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Classic Photoshop Tutorial: Master 3D type effects

Tuesday 12 Jan 2010

Nik Ainley of Shiny Binary shows you how to add the wow factor to 3D text using Photoshop’s art tools.


Taking 3D objects into Photoshop is going to get more popular thanks to the latest release of Photoshop Extended. But you don’t need Adobe’s latest high-end version of Photoshop to create some unique 3D effects – this masterclass works for Photoshop CS and above.

In it, type-effects guru Nik Ainley shows how to create the above image. The key is to create the letters in a 3D package first as individual characters, then bring them into Photoshop for further post work.

Through clever use of Photoshop’s masking tools and layers, Nik has created type with characters that weave in and out of each other. The characters’ faces also provide a handy canvas for further effects, such as patterns, gradients and lines.


Step 1
Start by producing each letter separately in a 3D program, which Nik did here in Xara 3D, and import them into a Photoshop document. Keep each letter in its own layer, and then arrange them around each other, in whatever way looks good to you.

It might seem odd to create 3D text in this way, but Photoshop offers a lot more control than a 3D program and you will be able to produce a larger than life effect. To save time, the PSD file with the 3D text is included on this issue’s CD.

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WHO: Nik Ainley is a UK based designer who has a passion for producing personal art and illustrations. His work has featured in magazines, books, as album art, and posters.
CONTACT: www.shinybinary.com
SOFTWARE: Photoshop
TIME TO COMPLETE: Two hours
DOWNLOAD FILES: All files for this tutorial can be downloaded here.