bubble letters how to draw 3d letters
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In this tutorial, I will teach y'all how to draw 3D letters footstep by step.
3D messages may seem complicated at first, but with a bit of theory and some practice, yous'll learn information technology in no time.
And so even if you lot are a complete beginner with no feel, you'll larn how to draw bones 3D letters after post-obit this tutorial.
Before we begin, here 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 stride by step process
- 3D letters alphabet template + Complimentary printable 3D letters worksheet
- Actress tips for 3D messages
- Final words.
Without any further delays, allow'due south get started.
If you lot prefer to watch, I besides made a video tutorial –
Tools needed to describe 3D letters
For this tutorial, yous'll demand only a few basic lettering tools.
These are the tools that I'one thousand using (links to Amazon) –
- A pencil
- Paper
- A ruler (I use the rolling ruler – super helpful!)
- An eraser
If yous wish to add colors to your 3D letters you lot tin as well use these other tools –
- Markers
- Colored pencils
- Watercolors
- Etc.
Ok, with that in heed, let'southward proceed to the next section of this tutorial.
The basics of 3D. What are 3D letters?
Instead of but giving you a premade template for you to copy from, I think information technology's crucial to have a bones understanding of what 3D letters are.
I believe it will provide you with a strong foundation, and all the practice y'all'll do afterward volition exist much more effective.
Without getting all scientific in this artsy lettering tutorial, hither 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 calculation an extra dimension to the apartment 2D letterforms we usually create.
IMPORTANT Annotation –
I often run across that people refer to 3D as shadows or shading.
Notwithstanding, it'southward non the same thing. In curt, shadows are a dark surface area or shape produced past a torso coming between rays of lite and a surface.
I recall that these two terms get dislocated and used interchangeably considering they seem similar at offset.
Hither is 1 good tip on how to recognize a 3D letter from a shaded letter.
Nosotros accept a shaded letter and a 3D letter side by side to each other.
If you wait at information technology closely, you'll see that all the corners completely connect a 3D letter. On the other mitt, the shaded letters are not connected and thus give the impression of them being bandage behind the letter.
We can as well apply various shading to our 3D messages to brand them expect even ameliorate.
Only more than on that later on on in this tutorial.
Let's proceed to the next department.
How to draw 3D letters – A step by step procedure
I'm not sure if this method has a particular name to it, simply I call information technology – the equal distance 3D method.
I call it this way considering well, the 3D extends equally everywhere.
The equal distance method is fairly simple.
Earlier I first showing you how to apply this upshot to letters and words, let's take a step back and try with a simpler shape – a foursquare.
Y'all probably remember this from your geometry class.
Describe a simple square on a piece of newspaper using a pencil (it tin can likewise exist a rectangle, it doesn't matter).
Once you lot've washed that, yous need to decide the direction of the 3D.
Where will it extend?
The pick is totally upwardly to you.
It tin come from any direction, and for this instance, I'll extend information technology to the bottom correct side.
I'll take my ruler, I'll place information technology on the corner and I'll draw my first line.
Every other corner should have a line extending in the aforementioned direction.
Feel complimentary to brand these lines a scrap longer, and what doesn't go used will be erased afterward.
Once yous are washed you should have something that looks like this –
Notice that I didn't add a line on the top left corner.
That is because that line would go "through" the square.
If I decided to indicate the 3D in the lesser left side, and then I wouldn't have added a line on the superlative right corner.
Merely recollect that if a 3D line goes "through" the letter (or object) you can skip it.
The next step is to determine how deep our 3D goes, and once again, information technology's totally upwardly to you lot.
The beginning line that y'all describe will determine the depth and it will exist the same everywhere else.
You can start either at the lesser or at the side. I prefer doing it from the lesser.
Then I align my ruler with the lesser line of the square, and I slide it a fleck lower like this.
The crucial step here is that the closing line of the 3D shape follows exactly the management of the original shape.
Once I've closed the bottom line, all I have 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 style both my bottom and side take the same distance.
All that is left to do is deleting the lines that extend over our closed 3D shape.
And that's it!
