rays draw fancy 3d letters

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In this tutorial, I will teach you how to depict 3D letters pace by footstep.

3D letters may seem complicated at start, simply with a bit of theory and some practice, you'll larn information technology in no time.

So even if yous are a complete beginner with no experience, you'll learn how to describe bones 3D letters after following this tutorial.

Before we begin, hither is a quick overview of this tutorial –

Tools needed to describe 3D letters
The basics of 3D. What are 3D messages?
How to describe 3D messages – A footstep by step process
3D messages alphabet template + Gratis printable 3D letters worksheet
Actress tips for 3D messages
Last words.

Without whatever farther delays, permit's become started.

If you adopt to watch, I too made a video tutorial –

Tools needed to draw 3D letters

For this tutorial, yous'll need but a few basic lettering tools.

These are the tools that I'm using (links to Amazon) –

A pencil
Paper
A ruler (I utilise the rolling ruler – super helpful!)
An eraser

If y'all wish to add together colors to your 3D messages you can also use these other tools –

Markers
Colored pencils
Watercolors
Etc.

Ok, with that in heed, let'southward proceed to the next section of this tutorial.

The nuts of 3D. What are 3D letters?

Instead of just giving you lot a premade template for you lot to copy from, I think it's crucial to have a basic understanding of what 3D letters are.

I believe it will provide you lot with a potent foundation, and all the practice you'll exercise later on will be much more constructive.

Without getting all scientific in this cocked lettering tutorial, here is a very basic and boiled down definition of what 3D is –

3D is an object with acme, width, and depth (or length).

We are basically calculation an extra dimension to the flat 2D letterforms we usually create.

IMPORTANT Note –

I ofttimes see that people refer to 3D as shadows or shading.

Yet, information technology's not the same thing. In short, shadows are a night area or shape produced by a trunk coming between rays of light and a surface.

I think that these 2 terms get dislocated and used interchangeably because they seem similar at first.

Here is one good tip on how to recognize a 3D letter from a shaded letter.

Nosotros have a shaded alphabetic character and a 3D letter side by side to each other.

If you look at it closely, you'll see that all the corners completely connect a 3D alphabetic character. On the other hand, the shaded messages are non connected and thus give the impression of them being cast behind the letter.

We can also utilize diverse shading to our 3D letters to make them look even better.

Only more on that later on in this tutorial.

Let's go on to the next section.

How to draw 3D letters – A step past step process

I'thousand non certain if this method has a item proper noun to it, merely I phone call it – the equal altitude 3D method.

I telephone call it this manner because well, the 3D extends as everywhere.

The equal altitude method is adequately uncomplicated.

Before I starting time showing yous how to utilize this event to messages and words, let's take a step dorsum and try with a simpler shape – a square.

You probably call up this from your geometry grade.

Draw a simple square on a slice of paper using a pencil (it tin can also be a rectangle, it doesn't matter).

In one case you've done that, you demand to determine the direction of the 3D.

Where will it extend?

The option is totally up to you.

Information technology can come from any direction, and for this example, I'll extend information technology to the lesser right side.

I'll take my ruler, I'll place it on the corner and I'll draw my first line.

Every other corner should accept a line extending in the same management.

Experience free to make these lines a scrap longer, and what doesn't go used will be erased afterward.

Once you lot are washed you lot should have something that looks like this –

Detect that I didn't add a line on the meridian left corner.

That is because that line would become "through" the foursquare.

If I decided to betoken the 3D in the bottom left side, then I wouldn't have added a line on the top correct corner.

Merely recall that if a 3D line goes "through" the alphabetic character (or object) you lot can skip it.

The next pace is to make up one's mind how deep our 3D goes, and over again, information technology'southward totally upwards to you.

The first line that you draw volition make up one's mind the depth and information technology will be the same everywhere else.

You tin first either at the lesser or at the side. I prefer doing it from the bottom.

So I align my ruler with the bottom line of the foursquare, and I slide it a bit lower like this.

The crucial stride hither is that the endmost line of the 3D shape follows exactly the direction of the original shape.

Once I've closed the bottom line, all I have to do is flip the ruler vertically, and align to the side of the foursquare.

