Unique 3D Text – Xara 3D + Photoshop Tutorial
Dainis GraverisSo hello again! It’s time for my first tutorial I’ve ever been made. I actually hope You will enjoy this one, and that will encourage me to do some more. We will use Xara 3D to get 3D text effect, then export text to Photoshop and add some style there. If You haven’t got Xara 3D, You can download demo for free ( 15 days trial) and You can read my review about Xara and their pros and cons. And yeah, If You don’t want to download program I will give You *.psd file with text elements, so You can skip Xara part and get straight to Photoshop retouching part.
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!
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Dainis Graveris
Posted 1221 days ago 25Huh, so You solved the problem or I need to check it again???
paul
Posted 1221 days ago 24I’m so stupid, I did forget to name the file. Sometimes i just wonder what this head is for? thanks
paul
Posted 1221 days ago 23I’ve been trying to export that x3d file, and tryed to save it but it doesn’t work for me. I don’t get the export window as you do, it only shows a normal save as window and if i try to save this as PNG, JPG or any other format it doesnt work.”what the..”am supposed to do about this. anyone having a clue?
Dainis Graveris
Posted 1235 days ago 22You’re welcome :) Sure thing I will create some more :)
R. Abimanyu Yusuf
Posted 1235 days ago 21Dainis Graveris, very much thanks bro…
neljoy flores
Posted 1235 days ago 20thanks a lot… for a very nice tutorial… I hope you make more tutorial
Jonathon
Posted 1240 days ago 19@Dainis Graveris thankx.
Dainis Graveris
Posted 1240 days ago 18@Matthew Cheers! Hope You will learn something new too!
@Jonathan I understand You, but in this case no matter which kind of curves You use, so I just found free vector swirly curls resources, You can grab from:
http://www.deviantart.com/#catpath=resources/vector&order=9&q=swirls
Jonathon
Posted 1240 days ago 17I kind of figured that, but when doing a tutorial for the first time, I like to, follow exactly as possible. Does that make any sense? I mean, besides using paint shop pro, i would like to do exactly what you’re doing, substituting when necessary.
Matthew Heidenreich
Posted 1240 days ago 16Great tut, very detailed with a great outcome!
Matthew Heidenreichs last blog post : Retro Dark Blue Header Design
Dainis Graveris
Posted 1240 days ago 15Jonathan actually those brushes I used are just for example – You can use any brush You want with this technique.
Jonathon
Posted 1241 days ago 14I use Paint Shop Pro XI, can you change the brushes into images so i can use them. thankx. i think u can see my email, if not it is jon.watkins@yahoo.com. Thankx again.
Dainis Graveris
Posted 1241 days ago 13@CoolProducts Thanks! You just need to try! If You can’t do something just ask!
@Tay Zar Yeah, Nik Ainley’s designs are just amazing! Thanks!!! Good luck!
Dainis Graveris
Posted 1242 days ago 12@Janko Thanks! :)
@Ronald I really appreciate Your words, I will :) You too keep up ,see you!!
NaldzGraphics
Posted 1242 days ago 11nice Dainis:) that tut is hot;)i like it.keep up the good work buddy!!!
Ronald
NaldzGraphicss last blog post : Create a Billiard Balls in Photoshop
Janko
Posted 1242 days ago 10Very nice!
Jankos last blog post : Turn postcard photo into a stunning comment form using CSS
Dainis Graveris
Posted 1242 days ago 9@Ross I really appreciate Your words! If there is so much good words, I will surely keep creating new tutorials :) I think Nik was one of the first who used this technique, totally agreed! :)
@Max thanks for passing by! You’re welcome.
@Jay thanks!! There surely will be more :)
@beets again thanks for Your great words!
beets
Posted 1242 days ago 8Fantastic Dainis! Very well explained, and great result. :)
Jay
Posted 1242 days ago 7Great tut Dainis. Nicely explained.
Look forward to seeing a lot more =)
Best of luck.
~Jay
Max | Design Shard
Posted 1242 days ago 6Really Nice Effect, good tutorial thanks.
Ross
Posted 1242 days ago 5Nice tutorial Dainis, I’ve seen this kind of thing a few times before but I think yours is the best explained. Hopefully we’ll see some more tutorials from you soon :D
ps. Nik Ainley has been Xara 3D’s best marketing tool ;)
Rosss last blog post : Stylish Floral Typography
Dainis Graveris
Posted 1242 days ago 4@Antonwoods my apologies, but this is my first tutorial not Adelle’s..:) It’s hard to read if review is adressed to other person, but anyway I appreciate Your comment! :)
Antonwoods
Posted 1242 days ago 3Thats your first tutorial Adelle? Thats quite impressive, i was expecting a normal photoshop begginner text effect for a first tutorial, but you have kind of made it much more complicated (in a good way) but anyways, amazing tutorial, their wasn’t one step in that guidance I never understood at all, very well explained. Hope to see more tutorials from you Adelle!
Dainis Graveris
Posted 1242 days ago 2@adelle totally, yes..:) Thanks! :)
adelle
Posted 1242 days ago 1great tut! That’s your first? Awesome! :)
adelles last blog post : Inspire yourself with Graffiti Art