Following this technique we but saw on the uncomplicated square shape example, we tin easily utilize it to other objects (letters).
Later on all, what are messages if non more complex geometrical objects 😀
Expert, let'due south become started on our letters!
Important note – For beginners, information technology'south best to start learning 3D on block letters. Once you've understood how to employ information technology properly on block letters, information technology will be much easier to create different lettering styles with a 3D effect.
Step 1 – draw the letter.
For this example, I'll go with a basic sans serif cake letter A.
I'll draw it using the wooden lath technique.
If you are not familiar with information technology, I talk more about it in my paw lettering tutorial for beginners.
In brusk, the wooden board technique teaches y'all to split up and draw the letter of the alphabet into individual parts.
This method allows you to create better, more than consistent, and more counterbalanced letterforms.
Step two – determine the management of the 3D
As I mentioned before, the letter'due south 3D (or the depth) can extend in multiple directions.
About commonly, it is either lesser left or bottom correct.
You lot tin can do information technology elevation left and top right likewise.
I would just avoid doing the 3D completely vertical or horizontal because then the effect isn't that noticeable.
This fourth dimension I went for the lesser right 3D.
Earlier you lot depict your lines, endeavor to identify all of your corners so as not to miss whatever.
I've done this so often that I know where to identify my lines, only if you lot are just getting started and experience overwhelmed, this will help you out.
Notice once again that I oasis't marked the corners where the lines would move "through" the letter.
I did the same thing with the square example.
Step 3 – draw the lines.
Ok, then I drew my first line from this corner.
At present, every other corner should take a line that extends in the aforementioned direction.
You can make these lines a bit bigger, and what doesn't get used will exist deleted afterward.
Skillful, once yous've drawn all the lines, it should look similar this –
Every bit y'all can meet, we piece of work with a lot of parallel lines here, and information technology's precisely the reason I dear using my rolling ruler for this.
Pace 4 – Closing the shape.
We accept our lines extended from each corner, and now we just need to close the shape to get our 3D letter.
With the first closing line, you lot determine the length (the depth) of the 3D.
This office is totally upwardly to you.
You tin can start closing your shape either from the lesser or from the side.
I prefer doing it from the bottom.
I'll begin by endmost up the lowest points of the letter A which are these two lines here.
The next matter I accept to close is the first (inner) side of the letter.
I grab my ruler, marshal it to the side of the letter A and slide it to the corner I've created in the previous footstep.
This picayune corner tells me how far I take to go with my 3D.
In this way, I maintain an equal distance of the 3D from every side.
By closing this side I accept however another point that tells me where to shut the crossbar.
So I marshal my ruler with the batten of the A, and I slide information technology to that corner and close the line.
Finally, I just demand to connect the remaining side, and again, I have this piffling corner at the lesser that tells me how far I take to go.
Once I'k 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 first 3D letter!
We can, of course, further style our 3D letter, but I'll cover that in the "Extra Tips" section.
Right at present, we are just focusing on understanding the nuts of 3D messages.
Every bit always, it'south all-time to move gradually from easier to more circuitous elements.
What virtually rounded 3D shapes and letters?
Applying a 3D effect to rounded shapes tin exist a bit trickier than straight lines and edges.
Don't worry. It's nothing too complicated, but information technology does take a bit of practise.
Let's come across an example using the letter of the alphabet C.
One time you've drawn your letter C, determine the management of the 3D.
Hither I'll go bottom left.
I'll get-go with this line within since information technology has a corner.
Now, I'll move down with my ruler to the furthest point of the letter C.
I'll practice the aforementioned for the top side.
What matters the most here is that you locate that furthest border of the rounded letter.
Once you take all the lines it should wait like this –
Now i just demand to decide how deep my 3D volition extend, and then just shut the lines.
I need to close the line by following the exact shape of the letter.
This is the reason why these rounded letters are a bit more challenging.
You have to eyeball these closing shapes, and information technology'southward fine if it's not 100% the same equally the original line of the letter of the alphabet.
Here is how it should await like once you're done.
And that's pretty much it!
