Bitmap Distortion By Beziers? Any Plugins?

Frequently I wish I had some easy way to distort bitmaps in a bezier-like way, to "map" them onto a notional "surface". For instance, suppose I have an image of a curved surface, say a spaceship bulkhead. I’d like to put perhaps an image of a flag on it. Let’s suppose I have a fine bitmap of the US flag; it’s a rectangle. However, to make it fit on my curved surface, I’ll need to map that rectangle to a new, curved shape; if my bulkhead is a simple cylinder then I’m going to need both the left and right edges of my bitmap to be curved; and also every pixel in the flag bitmap will need to be remapped to suit.

I’m wondering if somebody has come across a plugin (or other graphics

that can do the following-

Frequently I wish I had some easy way to distort bitmaps in a

way, to "map" them onto a notional "surface". For instance, suppose I

an image of a curved surface, say a spaceship bulkhead. I’d like to

perhaps an image of a flag on it. Let’s suppose I have a fine bitmap

US flag; it’s a rectangle. However, to make it fit on my curved

I’ll need to map that rectangle to a new, curved shape; if my

simple cylinder then I’m going to need both the left and right edges

bitmap to be curved; and also every pixel in the flag bitmap will

remapped to suit.

In a vector program (I use Xara X1 for instance) this can easily be

with vector shapes; there’ll be a node at each corner with bezier

can use to remap the shape. But I’ve yet to find a way to do this

bitmap, preferably in Photoshop. I’ve searched around but maybe I’ve searched for the wrong things. I appreciate that this is also the

thing 3D programs routinely do; but I’m an artist that draws things

don’t want to get into building 3D models instead! The "bezier

envisage wouldn’t have to actually do a particularly accurate

of a 3D space; I’m just talking about distorting said bitmap by eye,

it "looks right".

Does anyone have any suggestions on this? I’m getting sick of drawing

I’m sure a computer should be able to do 🙂

MTIA for any suggestions,

Ian

I’m wondering if somebody has come across a plugin (or other graphics app) that can do the following-

Frequently I wish I had some easy way to distort bitmaps in a bezier-like way, to "map" them onto a notional "surface". For instance, suppose I have an image of a curved surface, say a spaceship bulkhead. I’d like to put perhaps an image of a flag on it. Let’s suppose I have a fine bitmap of the US flag; it’s a rectangle. However, to make it fit on my curved surface, I’ll need to map that rectangle to a new, curved shape; if my bulkhead is a simple cylinder then I’m going to need both the left and right edges of my bitmap to be curved; and also every pixel in the flag bitmap will need to be remapped to suit.

In a vector program (I use Xara X1 for instance) this can easily be done with vector shapes; there’ll be a node at each corner with bezier handles I can use to remap the shape. But I’ve yet to find a way to do this with a bitmap, preferably in Photoshop. I’ve searched around but maybe I’ve searched for the wrong things. I appreciate that this is also the kind of thing 3D programs routinely do; but I’m an artist that draws things and I don’t want to get into building 3D models instead! The "bezier plugin" I envisage wouldn’t have to actually do a particularly accurate representation of a 3D space; I’m just talking about distorting said bitmap by eye, until it "looks right".

Does anyone have any suggestions on this? I’m getting sick of drawing things I’m sure a computer should be able to do 🙂

MTIA for any suggestions,

Ian

I’m wondering if somebody has come across a plugin (or other graphics app) that can do the following-

Frequently I wish I had some easy way to distort bitmaps in a bezier-like way, to "map" them onto a notional "surface". For instance, suppose I have an image of a curved surface, say a spaceship bulkhead. I’d like to put perhaps an image of a flag on it. Let’s suppose I have a fine bitmap of the US flag; it’s a rectangle. However, to make it fit on my curved surface, I’ll need to map that rectangle to a new, curved shape; if my bulkhead is a simple cylinder then I’m going to need both the left and right edges of my bitmap to be curved; and also every pixel in the flag bitmap will need to be remapped to suit.

In a vector program (I use Xara X1 for instance) this can easily be done with vector shapes; there’ll be a node at each corner with bezier handles I can use to remap the shape. But I’ve yet to find a way to do this with a bitmap, preferably in Photoshop. I’ve searched around but maybe I’ve searched for the wrong things. I appreciate that this is also the kind of thing 3D programs routinely do; but I’m an artist that draws things and I don’t want to get into building 3D models instead! The "bezier plugin" I envisage wouldn’t have to actually do a particularly accurate representation of a 3D space; I’m just talking about distorting said bitmap by eye, until it "looks right".

Does anyone have any suggestions on this? I’m getting sick of drawing things I’m sure a computer should be able to do 🙂

MTIA for any suggestions,

Ian