Adobe Photoshop CC gets 3D printing support

Adobe has announced the addition of 3D printing capabilities to its cloud-based Photoshop Creative Cloud (CC) software for the first time.

Designed for both the creation of 3D models from scratch and for the refinement of existing models imported from other software packages, the support is designed to spit out 3D-ready models while using the Photoshop tools with which the software's fans are already familiar. As you might expect from an update specifically targeting physical outputs, the Photoshop CC 3D printing update includes automated mesh repair and support structure generation - both tools which take some of the pain out of readying a model for 3D printing.

'The new 3D print capabilities in Photoshop CC take the guesswork out of printing 3D models for everyone,' claimed Winston Hendrickson, vice president at Adobe's Creative Media Solutions arm. 'Before today there was a gap between the content produced by 3D modelling tools and what 3D printers need in order to deliver high quality results. Now, by simply clicking ‘Print’ in Photoshop CC, creatives can bring 3D designs to the physical world.'

The update comes in partnership with the like of 3D printer creator MakerBot and online 3D printing house Shapeways, with the chief executives and co-founders of both companies being trotted out for inevitable supportive soundbites. The software has also been trialled with creative types, including jewellery designer and sculptor Paul Liaw and industrial designer Veronica De La Rosa, both of whom are - naturally, given their presence in the official press release - supportive of the move.

The update comes as the Creative Cloud suite in general enjoys a significant upgrade, adding features including Perspective Warp and linked Smart Objects to Photoshop, Adobe Typekit connectivity in Illustrator CC and InDesign CC, and various tweaks and bugfixes. Full details are available on the official Adobe blog.