name last time.
But both of you stay together, you people are doing a wonderful job.
Thanks.
Flag as inappropriateThanks Binesh, but Fredrik actually wrote this tutorial ;) He’s really great at explaining things as well, which is just one of the reasons we love him!
Flag as inappropriateDavid,
You are the best when it comes to explaining a tutorial.
I simply love this site. The best I have seen, because it runs on simplicity.
Thanks.
Flag as inappropriateHi!
Flag as inappropriateThis tutorial is really great.
I was just wondering if I could release this tutorial at another site which is a great community. It’s a gaming community though, but there are lots of graphic talents visiting this site every day.
Send me an e-mail if it’s ok.
~ Viktor Rudi
I’ve been looking for this type of tutorial for ages. Well written tutorial. Concise and clear. Once again, thanks!!!
Flag as inappropriatevery nice :o will be using this technique for a project im working on :) thanks fredrik
Flag as inappropriateI am seriously glad I found you website! This is really awesome :)
Flag as inappropriateThis is awesome. I ca’t wait to display this as my project work for the Lecturer. Thanks Fredrik
Flag as inappropriateWe’ll release a detailed Vanishing Point Tool tutorial sometime soon (hopefully) Peotto. Gotta keep in mind that the VP tool wasn’t made available until later versions of photoshop, so a lot of users can’t even take advantage of it yet.
Flag as inappropriateWhy not show the method using the Vanishing point feature or whatever it’s called. This was insanely cool though, i didn’t know it could be done so well without the VP tool.
Flag as inappropriateIt certainly is a nice effect ;)
I think a lot of websites/software companies actually use this technique in place of taking pictures of their actual cover art. It’s would think that it provides a cleaner image.
With some work on shading with the dodge and burn tools, I’d imagine that you could even get the lighting to look pretty real.
Flag as inappropriateAwesome tutorial Fredrik I love the final outcome.
Flag as inappropriateI love this effect. It looks realistic and professional.
Flag as inappropriateThe results look like it was rendered in some 3d modeling software, although, for the final result, the reflection doesn’t really match the object it’s reflecting. Probably because of its angle.
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial!
Flag as inappropriateGreat tutorial! thanks
Flag as inappropriatewow nice tut im looking forward to the forums opening
Flag as inappropriate