3D Models with Adobe Photoshop: Design a Pickleball Paddle from Coursera

**Enroll in this Guided Project before April 2026, for a free 1-month trial to the Adobe Creative Cloud Suite!**

This Guided Project, 3D Models with Adobe Photoshop: Design Pickleball Paddle, is for advanced Photoshop users. This guided project is intended on helping advanced Photoshop users accomplish configuring a 3D model, establish a color palette to apply to the model, create custom textures to apply to the model, and use graphic design principles to design a typographic element for the 3D model. In this hour-long project-based course, you will learn how to build a 3D model of a pickleball paddle, apply graphic styles like color, create and apply custom textures, and design typography in an engaging way to attract potential clients and investors.

To achieve this, we will work through how to construct a 3D pickleball paddle using the Adobe Photoshop 3D menu, including building the paddle face and handle grip. As well as how to establish a traidic color palette for the project, how to create custom textures and apply them to 3D models, and learn how to make typographic design choices to create engaging graphics for the face of our paddle, all to create a final presentation to export.

This project is unique because it combines advanced Photoshop skills with specific application to designing a functional and visually appealing 3D model of a pickleball paddle, integrating various graphic styles and techniques directly applicable to product design and export processes.

In order to be successful in this project, you will need to have advanced experience in Adobe Photoshop, including familiarity with the workspace layout, layers panel, adjustments panel, and experience with advanced tools such as the perspective grid. As well as, knowledge of 3D modeling concepts and graphic design principles such as color theory, typography, and typographic hierarchy.

What's inside

Syllabus

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Integrates advanced Photoshop skills with specific application to designing a functional and visually appealing 3D model, which is useful for product design

Requires advanced experience in Adobe Photoshop, including familiarity with the workspace layout, layers panel, adjustments panel, and experience with the perspective grid

Requires knowledge of 3D modeling concepts and graphic design principles such as color theory and typographic hierarchy, which may be a barrier to some learners

Reviews summary

Designing 3d models in photoshop

According to the course description, this guided project aims to teach advanced Photoshop users how to create and customize 3D models. Learners focus on designing a pickleball paddle, covering skills like establishing color palettes, creating custom textures, and designing typographic elements. The course highlights the application of these skills to product design and export processes, suggesting the knowledge gained can be useful for attracting clients and investors. Success requires advanced experience in Photoshop, including 3D features, and knowledge of graphic design principles.

Uses Photoshop's built-in 3D functionalities.

"Good overview of what Photoshop's 3D capabilities offer for this kind of work."

"I learned how to apply materials and textures effectively within Photoshop's 3D space."

"It showed me how to use Photoshop for 3D without needing dedicated 3D software initially."

Centered around designing a pickleball paddle model.

"The pickleball paddle is a unique and specific subject for a project."

"While niche, the skills apply to other product visualizations."

"It was a fun project if you're interested in sports equipment design."

Concise, fast-paced, project-based learning.

"The guided project format is very direct and time-efficient."

"It moves quickly, so be ready to follow along closely."

"An hour is enough to complete the steps outlined, but doesn't leave much room for exploration."

Course targets users highly skilled in Photoshop.

"They definitely expect you to be comfortable with advanced Photoshop features from the start."

"This course really assumes you know the workspace and core tools well."

"Having experience with Smart Objects and layers is crucial for keeping up."

Skills learned are relevant for product visuals.

"The focus on textures and typography makes it useful for presenting product concepts."

"I can use the techniques learned for creating mockups of other objects."

"Learning the export process was helpful for sharing my 3D designs."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in 3D Models with Adobe Photoshop: Design a Pickleball Paddle with these activities:

Review Perspective Grid Usage

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Practice using the perspective grid tool in Photoshop to ensure a solid understanding before starting the course.

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Open Photoshop and create a new document.
Activate the Perspective Grid tool.
Experiment with different grid configurations.
Practice drawing shapes and lines that conform to the grid.

Review Color Theory Principles

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Review color theory concepts, especially triadic color palettes, to prepare for the color palette design aspect of the project.

Browse courses on Color Theory

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Research color theory basics online.
Focus on understanding triadic color schemes.
Identify examples of triadic color palettes in design.
Experiment with creating your own triadic palettes using online tools.

Follow 3D Modeling Tutorials in Photoshop

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Follow online tutorials that demonstrate 3D modeling techniques within Photoshop to enhance your skills.

