3D "hollow" effect?

[idraw]

The current 3D option, which is amazing, makes an object (say, an oval) 'pop out' of the canvas.

 

Is there an option to make the shape look hollow instead?

[idraw]

Searching online, I found that in Illustrator the 'hollow' effect can be achieved by choosing the 'Down' direction in the 'Emboss' effect setting. Is there an analogous option in Affinity (a similar-looking setting called 'Invert' does not seem to achieve this effect)?

 

Reference: 'Direction' section in http://design.tutsplus.com/articles/the-comprehensive-guide-to-bevel-and-emboss--psd-17308

[Justin]

Hi

 

We don't have an explicit Up/Down option but you can achieve a recessed appearance to objects as in the example in your link using our existing controls. Try the following:

 

Create a large rectangle and give it a colour, not black or white.

Create some artistic text on top of the rectangle in the same colour, so the text can't be seen.

Add a Bevel/Emboss effect to the text. The text will appear to stick out. Note that the light source is above and to the left. 

Change the direction of the light source by 180 degrees, so that the light source is below and to the right. Now the text will appear recessed, even though the only thing that has changed is the direction of the light source!

 

I suspect this happens because we are biased to assume things are lit from above. Google "rotating mask optical illusion" for another interesting example of this kind of thing.

 

Hope this helps

Justin

[lastfuture]

To illustrate Justin's example:

 

[idraw]

Thanks. FYI there is a bug due to which when I click on the settings wheel for some setting in the "Effects" pane, say '3D', the "Layer Effects" pane pops up but with the NEXT setting selected (in this example, 'Colour Overlay' instead of '3D').