how do you draw 3d letters

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In this tutorial, I volition teach you how to draw 3D letters footstep by footstep.

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

So even if you lot are a complete beginner with no experience, you'll learn how to describe bones 3D messages afterward post-obit this tutorial.

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

Tools needed to draw 3D letters
The basics of 3D. What are 3D letters?
How to draw 3D messages – A step by step process
3D letters alphabet template + Free printable 3D messages worksheet
Extra tips for 3D letters
Final words.

Without whatever further delays, let'due south get started.

If yous prefer to watch, I also fabricated a video tutorial –

Tools needed to draw 3D letters

For this tutorial, you'll need but a few bones lettering tools.

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

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

If you wish to add together colors to your 3D letters y'all tin can also apply these other tools –

Markers
Colored pencils
Watercolors
Etc.

Ok, with that in mind, allow's continue to the adjacent section of this tutorial.

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

Instead of just giving you lot a premade template for y'all to copy from, I remember information technology's crucial to take a basic understanding of what 3D letters are.

I believe information technology will provide you with a strong foundation, and all the exercise yous'll do after on volition exist much more constructive.

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

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

We are basically adding an actress dimension to the flat 2D letterforms we usually create.

IMPORTANT NOTE –

I often see that people refer to 3D equally shadows or shading.

However, information technology's not the same thing. In brusque, shadows are a dark area or shape produced by a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

I think that these 2 terms go confused and used interchangeably because they seem like at offset.

Here is 1 good tip on how to recognize a 3D letter from a shaded letter.

We have a shaded letter and a 3D letter adjacent to each other.

If you lot look at it closely, you'll run into that all the corners completely connect a 3D letter. On the other hand, the shaded letters are not continued and thus give the impression of them being cast backside the letter.

We tin also utilize various shading to our 3D letters to make them wait even improve.

Only more on that afterwards in this tutorial.

Permit's go along to the next department.

How to draw 3D letters – A step by pace process

I'm not sure if this method has a particular name to it, but I call it – the equal distance 3D method.

I call information technology this way because well, the 3D extends every bit everywhere.

The equal distance method is fairly simple.

Before I outset showing you how to apply this effect to letters and words, let'south take a stride dorsum and try with a simpler shape – a foursquare.

You probably think this from your geometry form.

Draw a uncomplicated square on a piece of newspaper using a pencil (it tin as well exist a rectangle, information technology doesn't thing).

One time you've done that, you need to make up one's mind the management of the 3D.

Where volition it extend?

The selection is totally up to yous.

It tin come from any direction, and for this example, I'll extend it to the bottom correct side.

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

Every other corner should have a line extending in the same direction.

Feel complimentary to make these lines a bit longer, and what doesn't get used volition be erased afterwards.

Once you are done you should take something that looks similar this –

Discover that I didn't add together a line on the acme left corner.

That is because that line would go "through" the square.

If I decided to point the 3D in the bottom left side, then I wouldn't have added a line on the peak right corner.

But recall that if a 3D line goes "through" the letter (or object) you tin skip it.

The next step is to determine how deep our 3D goes, and again, it'southward totally up to you.

The first line that you draw will determine the depth and information technology volition exist the same everywhere else.

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

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

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

Once I've airtight the lesser line, all I accept to do is flip the ruler vertically, and align to the side of the square.

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

This mode both my bottom and side have the same altitude.

All that is left to practice is deleting the lines that extend over our airtight 3D shape.

And that's it!

Following this technique we simply saw on the elementary foursquare shape instance, we can easily apply it to other objects (letters).

After all, what are messages if not more complex geometrical objects 😀

Good, let'southward get started on our letters!

Important annotation – For beginners, information technology's best to start learning 3D on cake letters. Once you've understood how to utilise it properly on block letters, it volition exist much easier to create unlike lettering styles with a 3D effect.

Stride 1 – draw the alphabetic character.

For this case, I'll go with a basic sans serif block letter A.

I'll draw it using the wooden board technique.

If you lot are not familiar with information technology, I talk more well-nigh it in my hand lettering tutorial for beginners.

In curt, the wooden board technique teaches you to separate and draw the letter into individual parts.

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

Pace 2 – make up one's mind the direction of the 3D

Every bit I mentioned earlier, the letter'southward 3D (or the depth) can extend in multiple directions.

Near commonly, information technology is either bottom left or bottom right.

Yous can do it superlative left and top right likewise.

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

This time I went for the lesser right 3D.

Before you depict your lines, try to identify all of your corners then as not to miss any.

I've done this then often that I know where to place my lines, only if y'all are just getting started and feel overwhelmed, this volition help you out.

Notice once again that I haven't marked the corners where the lines would motility "through" the letter.

I did the same thing with the square example.

Step 3 – describe the lines.

Ok, so I drew my kickoff line from this corner.

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

You can make these lines a bit bigger, and what doesn't get used volition exist deleted afterward.

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

As you tin run across, nosotros work with a lot of parallel lines here, and information technology's precisely the reason I dear using my rolling ruler for this.

Step 4 – Closing the shape.

We have our lines extended from each corner, and at present nosotros just need to close the shape to get our 3D letter.

