cool 3d letters to draw

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In this tutorial, I will teach you how to draw 3D letters step by step.

3D letters may seem complicated at first, but with a bit of theory and some exercise, yous'll learn information technology in no time.

And so even if you are a complete beginner with no experience, you'll learn how to draw basic 3D letters after following this tutorial.

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

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

Without whatever further delays, allow's go started.

If y'all prefer to watch, I also made a video tutorial –

Tools needed to draw 3D messages

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

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

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

If you wish to add colors to your 3D messages y'all can too use these other tools –

Markers
Colored pencils
Watercolors
Etc.

Ok, with that in mind, let's go on to the next section of this tutorial.

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

Instead of merely giving you a premade template for y'all to copy from, I recollect it'southward crucial to have a basic understanding of what 3D letters are.

I believe it will provide you lot with a strong foundation, and all the do you'll practise subsequently volition be much more effective.

Without getting all scientific in this cocked 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 extra dimension to the apartment 2D letterforms we unremarkably create.

IMPORTANT NOTE –

I frequently meet that people refer to 3D as shadows or shading.

Even so, it'due south not the same matter. In short, shadows are a dark surface area or shape produced past a body coming between rays of light and a surface.

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

Here is one skillful tip on how to recognize a 3D alphabetic character from a shaded letter of the alphabet.

Nosotros have a shaded letter and a 3D letter next to each other.

If you look at it closely, y'all'll see that all the corners completely connect a 3D letter. On the other mitt, the shaded letters are non connected and thus give the impression of them being cast backside the letter.

We can too employ various shading to our 3D letters to make them look even better.

Simply more than on that later on in this tutorial.

Let'southward proceed to the next section.

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

I'm non sure if this method has a particular name to it, but I call it – the equal distance 3D method.

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

The equal altitude method is adequately simple.

Before I start showing you how to use this effect to messages and words, let'south take a step back and try with a simpler shape – a foursquare.

You probably call up this from your geometry class.

Draw a simple foursquare on a piece of newspaper using a pencil (it can also exist a rectangle, it doesn't matter).

Once yous've done that, you need to determine the direction of the 3D.

Where will information technology extend?

The choice is totally up to you.

It can come from any direction, and for this example, I'll extend it to the lesser right side.

I'll take my ruler, I'll place information technology on the corner and I'll draw my showtime line.

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

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

Once you are done y'all should have something that looks like this –

Notice that I didn't add a line on the top left corner.

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

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

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

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

The starting time line that you depict will decide the depth and it will exist the same everywhere else.

You can kickoff either at the lesser or at the side. I prefer doing it from the lesser.

So I align my ruler with the bottom line of the square, and I slide it a flake 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 practice 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 way both my bottom and side have the same altitude.

All that is left to practise is deleting the lines that extend over our closed 3D shape.

And that'southward it!

Following this technique we just saw on the simple square shape example, nosotros tin easily apply it to other objects (letters).

After all, what are letters if non more complex geometrical objects 😀

Good, let's become started on our letters!

Important note – For beginners, it'due south best to start learning 3D on block messages. One time yous've understood how to utilize it properly on cake letters, it will be much easier to create different lettering styles with a 3D issue.

Step 1 – describe the alphabetic character.

For this example, I'll become 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 than about it in my hand lettering tutorial for beginners.

In short, the wooden board technique teaches you lot to separate and draw the letter of the alphabet into private parts.

This method allows y'all to create better, more consistent, and more counterbalanced letterforms.

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

As I mentioned earlier, the letter of the alphabet'due south 3D (or the depth) can extend in multiple directions.

Most commonly, it is either bottom left or bottom right.

You can do information technology top left and top right also.

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

This time I went for the lesser right 3D.

Before y'all depict your lines, try to identify all of your corners so equally not to miss any.

I've done this so often that I know where to place my lines, only if you are just getting started and experience overwhelmed, this will help you lot out.

Detect once again that I haven't marked the corners where the lines would move "through" the letter of the alphabet.

I did the aforementioned thing with the square example.

Step three – draw the lines.

Ok, and so I drew my outset line from this corner.

Now, every other corner should have a line that extends in the aforementioned direction.

You lot can brand these lines a fleck bigger, and what doesn't go used will exist deleted afterwards.

Skillful, once you've fatigued all the lines, it should look similar this –

As you lot can meet, we work with a lot of parallel lines here, and it'south precisely the reason I love using my rolling ruler for this.

Stride 4 – Endmost the shape.

Nosotros have our lines extended from each corner, and at present we but demand to close the shape to get our 3D letter.

With the first closing line, y'all determine the length (the depth) of the 3D.

This part is totally up to yous.

You can start closing your shape either from the bottom or from the side.

I prefer doing it from the bottom.

