3D Text Logo
Difficulty: Intermediate
With this tutorial you will learn how to create a 3D text logo in a few and simple steps and get an impressive result.
Here we go!
1. Open a new document (CTRL+N) and set the dimensions to as big as 1,000x800 pixels with a transparent background. The bigger the background the easier you will find it to give the perfect shape to your logo and later resize it and lose no quality ;o). (see image)
2. Now, it is time to put the text/name for your logo and name the layer LogoText. Choose a thick-lettered font and a vivid but a kind of dark colour for the main colour of your logo. The font I chose is Ballpark (font size: 200, colour: #12AACA) as it is combines thick letters and an elegant calligraphic style-you will find it at DaFont.com and it is TOTALLY FREE!!! Note: Do not cover 100% of your background!!! Try to leave around 100-150 pixels space for each side. You will need this space latter, for producing the 3D effect.
3. This where the fun begins! Right-Click on the LogoText layer and choose Blending Options to set the layer style. Then choose stroke and set the size to 5 pixels, position: outside, blend mode: normal, opacity: 100%, fill type: color, #FFFFFF. (see image)
4. At this point we need to rasterize the LogoText layer and make it a flat layer. There two ways to do that, so choose what is best for you:
a) the long way - you may right-click on the LogoText layer and choose rasterize layer. This will make the text layer lose its text properties and become just a shape. However, the layer style (stroke) is still there. For this reason you need to create a new layer and link it with the LogoText layer. Then click on the layers menu and choose merge linked or press CTRL+E. (see image)
b) the short way - create a new layer, link it to the LogoText layer and then press CTRL+E or click on the layers menu and choose merge linked. Name the new layer LogoText-Rasterized.
5. CTRL+click on the LogoText-Rasterized to get its selection. Then create a new layer and name it Shadow. In the Shadow layer now select the paint bucket tool and set your colour to a vivid tone, much lighter than your text. I chose in this case #9CE1F0. Fill your selection with the vivid colour and deselect (CTRL+D).
6. Move the Shadow layer just underneath the LogoText-Rasterized layer. Perhaps, you think that pretty much nothing happened. Be patient! Click on the Shadow layer and make sure to select the move tool. Now take the following steps carefully: click ONCE the right arrow (it moves by 1 pixel right) then ONCE the down arrow in your keyboard (it moves by 1 pixel down) and after that duplicate the Shadow layer. Now you will be able to see the new layer as a small shadow behind the text. Repeat this sequence of actions until you are happy with the thickness of the shadow created (this will take you around 6-8 times, in total). (see image)
Tip: A quick way to do it! Holding ALT and pressing an arrow key makes a new layer and moves it 1 pixel up, down, right, left depending on the arrow key you use!!!
At this point you may think that this could be done easier by just moving the Shadows layer opting out the step of dublicated layers. This may not be a bad idea, however, the outcome would be much poorer and pretent ;o).
7. To get rid of the multiple layers you created for the shadow effect you will need to link them with each other (including the original Shadow layer) and then press CTRL+E to merge them. Rename the new layer ShadowFinal.
8. We are almost there! Select the LogoText-Rasterized layer we created earlier and link to the ShadowFinal layer. Now name the new layer LogoFull. Right-Click on the LogoFull layer and choose Blending Options to set the layer style. Then choose stroke and set the size to 4 or 5 pixels, position: outside, blend mode: normal, opacity: 100%, fill type: color, # 014857. And you are ready!!!
This is the final image...
Congratulations!!! You have created a beautiful logo!
With this tutorial you will learn how to create a 3D text logo in a few and simple steps and get an impressive result.Here we go!
1. Open a new document (CTRL+N) and set the dimensions to as big as 1,000x800 pixels with a transparent background. The bigger the background the easier you will find it to give the perfect shape to your logo and later resize it and lose no quality ;o). (see image)
2. Now, it is time to put the text/name for your logo and name the layer LogoText. Choose a thick-lettered font and a vivid but a kind of dark colour for the main colour of your logo. The font I chose is Ballpark (font size: 200, colour: #12AACA) as it is combines thick letters and an elegant calligraphic style-you will find it at DaFont.com and it is TOTALLY FREE!!! Note: Do not cover 100% of your background!!! Try to leave around 100-150 pixels space for each side. You will need this space latter, for producing the 3D effect.
3. This where the fun begins! Right-Click on the LogoText layer and choose Blending Options to set the layer style. Then choose stroke and set the size to 5 pixels, position: outside, blend mode: normal, opacity: 100%, fill type: color, #FFFFFF. (see image)
4. At this point we need to rasterize the LogoText layer and make it a flat layer. There two ways to do that, so choose what is best for you:
a) the long way - you may right-click on the LogoText layer and choose rasterize layer. This will make the text layer lose its text properties and become just a shape. However, the layer style (stroke) is still there. For this reason you need to create a new layer and link it with the LogoText layer. Then click on the layers menu and choose merge linked or press CTRL+E. (see image)
b) the short way - create a new layer, link it to the LogoText layer and then press CTRL+E or click on the layers menu and choose merge linked. Name the new layer LogoText-Rasterized.
5. CTRL+click on the LogoText-Rasterized to get its selection. Then create a new layer and name it Shadow. In the Shadow layer now select the paint bucket tool and set your colour to a vivid tone, much lighter than your text. I chose in this case #9CE1F0. Fill your selection with the vivid colour and deselect (CTRL+D).
6. Move the Shadow layer just underneath the LogoText-Rasterized layer. Perhaps, you think that pretty much nothing happened. Be patient! Click on the Shadow layer and make sure to select the move tool. Now take the following steps carefully: click ONCE the right arrow (it moves by 1 pixel right) then ONCE the down arrow in your keyboard (it moves by 1 pixel down) and after that duplicate the Shadow layer. Now you will be able to see the new layer as a small shadow behind the text. Repeat this sequence of actions until you are happy with the thickness of the shadow created (this will take you around 6-8 times, in total). (see image)
Tip: A quick way to do it! Holding ALT and pressing an arrow key makes a new layer and moves it 1 pixel up, down, right, left depending on the arrow key you use!!!
At this point you may think that this could be done easier by just moving the Shadows layer opting out the step of dublicated layers. This may not be a bad idea, however, the outcome would be much poorer and pretent ;o).
7. To get rid of the multiple layers you created for the shadow effect you will need to link them with each other (including the original Shadow layer) and then press CTRL+E to merge them. Rename the new layer ShadowFinal.
8. We are almost there! Select the LogoText-Rasterized layer we created earlier and link to the ShadowFinal layer. Now name the new layer LogoFull. Right-Click on the LogoFull layer and choose Blending Options to set the layer style. Then choose stroke and set the size to 4 or 5 pixels, position: outside, blend mode: normal, opacity: 100%, fill type: color, # 014857. And you are ready!!!
This is the final image...
Congratulations!!! You have created a beautiful logo!
Note: By adding more to your 3D text logo, such as other shapes etc., but always keeping a similar to text technique you may create a quite professional logo ;o)!!!
Have fun!!!
Previous Tutorial: Cool Blue Gradient Content Headers, Buttons and Tabs
posted by Cloud No9 @ 7/09/2006 09:11:00 pm
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