Create a Quick and Easy 3D Type Effect
Clean and modern 3D type is a cool effect, and it’s surprisingly quick and easy to create. With the combination of Photoshop and Illustrator, this effect is can be created in minutes. Let’s take a look at how it’s done.
Here’s a look at what we’ll be creating.
Step 1 – Start in Illustrator
Open up Illustrator, and type a single word. I chose “Style” and 75% black for the color. I’m using a font called Lobster, which you can download here.
Next, let’s convert the text to a single shape. Select the type and click (Type | Create Outlines). Then click the “Unite” shape mode on the Pathfinder panel.
Step 2 – Make it 3D
Now we have one solid shape. Let’s add the 3D portion by clicking (Effect | 3D | Extrude & Bevel). I’ve highlighted the changes to make on the 3D options window.
Now you should have something like this.
In order to move the 3D portion of the type over to Photoshop, we’ll need to convert it to a shape. Click (Object | Expand Appearance). Now with everything still selected click (Object | Ungroup). You may have to ungroup 2 or 3 times to fully release all of the shapes from one another.
Step 3 – Take it to Photoshop
Now that we have our shapes, let’s get them over to Photoshop. First up, select the original type without the 3D portion. Press (Cmd+C) to copy it.
In a new Photoshop document (mine is 558×400) paste the type shape (Cmd+V). When given the option, select to paste as pixels. Note: don’t resize the shape, press enter to paste as is.
Back over to Illustrator select only the 3D portion, and copy and paste it to a layer below the type shape in Photoshop.
Now align the two layers so that they appear as one shape. Same as they were in Illustrator. When done, you should have something like this. Note: I made the type shape a bit darker so you can see that they are aligned.
Step 4 – Finishing up in Photoshop
On the top type shape layer, I applied the following styles.
The colors for the gradient are #878787 to #222525
You should end up with something like this.
Step 5 – Adding Light and Shadows
Let’s add a bit of light to the scene. First we need to add some gray to the background so that our light shows up. Fill the background layer with #838383. You can even add a touch of noise, if you wish, by clicking (Filter | Noise | Add Noise). Use no more than 2-3 for the amount.
Now let’s add an overhead highlight by choosing a large soft white brush and clicking one time in the center of the document on a layer above the background. You’ll need to set this layer’s blend mode to Overlay.
As you can see from the 3D shape the light is coming from the lower left. So our shadows should reflect that. (Cmd+Click) the topmost type shape layer to make a selection. Now create a new layer and position it below the 3D shape layer. Blur it slightly using (Filter | Blur | Gaussian Blur). Set the amount to 2%, then position it 1-2 pixels up and to the right. You should now have a subtle shadow like the one below.
Now duplicate this shadow layer, and blur it further using (Filter | Gaussian Blur) with amount set to 5. Now using (Edit | Transform | Scale) pull the shadow slightly to the right and up.
That does it! A quick and easy 3D effect that you can apply to not just type, but any vector object. Happy designing!
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You bet!
Hi Nathan,
Thanks for the tutorial but I am stuck at step #3… “Back over to Illustrator select only the 3D portion, and copy and paste it to a layer below the type shape in Photoshop.”
I’m an Illustrator newb and have no idea how to separate the layers as you have prescribed. Can you please expand on that instruction so I can finish the tutorial, or direct me to where I can find that information?
Thank you.
Hi Dave… Once you have completed the step to create the 3D shape, make sure you expand and ungroup the shape. This will separate the original type layer and the 3D shape beneath it. These need to be copied over to Photoshop separately onto their own layers.
I was wondering if you could send me the file of this example or make me one saying “CDC Web Design & Dev” I think it would make a great desktop wallpaper. I’m only asking because I don’t have any adobe products yet I’m still saving my money.
I wonder why I have pixelate and distorted 3D part when import to Photoshop.:/
Any idea ?
