If you’re a Photoshop user, you may have noticed recently that you cannot access Photoshop’s 3D features anymore. Despite a good deal of other software available to create 3D designs, Photoshop 3D features were easy to use and integrate with other design aspects. But sadly, they are no longer available.
Let’s find out a little more about Photoshop discontinuing 3D features…
Why Have 3D Features Been Discontinued?
Adobe announced in August 2021 that it planned to discontinue its 3D features in the next update (Photoshop 22.5). In March 2022, Adobe began removing 3D features, but why?
In its announcement, Adobe claims that the 3D technology will no longer reliably work with their software and that modern operating systems are too advanced for their 3D technology.
It is largely to do with GPUs, CPUs, and OpenGL technology. Adobe is fighting against Windows and Mac operating systems to try to keep their 3D technology up-to-date and able to work as well on both, but it cannot keep up. Adobe decided it’s best to retire Photoshop’s 3D functions instead.
What Were Photoshop’s 3D Features?
Most artwork designed in Adobe Photoshop is 2D. However, with its 3D features, you were able to use perspective tools that could create 3D views, such as creating packaging mockups.
Photoshop’s text tool offered 3D extrusion, but that is also being removed. There are workarounds to creating 3D text, but there are also plenty of other software options that are easy to use and produce great results.
There were also options for creating 3D panoramas, spherical imagery, and using the mesh tool. These were all available under the 3D menu in the toolbar and easily accessible to create or edit 3D features.
Can You Still Access Previously Made 3D Features in Photoshop?
Eventually, the 3D workspace in Photoshop will be totally removed, or you can manually exit the 3D workspace before that happens. Manually exiting will help your Photoshop software run smoothly. To exit the 3D workspace, click Window > Workspace > Essentials (Default).
While doing this will keep the 3D menu available until Adobe rid it entirely, it will remove it from your visual workspace. You’ll only see items you can utilize and won’t clutter up your screen or make you accidentally click on a defunct option.
To access previously made 3D pieces in Photoshop, you’ll need to keep Photoshop 22.2 running without updating. This will only be accessible until August 2023—two years after the discontinuing of 3D features began. This means that to keep 22.2 running, you can’t update your operating system.
But, you won’t receive access to other Photoshop updates, and all the rendering issues that caused Adobe to discontinue 3D features will still appear. It’s probably not worth trying to keep using Photoshop for 3D imagery.
The good news is that you’ll still be able to open 3D files in Photoshop. The bad news is that there’s nothing you’ll be able to edit on them—they will rasterize and be set in stone how they were left. This could be helpful if you need to edit other parts of your image without interacting with any specific 3D elements, but it will be very frustrating otherwise.
Will Photoshop Reintroduce 3D Features?
Adobe has said they don’t envision the reintroduction of 3D features in Photoshop.
One main reason not to consider 3D in Photoshop is that Adobe has 3D features in many other programs they offer, most notably Adobe Illustrator. Illustrator’s 3D features have become very popular and seem more intuitive to use. With AI being a vector-based software, it makes much more sense to create 3D there than in raster-based software like Photoshop.
Adobe also offers other software outside the Creative Suite that is primarily for 3D design. Of course, there are plenty of non-Adobe software available too; you can also find great 3D models elsewhere. Adobe’s list of approved 3D software includes Substance and its 3D variations: Painter, Stager, Sampler, and Designer.
Don’t Give Up on 3D
It feels sad to wave off an era of design, but with Adobe’s expertise, they surely know what’s best for their products. Photoshop may be 3D accessible no more; however, with Illustrator and Substance 3D, from Adobe alone, the options are anything but limited.