Now you know how to create 3D letters using the equal distance method.
3D letters alphabet template
Following this method, you can add a 3D effect to the whole alphabet as I did here.
I also fabricated a separate timelapse video where I add a 3D upshot to every letter of the alphabet.
Yous tin watch it here –
Although we covered several examples in the step-by-step processes above, you might go stuck on certain letters.
If that happens, just come to this section and wait at these references.
After doing the whole alphabet a couple of times, you'll already kickoff to feel much more confident in creating 3D messages.
Believe me,
Information technology won't have much for yous to commencement drawing 3D letters without a reference.
3D letters alphabet template worksheets
To assist you practice, I created two block alphabetic character alphabet templates where you can practice adding a 3D effect.
- Page 1 – Is totally empty and then you can starting time applying the 3D effect using a ruler
- Page 2 – Has a barely visible 3D effect already applied to it and so you can just trace it over.
You lot can download these costless worksheets (along with every other freebie) directly from the Lettering Crate.
To become instant access to the Lettering Crate, only drop your email beneath and follow the instructions.
You'll receive a welcome email containing a link and a password.
Extra tips for 3D messages
Ok, at present that we have the basics covered, we can start looking at different ways to style our 3D letters.
In this section, I'll mention a couple of different things you tin try out.
The first affair we're starting with is shadows.
Adding shadows to your 3D messages
Shading your 3D letters is probably one of the best and easiest means you can way your messages.
It gives more depth to the alphabetic character, and it simply looks so much amend with it.
To apply the shades, nosotros just need to decide our light source.
Shades are usually practical on the reverse side of the light source.
If you are just getting started, continue things simple and shade merely the lower parts of the 3D.
With rounded letters, you tin can try to create more of a gradient look.
As it goes from the bottom, it's darker, and every bit it moves towards the side, it gets brighter.
Once you lot get comfortable with a basic form of shading, you tin starting time adding more particular to make information technology look even improve.
Keep in listen that understanding shading takes quite some practice.
Playing with the direction of the 3D
Some other cool matter you tin can practice when doing 3D letters is playing with the direction of it.
Allow'southward say that if you have ii words, you can point their 3D'south in the opposite direction.
You could also incline your letters and shoot the 3D in the opposite direction.
There are a bunch of different combos y'all can play with.
Applying the 3D result to different lettering styles
As mentioned at the beginning of this tutorial, information technology's best to start learning 3D on basic block letters.
Evidently, doing merely bones block letters can quickly get boring.
One time yous've learned how to apply a 3D issue to block letters correctly, you can start experimenting with different lettering styles.
Here is an case of a 3D effect applied on serif lettering –
Here you tin see another example of a 3D effect applied to script lettering.
Script lettering is maybe a bit more challenging since about of the shapes are rounded.
Notwithstanding, I'1000 sure that with a bit of practice you lot'll exist able to do any mode you wish.
Learn how to create a 2 point perspective lettering piece.
Y'all thought a i bespeak perspective lettering looked cool?
Well then, permit me introduce you to 2 point perspective lettering!
My friend Selina wrote an in-depth, step-by-step tutorial that will teach you how to create exactly that!
Cheque it out here.
Final words
And there you take it, my friends!
I hope this tutorial volition help y'all offset practicing 3D letters.
The more you lot do it, the better you will get at information technology.
Afterward a couple of times, you will empathise how to describe a 3D effect on any object, and yous won't have to use whatsoever references at all.
Have it irksome, don't blitz it, and as I always say, motion gradually from easy to more than challenging elements.
A business firm is just as strong equally its foundations.
What lettering outcome or style would you lot similar to larn next?
Permit me know past dropping a annotate beneath.
Also, experience free to drop a annotate if you lot have whatsoever wishes or suggestions for hereafter tutorials.
Thanks for reading and until the next one,
Stay AWESOME!
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Nearly the writer
Lettering Daily is an online customs that provides educational and inspirational content for mitt lettering and calligraphy beginners. Our mission is to assist artists and enthusiasts from all around the world to learn and improve their hand lettering and calligraphy skills.
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