Browse courses on 3D Modeling

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Search for Photoshop 3D modeling tutorials on YouTube or Adobe's website.
Choose a tutorial that covers basic 3D extrusion and material application.
Follow the tutorial step-by-step, pausing as needed.
Experiment with applying different materials and textures to your 3D model.

Four other activities

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Practice Applying Textures to 3D Objects

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Practice applying and adjusting textures on simple 3D objects in Photoshop to master the texturing process.

Browse courses on Textures

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Create a simple 3D object in Photoshop (e.g., a cube or sphere).
Find or create a variety of textures (e.g., wood, metal, fabric).
Apply each texture to the 3D object and adjust its properties (e.g., scale, rotation, bump mapping).
Experiment with different blending modes and layer styles to enhance the textures.

Design a Mock Pickleball Paddle Graphic

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Create a mock design for a pickleball paddle using the skills learned in the course to reinforce your understanding.

Browse courses on Graphic Design

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Brainstorm design ideas for a pickleball paddle graphic.
Choose a color palette and typographic style.
Create the graphic in Photoshop, incorporating the chosen elements.
Present your design to peers for feedback.

Design Variations of the Pickleball Paddle

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Expand on the course project by designing multiple variations of the pickleball paddle with different styles and textures.

Browse courses on Photoshop

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Revisit the original pickleball paddle design.
Brainstorm new design concepts and themes.
Create at least three different variations of the paddle design in Photoshop.
Present your designs in a portfolio format.

Create a Portfolio of 3D Product Designs

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Compile a portfolio showcasing your 3D product design skills, including the pickleball paddle and other projects.

Browse courses on Portfolio

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Gather all your 3D product designs.
Select the best designs to include in your portfolio.
Create a visually appealing layout for your portfolio.
Write descriptions for each design, highlighting your skills and process.

Career center

Learners who complete 3D Models with Adobe Photoshop: Design a Pickleball Paddle will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Product Designer

A Product Designer conceptualizes and creates physical and digital products, ensuring they are both functional and aesthetically pleasing. In this role, you would be responsible for the look and feel of various products, and would use programs like Photoshop to create models, textures, and apply colors. This course helps build a foundation in utilizing Adobe Photoshop to create 3D models, which is useful for a product design portfolio. The course's focus on graphic styles, color palettes, and custom textures directly applies to the visual aspects of product design. Moreover, the project-based approach of this course may be helpful for a product designer hoping to produce professional-looking renderings of their designs.

See salaries and explore the career path for Product Designer

Graphic Designer

A Graphic Designer creates visual content to communicate messages, and often works with typography and color to create layouts for both digital and print media. This role may use Photoshop to develop brand elements, marketing materials, and product prototypes. This course helps develop skills in using Photoshop to manipulate 3D models and applying textures and colors which are important in graphic design. In addition, this course's focus on color theory, typography, and creating engaging graphics will be important skills for any graphic designer looking to enhance their portfolio. Also, the course provides practical experience in creating a final presentation, which is what graphic designers do for clients.

See salaries and explore the career path for Graphic Designer

3D Modeler

A 3D Modeler creates three-dimensional digital models of objects, characters, or environments for use in various media such as video games, films, and product visualizations. In this position, you would use software like Photoshop to create and edit the textures, colors, and overall look of 3D models. This course may be useful to a 3D modeler as it focuses on configuring 3D models, applying color palettes, and creating custom textures. This course's specific application to designing a functional 3D model of a pickleball paddle integrates various graphic styles and techniques directly applicable to 3D modeling processes. Learning how to present final 3D models may prove to be useful in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for 3D Modeler

Visual Designer

A Visual Designer focuses on the aesthetic and visual elements of design projects, using software to create layouts and visual assets for digital and print media. This role requires proficiency in tools such as Photoshop to produce designs that are both attractive and functional. This course may be helpful for a visual designer because it teaches how to design 3D models, create custom textures and color palettes, and utilize typographic choices. This course’s focus on combining advanced Photoshop skills with specific application to designing a visual 3D model may help visual designers strengthen their portfolios.