With the offset closing line, you decide the length (the depth) of the 3D.

This function is totally up to you.

You tin starting time endmost your shape either from the bottom or from the side.

I adopt doing it from the lesser.

I'll begin by closing upward the lowest points of the alphabetic character A which are these 2 lines here.

The adjacent thing I have to close is the first (inner) side of the letter of the alphabet.

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

This lilliputian corner tells me how far I have 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 yet some other signal 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 demand to connect the remaining side, and again, I accept this petty corner at the bottom that tells me how far I have to go.

In one case I'm done with connecting all the lines, all I have to do is erase all the extras that extend beyond our 3D.

And there you have it, friends.

You lot've successfully created your commencement 3D letter!

Nosotros tin can, of course, further way our 3D letter, but I'll embrace that in the "Extra Tips" department.

Right now, we are just focusing on understanding the basics of 3D letters.

As always, it's best to move gradually from easier to more complex elements.

What well-nigh 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. Information technology's cypher also complicated, only it does take a bit of practice.

Allow'south see an example using the letter C.

Once you've drawn your letter C, decide the direction of the 3D.

Here I'll become bottom left.

I'll get-go with this line inside since information technology has a corner.

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

I'll practise the same for the meridian side.

What matters the most here is that you locate that furthest edge of the rounded letter.

Once y'all accept all the lines it should await similar this –

At present i simply demand to determine how deep my 3D will extend, so just close the lines.

I need to close the line by post-obit the verbal shape of the letter.

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

You have to eyeball these endmost shapes, and information technology'due south fine if it's not 100% the aforementioned as the original line of the letter.

Hither is how it should wait similar once you're done.

And that's pretty much it!

At present you know how to create 3D letters using the equal altitude method.

3D letters alphabet template

Following this method, y'all can add a 3D effect to the whole alphabet as I did hither.

I besides fabricated a split up timelapse video where I add a 3D effect to every letter of the alphabet.

You can watch it here –

Although we covered several examples in the step-past-step processes above, you might get stuck on certain letters.

If that happens, but come to this department and look at these references.

Subsequently doing the whole alphabet a couple of times, yous'll already start to feel much more confident in creating 3D letters.

Believe me,

It won't take much for you to start cartoon 3D letters without a reference.

3D letters alphabet template worksheets

To help you do, I created ii block letter alphabet templates where you lot can practise calculation a 3D effect.

Page 1 – Is totally empty and so you tin beginning applying the 3D issue using a ruler
Page 2 – Has a barely visible 3D issue already practical to it so you can simply trace information technology over.

You lot can download these free worksheets (along with every other freebie) straight from the Lettering Crate.

To become instant access to the Lettering Crate, simply drib your email beneath and follow the instructions.

You'll receive a welcome email containing a link and a countersign.

Extra tips for 3D letters

Ok, now that we have the basics covered, we can start looking at unlike ways to style our 3D messages.

In this section, I'll mention a couple of different things you lot can try out.

The first thing we're starting with is shadows.

Adding shadows to your 3D messages

Shading your 3D letters is probably i of the best and easiest ways you tin style your letters.

It gives more depth to the letter, and information technology just looks then much improve with information technology.

To apply the shades, we just demand to determine our light source.

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

If you are just getting started, keep things uncomplicated and shade only the lower parts of the 3D.

With rounded letters, you can try to create more than of a slope await.

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

Once you go comfortable with a bones form of shading, you can start adding more detail to make it look fifty-fifty meliorate.

Keep in mind that understanding shading takes quite some practice.

Playing with the management of the 3D

Another cool thing you tin can do when doing 3D letters is playing with the management of it.

Let's say that if y'all have two words, you tin can point their 3D'southward in the opposite direction.

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

At that place are a bunch of different combos y'all tin can play with.

Applying the 3D issue to dissimilar lettering styles

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

Obviously, doing merely basic block messages can quickly get boring.

In one case you've learned how to apply a 3D result to block letters correctly, you can starting time experimenting with different lettering styles.

Here is an example of a 3D consequence applied on serif lettering –

Hither you can run into another example of a 3D effect applied to script lettering.

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

Even so, I'yard sure that with a flake of practice y'all'll be able to do whatever style you wish.

Learn how to create a two point perspective lettering piece.

You thought a 1 point perspective lettering looked absurd?

Well so, permit me introduce you lot to 2 point perspective lettering!

My friend Selina wrote an in-depth, pace-by-stride tutorial that will teach you lot how to create exactly that!

Check it out here.

Final words

And there you accept it, my friends!

I hope this tutorial will help yous starting time practicing 3D letters.

The more y'all do it, the better yous will get at it.

After a couple of times, you will sympathise how to draw a 3D effect on any object, and you won't take to use whatever references at all.

Take information technology boring, don't rush information technology, and as I always say, move gradually from easy to more challenging elements.

A house is but every bit strong as its foundations.

What lettering consequence or style would you lot like to larn next?

Let me know by dropping a comment below.

Also, experience free to drop a comment if you have any wishes or suggestions for future tutorials.

Cheers for reading and until the adjacent one,

Stay Awesome!

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