Now I slide the ruler to the corner created by the previous bottom line.

This way both my lesser and side accept the same altitude.

All that is left to do is deleting the lines that extend over our closed 3D shape.

And that's information technology!

Following this technique we just saw on the simple square shape case, we tin hands employ information technology to other objects (letters).

Afterwards all, what are messages if non more circuitous geometrical objects 😀

Good, let's go started on our letters!

Important note – For beginners, information technology'south best to start learning 3D on block messages. One time you've understood how to employ information technology properly on block letters, it will be much easier to create different lettering styles with a 3D effect.

Step 1 – describe the letter of the alphabet.

For this example, I'll go with a basic sans serif cake letter of the alphabet A.

I'll draw information technology using the wooden board technique.

If y'all are not familiar with it, I talk more almost information technology in my paw lettering tutorial for beginners.

In brusque, the wooden board technique teaches yous to dissever and draw the letter into individual parts.

This method allows you to create better, more consistent, and more balanced letterforms.

Step 2 – determine the direction of the 3D

Equally I mentioned earlier, the letter of the alphabet's 3D (or the depth) tin can extend in multiple directions.

Most commonly, it is either lesser left or lesser right.

You tin do it top left and summit right also.

I would just avoid doing the 3D completely vertical or horizontal because then the outcome isn't that noticeable.

This time I went for the lesser right 3D.

Before y'all draw your lines, try to identify all of your corners and so equally not to miss whatsoever.

I've done this then oft that I know where to place my lines, but if you lot are but getting started and feel overwhelmed, this volition assistance you out.

Observe once again that I haven't marked the corners where the lines would motion "through" the alphabetic character.

I did the same thing with the square example.

Step 3 – describe the lines.

Ok, and then I drew my first line from this corner.

Now, every other corner should accept a line that extends in the same direction.

Y'all can make these lines a bit bigger, and what doesn't get used will be deleted afterwards.

Good, once you've drawn all the lines, information technology should await like this –

Every bit you can come across, we work with a lot of parallel lines here, and it'south precisely the reason I love using my rolling ruler for this.

Step 4 – Closing the shape.

Nosotros have our lines extended from each corner, and now we only need to close the shape to become our 3D letter.

With the first closing line, y'all decide the length (the depth) of the 3D.

This role is totally up to y'all.

You lot can start closing your shape either from the bottom or from the side.

I prefer doing it from the lesser.

I'll brainstorm by closing up the lowest points of the letter A which are these two lines here.

The next affair I have to shut is the first (inner) side of the letter.

I take hold of my ruler, marshal it to the side of the letter A and slide it to the corner I've created in the previous step.

This little corner tells me how far I take to go with my 3D.

In this way, I maintain an equal distance of the 3D from every side.

By closing this side I have even so some other betoken that tells me where to close the batten.

So I align my ruler with the crossbar of the A, and I slide it to that corner and close the line.

Finally, I just need to connect the remaining side, and again, I accept this little corner at the bottom that tells me how far I have to go.

One time I'yard done with connecting all the lines, all I have to exercise is erase all the extras that extend beyond our 3D.

And there y'all have it, friends.

You've successfully created your first 3D letter!

We can, of course, further style our 3D letter of the alphabet, merely I'll cover that in the "Extra Tips" section.

Right now, we are just focusing on agreement the nuts of 3D messages.

As always, information technology's best to move gradually from easier to more than complex elements.

What about rounded 3D shapes and letters?

Applying a 3D effect to rounded shapes can be a bit trickier than directly lines and edges.

Don't worry. It'southward zip too complicated, merely it does take a scrap of exercise.

Let'southward see an example using the letter of the alphabet C.

Once yous've drawn your letter C, determine the management of the 3D.

Here I'll go bottom left.

I'll commencement with this line inside since it has a corner.

Now, I'll move down with my ruler to the furthest betoken of the letter C.

I'll do the same for the top side.

What matters the near here is that you locate that furthest border of the rounded letter.

Once you take all the lines it should look similar this –

Now i only demand to make up one's mind how deep my 3D will extend, and so only close the lines.

I need to close the line by following the exact shape of the letter.