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

The next affair I have to shut is the offset (inner) side of the letter of the alphabet.

I grab my ruler, align it to the side of the letter of the alphabet A and slide information technology to the corner I've created in the previous step.

This little corner tells me how far I have to become with my 3D.

In this way, I maintain an equal altitude of the 3D from every side.

Past closing this side I have yet another point that tells me where to close the crossbar.

So I align my ruler with the batten of the A, and I slide it to that corner and close the line.

Finally, I just need to connect the remaining side, and again, I accept this footling corner at the bottom that tells me how far I accept to become.

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

And at that place you have it, friends.

You've successfully created your first 3D letter!

We can, of form, further manner our 3D alphabetic character, simply I'll cover that in the "Extra Tips" section.

Correct at present, we are but focusing on understanding the basics of 3D messages.

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

What nearly rounded 3D shapes and messages?

Applying a 3D outcome to rounded shapes can be a scrap trickier than directly lines and edges.

Don't worry. Information technology's zippo besides complicated, but it does take a bit of practice.

Let's see an instance using the letter C.

Once you've drawn your alphabetic character C, determine the management of the 3D.

Here I'll go bottom left.

I'll start with this line inside since it has a corner.

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

I'll do the aforementioned for the top side.

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

Once y'all have all the lines it should look like this –

Now i merely need to determine how deep my 3D will extend, then only shut the lines.

I need to close the line past following the exact shape of the letter.

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

You have to eyeball these closing shapes, and it's fine if it'south non 100% the same as the original line of the letter.

Hither is how information technology should look similar in one case y'all're done.

And that's pretty much information technology!

Now you lot 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 equally I did here.

I also made a separate timelapse video where I add a 3D effect to every letter of the alphabet of the alphabet.

You tin can scout it here –

Although we covered several examples in the step-by-footstep processes above, y'all might get stuck on certain messages.

If that happens, just come up to this section and wait at these references.

After doing the whole alphabet a couple of times, you'll already showtime to feel much more confident in creating 3D letters.

Believe me,

It won't have much for y'all to start drawing 3D letters without a reference.

3D letters alphabet template worksheets

To aid you practice, I created 2 block letter alphabet templates where yous can practice adding a 3D result.

Page 1 – Is totally empty so you tin can start applying the 3D effect using a ruler
Page 2 – Has a barely visible 3D effect already applied to it so you can just trace it over.

Y'all tin download these free worksheets (along with every other freebie) straight from the Lettering Crate.

To get instant access to the Lettering Crate, just drop your email below and follow the instructions.

You lot'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, nosotros can start looking at different means to manner our 3D messages.

In this department, I'll mention a couple of different things y'all can try out.

The showtime thing we're starting with is shadows.

Adding shadows to your 3D messages

Shading your 3D letters is probably one of the best and easiest ways y'all can manner your letters.

It gives more depth to the letter, and it but looks and so much ameliorate with it.

To apply the shades, we simply need to make up one's mind our light source.

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

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

With rounded letters, you can try to create more of a gradient look.

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

Once yous get comfortable with a basic form of shading, y'all tin can start adding more item to make it look even better.

Keep in heed that understanding shading takes quite some practice.

Playing with the direction of the 3D

Some other cool matter you can do when doing 3D letters is playing with the management of information technology.

Let'southward say that if you accept 2 words, you can indicate their 3D'southward in the opposite direction.

Y'all could besides incline your letters and shoot the 3D in the opposite management.

There are a bunch of dissimilar combos you can play with.

Applying the 3D consequence to different lettering styles

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

Evidently, doing merely bones block letters tin speedily become boring.

Once you've learned how to apply a 3D effect to block letters correctly, you lot can kickoff experimenting with different lettering styles.

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

Here you can see another example of a 3D effect applied to script lettering.

Script lettering is maybe a scrap more than challenging since near of the shapes are rounded.

However, I'm certain that with a fleck of practice you lot'll be able to do any style you wish.

Learn how to create a 2 indicate perspective lettering piece.

Yous thought a 1 betoken perspective lettering looked cool?

Well then, let me introduce you lot to ii bespeak perspective lettering!

My friend Selina wrote an in-depth, step-by-step tutorial that volition teach you how to create exactly that!

Check information technology out here.

Final words

And there you lot have it, my friends!

I hope this tutorial will help you start practicing 3D letters.

The more than you do it, the better yous will get at it.

After a couple of times, yous will sympathise how to depict a 3D outcome on any object, and you won't accept to employ any references at all.

Accept it slow, don't blitz it, and as I always say, move gradually from easy to more challenging elements.

A house is only every bit stiff as its foundations.

What lettering event or style would yous like to learn adjacent?

Let me know by dropping a comment below.

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

Thanks for reading and until the next one,

Stay AWESOME!

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