by: Madalin Tudosein: Abstract, Drawing, Tutorials

Create a cool 3D text using Photoshop and Illustrator

This week I created a post with the best 50 fantastic 3D text designs I found on the internet.Today I decided to make a tutorial to show you how you can design a 3D text.

You can use this technique to make dynamic logos that look great on promotional items, business cards, and just about anywhere you put them.

Unfortunately,Photoshop is not enough to create a 3D symbol,but Adobe has another application in which you`re able to do this very easily.It is Adobe Illustrator.

So,to create the 3D text,you must have Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.First,we`re going to create the 3D effect in Illustrator and then in Photoshop will stylize it a little bit.

What are we making

Creating the 3D text in Adobe Illustrator

Open Adobe Illustrator and create a new document of 750×750 px.

Select the Text tool and type in your first letter with a bold font.I am using Hobo Std Medium 72px.Fill it with white color.

Select the letter and go to Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel.

You may hit Preview to see how the letter shape is changing.

Repeat those steps for the next letters and adjust the rotation to make different symbols.

Now let`s export the letters for Photoshop.Go to File->Export and be sure to choose from the list .psd extension to be compatible with Photoshop.Then go to Photoshop and load the .psd 3D text.

Stylizing the 3D text in Photoshop

Create a new layer in Photoshop to make a background for the text and add a radial gradient overlay.

Add the text over the background.Select the Magic Wand tool,set tolerance to 2 and select the front side of the first letter.

Make a new layer above the letter layer,select the layer and fill the selection with a blue gradient using the Gradient tool(G).

Now the letter looks better.

Continue with the rest of the letters giving them different color gradients,like in the image below.

Now we`re going to create an effect for the each depth of each letter.Double click the first letter layer,and add the next blending options:

You may see how the depth of the letter is changing in a transparent blue,like in the image:

Continue the procedure for each letter,by changing the gradient color to a similar one like the letter.

Let`s decorate them a little bit.For this step,download some decorative flower brush sets and start paint inside each letter.To paint inside them,first you must hide the letter`s face and then select them with the Magic Wand tool,with a tolerance of 2pt.Watch the images below to understand better the procedure:

Download from here the decorative flower brush sets:

Decorations by Ro-Stock

Ornament Brushes by Magical Viper

Paint each letter as you want.You may give them a color or a gradient.You decide.

Now download this Fog brush set,make a layer under the letters and paint some white fog,like in the image below:

Ok,now lets add some more interesting background elements.

Download this Line brush set and add some lines over the letters.I painted them over a layer situated between R and T.Change the layer mode to Soft light,decrease the opacity to 60-65% and add an Outer Glow.

To finish,put 2 or 3 shining stars over the letters.For this,download this lovely Stars brush set,paint some stars and give them an Outer glow to shine.

Final Image

This is how my final image looks,after following all the steps above.

We`ve reached the end of the tutorial.I thank you for reading and I hope you learned something today.If you have a problem,leave a message and I`ll help you as much as I can.

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Madalin Tudose

I`m a web developer. I build HTML Templates and WordPress Themes which are eventually released on ThemeForest under the DeliciousThemes brand.

