Before we start here is what we will be creating today:

Click on image to enlarge

1.Xara 3D tutorial part:

• Okay, let’s open Xara 3D programm.  By default there will be “X3D Version 6″
• Click on the Text options, press CTRL+A to delete existing text and type T, choose font, You like and press OK.

• 1.2. Now we will change text a little bit -
• 1. Click on Text toolbar, to get off that rounded circle;
• 2.Click on Bold – to make text little bigger;
• 3.Click on Lightning to show lightning arrows;
• 4. Click on Bevel options to change default Bevel settings;

• 1.3.
• 1.3.1. Change bevel shape to rolled to add little bit emboss effect;
• 1.3.2.Click to Round to round corners a little bit;
• 1.3.3. Change depth to 10 – to soften a little emboss effect;

• 1.4. Okay, now we will play with lightning and 3D effects.
• 1.4.1. Click on Text as shown and move Your mouse cursor to add any 3D effect while it is exactly as You want;
• 1.4.2. Click on the arrows and move them around to get glossy view and better lightning, if needed;

• 1.5.Okay, We are done in XARA, now let’s export text to Photoshop:
• 1.5.1. Click File-Export or CTRL+SHIFT+E to get export view;
• 1.5.2. Choose where to save file,then do check everything like picture below, to add transparency choose *.png format and in the options click Transparent checkbox;

Do this with every letter, change 3D effects, maybe colors – play with options until You are satisfied. I got 4 png files at the end, one for every letter – T,Y,P,E.

2.Adobe Photoshop part

If You are starting just from now on – click here to get *.zip file with all 4 *.png files.

I will use many Photoshop keyboard shortcuts, if You want to learn about most useful ones, read my article  – 48+ Greatest Adobe Photoshop Keyboard Shortcuts.

1.step

• 1.1.Create a new document, call it TYPE,  I used 1000×750 size.
• 1.2.Open T document in photoshop, press CTRL+A to select all, then CTRL+C, open Your TYPE document and press CTRL+V to drop it in the document;
• 1.3. resize text with CTRL+T and holding ALT+SHIFT to resize from center point and to resize it proportionally, rotate it to get better result;
• 1.4. Repeat those steps for all 4 text documents until You got result similar like mine:

2.step

Now lets create some background,click on background layer to make it active:

• 1. Press G to activate gradient editor;
• 2.Click on radial gradient;
• 3.And then double click on the gradient editor, to get gradient editor;

• 4.Choose Foreground to background;
• 5.Use color codes to get output as mine, copy those RGB codes and use them: #f8b1d7, #8871a1

Now click and pull Your mouse like in the picture to get same result:

3.step

Now let’s add shadow to create more realistic effect:

1. Select all four text layers – easy technique is to select first layer, hold SHIFT and select on last layer You want to select, then right click and press duplicate;

• 2. Now press CTRL+E to merge those layers into one, rename it – shadow and move it below all text layers.
• 3. Hit D to reset foreground/background color;
• 4.CTRL+CLICK on the shadow layer to select it, then press ALT+DELETE to fill it with black color;

• 5. Hit CTRL+D to deselect layer;
• 6.Go to Filter–>Blur–>Gaussian Blur and type 10 to radius pixels, hit OK;
• 7. Change opacity to ~40% to soften shadow;

4.step

I added more shadow to make it more realistic, You can skip this step if You want:

• 1.Click on Elliptical Marque tool and change feather to 50px;
• 2.Hit D to reset background/foreground color;
• 3. Click CTRL+SHIFT+N to create a new layer;

4.Click and drag marque tool below the letters, then change opacity to ~20-40%;

5. step

In this step we will add some colors to actual text, I took idea here actually from Nick Ainley’s work -

1.Double click on T text layer to get blending options:

Check everything as in the pictures below, to get different colors just play with gradient overlay:

• 2. Okay, now You have one text nicely colored. To copy layer style –> right click on the layer – click “copy layer style”;
• 3.Click on the other text layer – right click and “past layer style”, just change gradient overlay colors to get different results;

My result is like this:

6.step

Okay now lets add some more interesting background and styling:

• 1.Download those curvy line brushes – of course, better is to make those curves in Illustrator and then just import to Photoshop, but I will not bother You to do it now. I am sure You want to get faster to the final illustration.
• 2. Load brushes into just by double clicking and find them clicking F5 – to get brushes panel.
• 3.Click CTRL+SHIFT+N to create new layer and move it to top of all layers.
• 4. I used white background color.
• 5. Now change opacity to ~60-70% and click E, to grab eraser tool and erase few places to get effect that those lines are rambling through the letters:

Do this in big zoom ( click ALT+ Mousewheel to zoom in/out), so You can erase lines more precise:

Repeat those steps, add some blending options to get Your own unique results!

This is my final result:

If You couldn’t do something, check out my *.psd file – click here to download.

If You couldn’t do anything – please ask, I will be here to help You!

Xara 3D is simple 3D animation program, which is very easy to use and it’s great program for beginners or people, who just wants fast and amazing outcome. Graphic designers usually use this program to create nice 3D text, then export it to Photoshop for example and add some spice. Xara 3D serves well also for clean 3D logos,buttons creation. Program is really light weighted too, installation file is just 25mb small! If You hear about Xara 3D first time, then just keep reading and You’ll understand what’s this program capable of.

I added few images which were created using Xara 3D to keep Your interest:

Xara 3D here has been used as primary tool for 3D text creation and everything else can be easily done in Photoshop or other program You prefer.

The user interface is highly intuitive and I felt good after just 30minutes playing with tools – it felt even too simple, but as I already said -  everybody with simple needs for starters will be satisfied. Xara 3D is worth just as low-cost way to start to get acquainted with the basics of 3D animation and rendering. The program comes with plenty of samples, textures, demos and there are great videos easy to download and understand. With Xara3D you can create an endless variety of 3D graphics from TrueType fonts and imported 2D shapes with wide range of controls as lightning, bevel, font size, type, color extrude depth and texture rendering. All images are anti-alias in very smooth and professional quality. Below are few examples what Xara 3D can do:

These examples can be used great as excellent 3D logotype, button or just graphic effect. Of course, if You are looking for something that allows You to get more creative, You may want to consider using programs like Maya or 3dsMax. Below are examples of simple animations Xara 3D is capable of:

I hope these animations will not crash Your browser, if it goes really slow, just tell me, I will take those out. Xara 3D allows You to create animated 3D graphics that surely will attract more attention than a static image. Those awesome 3D animations can be created in seconds – *.gif, *.avi and *.swf formats, every animation You create also can be saved as screensaver.

Overview:

Pros:

• Intuitive interface
• Easy to learn and use
• Allow to create advanced animations and 3D effects in seconds
• Result is very smooth and anti-aliased ( important for logotypes, headers etc.)
• Light-weighted and there is no need for powerful computer to use it
• Low-cost program

Cons:

I found just one very big con for this program – Xara 3D is limited in its animation options, 3D effects, lighting and Your creativity. If You are serious graphic designer – You will have to retouch Xara 3D output in other software programs as Photoshop, Illustrator, Flash.

Okay, now You have seen what Xara 3D can do. I found few tutorials for You to help get known with this program. Enjoy:

If You liked this post, keep in track with this site, because I will create nice Xara 3D + Photoshop tutorial in next few days.

Xara 3D is shareware, a free download ( 15 days trial) is available so You can test by Yourself how good this program is. To download the free trial version, or to see more videos and examples about Xara 3D, click here. Actually the price is especially attractive, xara.com offers this program for: $44.99-54.99 USD, low in comparison to many other 3D programs as Maya, 3dsMax etc.