different ways to draw 3d letters
There is something magical about drawing a 3D letter of the alphabet on a second surface. 3D lettering is a technique to create shadows and dimension in your lettering. It makes a letter, give-and-take or even an entire phrase, pop right out of the folio—a flim-flam that can be extremely useful when creating commercial designs.
As technology evolved and designers searched for new ways to ameliorate the looks of design, shadow type became an intriguing art class.
Here are a few examples of 3D lettering in action:
Designers and craftsmen used wood, metal and drinking glass to craft unique typefaces … the results 'found a fix auction among newly rich merchants' who wanted to advertise their businesses. Shadows were more than mere graphic tricks; they were as well veritable signposts of consumption.
When I started lettering I tried to stay abroad from experimenting with intricate shadows and effects considering I idea it was too complicated to pull off. But guess what? It'due south not as complicated equally it seems. In fact, once you get the hang of it, y'all probably won't want to stop!
Merely before you dive into this more advanced aspect of paw lettering, it's a good idea to bone upward on the basics:
- This in-depth introduction to hand lettering will walk you through the fundamentals: what lettering actually is, the anatomy of messages, different lettering styles, plus a quick exercise to kicking start your creative juices and get you experimenting with expressive lettering.
- When you get comfortable with drawing single letters and words, head over to this avant-garde lettering guide, which will help you have your lettering game to the adjacent level by edifice out more circuitous layouts and using longer phrases.
Once you're no longer intimidated by drawing simple letters, words or phrases, you tin jump into the tutorial below and add together some mind-blowing dimensions to your lettering!
Unlike types of shadows and dimensions for 3D lettering
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When adding shadows and dimensions to messages, there are quite a few routes you tin can take. Start with something as elementary as a driblet line. Then turn that line into a clean drop shadow, which yous can add some shading to later. For extra depth you can add some inner shadows to your messages or if you're feeling adventurous you tin can play with some bevels, too.
Sounds fun, right? Permit's take a await at each option, starting from the easiest, with quick tips on how to attain each look. But before we begin, keep this essential rule in mind: when creating shadows it's important to define a light source and stick to it throughout the pattern to maintain a consistent look.
Drop line
The driblet line is probably the simplest and quickest way to give your letters some dimension.
You simply have to trace a line virtually your main letters. If this is your first fourth dimension doing this, it volition assistance to duplicate the layer that contains the letters. Elevate its opacity down and slightly move it to the side—this tends to be a 45* caste.
On a new layer, trace the edges of the shifted layer, then delete the low opacity ane.
Simply make certain that when you lot draw your initial letters you leave enough space between them for the drib line.
Like shooting fish in a barrel peasy!
If you're using pen and paper, try working with tracing newspaper at showtime. That style, yous can just use the papers as guides, just similar you would with the layers.
Driblet shadow
Adding shadows works for assuming, blocky letters as well as some thinner scripts. Go alee and experiment with adding shadows and dimensions to more lettering styles.
Kickoff off the aforementioned style y'all did for the drib line: duplicate the layer that contains the letters, send it behind the chief one and move information technology to a 45* bending.
Instead of dragging the opacity down though, this fourth dimension you want to recolor it.
Staying on the aforementioned layer, get-go connecting the edges of the two layers.
Wasn't so hard, right?
Now that yous're more confident, allow's spice things up by using different angles for the different words.
This look will make your piece more than dynamic.
Similar to the previous technique, indistinguishable, recolor, drag to a 45* bending and connect the edges.
In the concurrently, you can likewise start experimenting with different shadow sizes.
If yous're feeling adventurous, you can take it 1 pace further by experimenting with the vanishing betoken.
You lot can accomplish this wait in two ways:
- Duplicate, resize and move the layer, then connect all the corresponding edges; or
- Define a point, connect all edges of the letters to it and trace the letters again on the shadow.
In that location is no right or wrong way to do this—you but have to try all options and see what works best for you.
Alright, at present that you lot have mastered adding the drop shadow, go ahead and add some shading to it.
First thing you need to do is ascertain a low-cal source and stick to it. At outset you'll get lost a bit just that'due south okay.
An easy way to figure this out is by imagining that your letter is an actual object on a tabular array. Wait at different objects in your room, both rounded and rectangular, to become a feel of how low-cal and shadow play on it.
One time y'all get the hang of information technology, you tin can mix things upwards and add different lite sources to your angled drop shadows. Get artistic and weird, don't be agape to mess things up—you most certainly volition, that'south how we all acquire!.
But be sure to follow the drop shadow'southward direction with the shading!
If y'all want to make your words look even more 3-dimensional, go the actress mile and add together a new layer of shadow.
For this you lot'll need to duplicate your main layer, send it all the way to the dorsum and position it at the base of the drop shadow.
And so, slightly motion information technology to a 45* angle, but this fourth dimension to the contrary direction to the drib shadow.
Finally, connect the edges of the shadow and drib shadow, paying extra attention to the directions and light sources.
Inner shadow
Hither things can get a picayune complicated, but don't worry. Again, duplicate the main layer, drag its opacity downwards and move information technology to a 45* degree. This time, y'all'll desire to leave it on tiptop and draw a new layer between the two.
You lot merely have to colour in the areas of the letters that are visible.
For actress depth, you shade parts of the edges. Just remember to follow the light source you divers.
Another cool trick that will help your messages seem even more three-dimensional is to add together an outline. This volition requite them a "cookie cutter" effect—information technology will almost look similar the messages are empty.
Merely follow the previous technique, only add together an outline this time.
Bevel
This technique is probably the 1 that requires the most patience and practise.
Outset by cartoon a line in the center of the letter of the alphabet, and then connect the tip of the line with the corners of the letter.
Turn the opacity of this frame layer down, and employ it as a guide to fill in the letterforms.
Choose three colors: 2 that are darker than the base of operations of your letter and a lighter 1.
Start coloring the aforementioned sides with the same color, using the light source you defined.
Mix it up!
Yous tin can now start to mix upwardly all these techniques and get to some really interesting 3D lettering results!
Y'all're a 3-dimensional dynamo!
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If yous are reading this sentence, you lot've powered through this tutorial and you lot're starting to befriend 3D lettering, which means you are awesome!
With each piffling doodle yous're getting 1 step closer to mastering the fine art of dimensional lettering. Don't worry, you'll start seeing the results of your practise sooner than you might expect.
Only call up to start small, with some easy drib lines and as y'all get comfortable with the unlike styles, slowly work your way up to more complex dimensions. Have it easy and allow yourself to make mistakes.
Practice makes perfect—nobody manages to practise intricate dimensions on the offset attempt. Effort to have fun with it and bask the procedure!
Desire fifty-fifty more lettering inspiration?
Browse creative lettering from professional designers.
Source: https://99designs.com/blog/design-tutorials/3d-lettering/
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