See salaries and explore the career path for Visual Designer

Digital Artist

A Digital Artist uses digital tools and software to create artwork for various purposes, such as illustrations, concept art, and visual effects. This position will require proficiency in using software to create textures and other visual elements for digital art. This course may be useful for digital artists as it discusses how to create custom textures and apply them to 3D models. The course focuses on using graphic design principles and integrating various graphic styles and techniques directly applicable to digital art. By learning Photoshop’s 3D tools, a digital artist can expand their skillset. Specifically, a digital artist learns how to create a presentation to export from this course.

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Industrial Designer

An Industrial Designer works to improve the form and function of manufactured goods. This role requires proficiency in using design software to create and model products. This course helps build a foundation in using Photoshop to produce 3D models. The course's focus on applying color palettes and creating textures directly applies to the work that industrial designers perform. Working on a specific project, as this course offers, is similar to what industrial designers do in their daily work, making this course beneficial to one seeking work in this career.

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Marketing Specialist

A Marketing Specialist works on developing and executing marketing campaigns to promote products and services. One might use design in presenting their marketing materials to a variety of audiences, working with design software like Photoshop. This course may help a marketing specialist better understand the visual components of marketing and how they are created. By learning how to design color palettes, create custom textures and apply them to 3D models, and design engaging typography, a marketing specialist may improve their ability to create content. Specifically, they can learn to make presentations from this course, which is helpful in marketing.

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UX Designer

A User Experience Designer focuses on improving the usability and accessibility of digital and physical products. This role uses various software to create user interfaces and interactions, and visual design software such as Photoshop may be used. This course may help a UX Designer because it teaches how to design 3D models and apply custom textures, which are elements that may contribute to the user experience. While UX design focuses on user experience, visual aspects that this course teaches may contribute to the overall experience. This course offers experience working on a design project which may be helpful to a UX designer.

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Art Director

An Art Director is responsible for overseeing the visual style and images used in creative projects. This role requires a keen eye for design and proficiency in using software such as Photoshop to guide the work of other designers. This course may help an Art Director to better understand graphic design principles. By learning how to construct 3D models, apply graphic styles, and create custom textures, an Art Director may better guide their design teams. This course offers experience in typography and its use in a final product, which would be valuable to an Art Director.

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Brand Manager

A Brand Manager works to oversee the image, perception, and performance of a company's brand. They may work with design teams to produce cohesive branding materials. This role may benefit from knowledge of how brands are presented visually. This course may be useful because it helps build a foundation in establishing a color palette, creating custom textures, and applying typography. The course's focus on graphic design principles and creating final presentations may be useful for a brand manager who is looking to expand their understanding of visual design.

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Game Designer

A Game Designer creates the concepts, rules, and overall experience for video games, working with other team members to produce a final product. This role may work with design software such as Photoshop to produce models, textures, and concept art for a project. This course may be useful to a game designer as it helps build a foundation in creating 3D models and applying custom textures. The course also works through graphic principles, color theory, and typography, which may be helpful in game design. Learning how to export models may be valuable in this role.

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Animator

An Animator creates moving images using digital tools for various media. They may use software such as Photoshop to create and edit animated characters and environments. This course may be helpful to an animator as it focuses on creating 3D models and applying color and texture to models. The course helps develop skills using Photoshop that may be useful in animation. The course is project-based with a presentation in mind, which is similar to the workflow an animator might experience in the field.

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Illustrator

An Illustrator creates visual content for use in print and digital media, often working with graphics software. This course may be useful for an illustrator as it discusses how to create custom textures and apply them to 3D models. The course teaches graphic design principles and integrates various graphic styles and techniques, which may be useful to an illustrator. Specifically, an illustrator may find this course helpful for understanding how typography can be used to make engaging graphics. The final project presentation would be similar to presenting finished images to a client.

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Content Creator

A Content Creator develops digital content for online platforms, often working with design tools. This course may be useful to a content creator because it helps develop a foundation in creating engaging graphics and using 3D models, which may be helpful in making social media posts. The course helps develop skills in typography, color theory, and creating presentations. Therefore, a content creator might use this course to learn how to create eye-catching graphics for their posts. This project-based course focuses on presentation, which content creators do on a daily basis.

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Technical Writer

A Technical Writer writes documentation to explain technical products and processes. While this position does not directly use design, this course may be helpful for one who seeks greater understanding of design processes. The project-based approach may be useful for a technical writer to expand their understanding of graphic design and its processes, and help them understand their colleagues' work. This course's focus on creating a final presentation may further improve one's ability to deliver information.

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