Join the discussion

TutsKing on July 17, 2009 at 11:53 pm Reply
I’m liking this one a lot. Keep up the good work.
progg.ru on July 18, 2009 at 1:38 am Reply
Создание прикольного 3D текста…
Thank you for submitting this cool story – Trackback from progg.ru…
Felipe on July 18, 2009 at 6:55 am Reply
Wow… easy and excelent…
Create a cool 3D text using Photoshop and Illustrator | Adobe Tutorials on July 18, 2009 at 2:42 pm Reply
[…] It is Adobe Illustrator. So,to create the 3D text ,you must have Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator.First,we`re going to create the 3D effect in Illustrator and then in Photoshop will stylize it a little bit. Read the original post: Create a cool 3D text using Photoshop and Illustrator […]
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[…] continue […]
asif ali on July 31, 2009 at 4:48 am Reply
hey ,i’ve my adobe illustrator expired.have to activate it again
Pro-Designer on August 2, 2009 at 10:41 am Reply
amaziiiiiiiing
keep them coming
Free Classifieds weekly posting service on August 25, 2009 at 6:19 am Reply
Great article! Thank you very much!
Regards
Защита прав потребителей последняя редакция on August 26, 2009 at 10:39 am Reply
Каждому по возможностям, от каждого по потребности, или как там это у Карла Маркса было прописано
30 High Quality 3D Text Tutorials | Spoonfed Design on August 28, 2009 at 12:09 pm Reply
[…] Create a Cool 3D Text Using Photoshop and Illustrator […]
Закон рф о таможенном тарифе on August 30, 2009 at 8:15 am Reply
Хочется поспорить с автором, что всё эксклюзивно так? Я считаю, каким образом раскрыть данную тему.
coupons for mcdonalds on September 13, 2009 at 1:44 pm Reply
Thanks very much for this great post.
roberto sanchez on September 17, 2009 at 5:08 pm Reply
Gracias por el tuto, creativo y fácil.
K3nny on October 8, 2009 at 1:33 pm Reply
Great!!!
Tishioche on November 10, 2009 at 12:58 pm Reply
Понравилось. А для графического наполнения Вы материал где берете? Меня давно интересовало, как получается научиться находить на файловых архивах настолько подходящий материал… По поиску куча разного отображается, а чтобы найти реально что-то ценное – дык на это аж нуна пол дня, а то и больше потерять…. Или это Вы из перональной коллекции взяли?
steefler on November 20, 2009 at 6:15 pm Reply
шикарноо..)
ekhsan on November 20, 2009 at 10:03 pm Reply
Thanks article…Effect 3D what could in for with Photoshop CS3…? Afterwards what of Effect 3D in addition Plugin…? Replay please
1. Madalin Tudose on November 21, 2009 at 5:21 pm Reply
  3D Invigorator is a good 3D Plugin for Photoshop…just try it!
avl1979 on November 21, 2009 at 5:03 pm Reply
Здравствуйте. У меня есть вопрос по поводу контекстной рекламы на Вашем сайте. Вам не доводилось сталкиваться со случаями заморозки аккаунта администрацией гугла за как бы “накрутку”? Как защитить себя в этом случае?
wordpress dev » Blog Archive » 52 Great Looking Photoshop Text Effects Tutorials – Part 1 on December 24, 2009 at 9:08 am Reply
[…] Create a cool 3D text using Photoshop and Illustrator […]
Tutorial Lounge on January 6, 2010 at 8:43 am Reply
excellent training of text effect using Photoshop.
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Patrick on February 18, 2010 at 8:35 am Reply
Nice tutorial. Great way to learn a bit more about effects and brushes.
Also a great way to show how you can combine Illustraror and Photoshop
Mark Francis on July 5, 2010 at 7:16 am Reply
In searching for sites related to web hosting and specifically comparison hosting linux plan web, your site came up.
Aki on October 5, 2010 at 11:24 pm Reply
awsme…. great collection….
jac on October 16, 2010 at 8:36 am Reply
hands up…! damn good tut…***
1. Madalin Tudose on October 16, 2010 at 9:19 am Reply
  Thanks, man!
stephany celis on November 12, 2010 at 12:02 pm Reply
You lost me on adding the gradient overlay in photoshop can you please help me out to get it finished?
Cool Websites on March 11, 2011 at 1:44 am Reply
wow.. great tutorial
mel on April 9, 2011 at 7:37 pm Reply
Cool piece… I was able to do everything except the part where you added color to the letter DEPTHS. The instructions for that part were unclear, so I got stuck on that. Skipped that step and went on to the end, but if there’s a way to do that, I would love to know how. Please let me know.
CARRERAS on June 3, 2011 at 9:41 am Reply
muy xevere y bien explicado… que sitio tan bueno
Downgraf – Design weblog for designers » 35 breathtaking text effects using adobe photoshop on November 30, 2011 at 2:38 am Reply
[…] Create a cool 3D text using Photoshop and Illustrator […]
Aviel on August 19, 2012 at 7:55 am Reply
Well i have illustrator CS5 and i cant do anything thats in this guide ….. so how can i do this man?