This is the reason why these rounded letters are a bit more than challenging.

You take to eyeball these closing shapes, and it's fine if information technology's not 100% the aforementioned as the original line of the letter of the alphabet.

Here is how information technology should wait like once you're done.

And that'due south pretty much it!

Now y'all know how to create 3D messages using the equal distance method.

3D letters alphabet template

Post-obit this method, you lot can add together a 3D effect to the whole alphabet as I did here.

I also made a separate timelapse video where I add a 3D effect to every alphabetic character of the alphabet.

You can watch information technology here –

Although we covered several examples in the step-past-footstep processes to a higher place, you might get stuck on certain letters.

If that happens, just come to this section and look at these references.

Later on doing the whole alphabet a couple of times, you'll already kickoff to feel much more confident in creating 3D letters.

Believe me,

It won't take much for y'all to outset drawing 3D letters without a reference.

3D messages alphabet template worksheets

To aid you practice, I created 2 block alphabetic character alphabet templates where you lot can exercise calculation a 3D outcome.

Page 1 – Is totally empty so you can starting time applying the 3D effect using a ruler
Folio 2 – Has a barely visible 3D effect already applied to it so you can simply trace information technology over.

You can download these free worksheets (forth with every other freebie) direct from the Lettering Crate.

To get instant access to the Lettering Crate, merely drop your e-mail below and follow the instructions.

Y'all'll receive a welcome email containing a link and a password.

Extra tips for 3D letters

Ok, now that we take the basics covered, nosotros can start looking at unlike ways to way our 3D letters.

In this section, I'll mention a couple of unlike things you can endeavor out.

The first matter we're starting with is shadows.

Adding shadows to your 3D letters

Shading your 3D letters is probably ane of the best and easiest means you can fashion your letters.

Information technology gives more than depth to the alphabetic character, and it just looks so much better with information technology.

To utilize the shades, we just need to determine our low-cal source.

Shades are usually applied on the opposite side of the light source.

If you are just getting started, go on things simple and shade simply the lower parts of the 3D.

With rounded letters, you can try to create more than of a gradient look.

As it goes from the bottom, it'south darker, and as it moves towards the side, it gets brighter.

Once y'all go comfortable with a basic form of shading, you can offset adding more than detail to brand information technology look even amend.

Keep in mind that agreement shading takes quite some practice.

Playing with the direction of the 3D

Another cool thing you tin practise when doing 3D letters is playing with the direction of it.

Let's say that if you have 2 words, you lot tin point their 3D's in the opposite management.

You could also incline your letters and shoot the 3D in the opposite direction.

At that place are a agglomeration of dissimilar combos you tin can play with.

Applying the 3D consequence to different lettering styles

As mentioned at the beginning of this tutorial, it's best to showtime learning 3D on basic block messages.

Obviously, doing just basic block messages can quickly become boring.

One time you've learned how to apply a 3D upshot to block letters correctly, you can commencement experimenting with different lettering styles.

Hither is an case of a 3D effect applied on serif lettering –

Hither yous tin can meet another example of a 3D effect applied to script lettering.

Script lettering is maybe a fleck more challenging since most of the shapes are rounded.

However, I'm sure that with a bit of practise you'll be able to do any style yous wish.

Acquire how to create a 2 point perspective lettering piece.

You thought a 1 point perspective lettering looked cool?

Well and then, permit me introduce y'all to ii signal perspective lettering!

My friend Selina wrote an in-depth, step-past-step tutorial that volition teach y'all how to create exactly that!

Check it out here.

Final words

And there you have it, my friends!

I promise this tutorial will aid yous start practicing 3D letters.

The more you do it, the better you volition get at it.

After a couple of times, yous will understand how to describe a 3D outcome on any object, and yous won't have to utilize whatsoever references at all.

Have it slow, don't rush information technology, and every bit I always say, move gradually from easy to more than challenging elements.

A house is only as strong equally its foundations.

What lettering upshot or style would you lot like to larn side by side?

Let me know by dropping a comment below.

Besides, feel free to driblet a comment if you have any wishes or suggestions for future tutorials.

Thank yous for reading and until the next ane,

Stay AWESOME!

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