I believe I followed this step for step, but I did not get the same result. My text is pixelated (which may be a function of my text starting of too small?) and although my top layer looks good the 3D portion does not look like yours. I think if i understood what exactly was happening when I am “creating outlines” and “Expand”ing the text in illustrator as well as all the grouping/ungrouping I might be able to figure out where I went wrong. I am a newer user and I still don’t understand what the difference between create outlines and expand text is? They seem to do the same thing. I think this effect is cool and that it would be relatively easy to create, but I have been left a little frustrated. Would love some advice. Thanks
Hey guys… On the pixelated text… make sure you are not resizing the shapes once they are brought over to Photoshop, that could cause some pixelation.
I’ve been trying this tutorial and also getting these lines appearing on the 3D bit as well. It’s as soon as I press Expand Appearance, almost can count the shades of grey as it follows the contour. Click Undo and it’s fine, haven’t resized or anything, just pressed Expand Appearance.
Tried Googling this and nothing, is it because I’m using CS6 16.0.4 Standard and it doesn’t have the 3D elements?
cool effect! my version looks great :) will have to find a project to use it in soon
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Jan, you can always challenge the extra fee with paypal. It will take weeks to get your money back, but better that than no recourse. I hope the site owner is well – I, too, have been trying to get ahold of him/her, to no avail for about a month.
im stuck in step 3…its freaking me out that how did he put the automaticgradient to the step 3…its confusing…
Bravo bro
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I miss your blog entries.
Thank you , very useful , thanks for sharing~~~
Where are your wonderful tutorials? Miss them.
They’re coming back soon… Stand by :-)
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Hi Nathan
Thanks for your useful tips !!
I will definitely try this unique 3-D effect in the Photoshop,the next time I am using it.
Thanks again
Regards
Got as far as step 5 with the overhead highlight, but when it gets to shadows and to add another layer and put it under the 3D layer, blur gaussian etc..it says selected area is empty. What’s going wrong? Am I supposed to have duplicated the top layer or something!? Thanks
I am stuck on this step too! I have followed the whole thing step-by-step very easily but now I’m not sure what is supposed to be on this layer for the shadow!?
@kaz & @AC… I think the best way to explain this is that once you make the selection, copy that selection — do not duplicate the layer…then paste onto the new layer..
Very well defined instructions for designing 3D text.
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Bro…I really need your help im having problems with step 3.When i Ungroup i get many Objects how do i know which is the real text layer and which i the 3d layer
Thanks for the tut, your result looks very nice. I have a couple of problems though. Illustrator seems to break up the gradient into separate shapes and even though I can copy into Photoshop, the result is multiple lines with 0% opacity. So anything placed behind the 3d object can be seen though the lines.
I’m also unsure of your explanation at step 5. You seemed to suggest adding a Gaussian blur to an empty layer (which won’t work) or duplicating the top layer, moving it to the bottom with a Gaussian blur. Either something is missing from the instruction or I’m just not understanding your explanation.
Really hope you can help… Thank you again.
thanks for your tutorial, very useful
I have the same issue as “Kaz” when adding the shadows.
“Could not complete the Gaussian Blur command because the selected area is empty”
So near the end…………..:(
Creating a 3D type effect is not an easy job but your mentioned ways are made my thinking pretty clear. Very easy and quick ways you lighted here to make great 3D effects. I’m just getting impressed by checking out your every posts. Educative and effective, just keep up allocation…
very easy but effective tutorial.
Where´s your blog? Is it dead? That´s extremly pity!
Where´s your blog? Is it dead? That´s extremly pity!
Hey Lesniks, it’s not, we have been dealing with a couple of big improvements to the system here at WeGraphics, but we will be back on track very soon with new articles and tutorials.
Really nice tutorial on create a 3D effect quickly. I’ll try this soon.
Hi there,
I just wanted to point out that in step 4 the options in the stoke should be “inside” not outside. As when you place the background from white to, just say a dark colour, the issues will come up, and this should be the solution to this problem.
Thanks for the great tuts etc.
Just replying back from the late response. You could use the stoke as “outside”, I just like the inside effect better. Plus the outside effect seems to make the top part of the image protrude just a little bit and looks a bit un-proportional.
Thanks again.
In step 5 and when you put the “style” under the 3D in order to blur it and create the shadow, you must remove the effects, stroke, inner shadow and gradient overlay to have the best result. Am I right?