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Inflated text effect for beginners | 2D to 3D | Adobe Illustrator Tutorial

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Inflated text effect for beginners | 2D to 3D | Adobe Illustrator Tutorial

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will guide you through the process of creating an inflated text effect in Adobe Illustrator. We will work with a document size of 1080 x 1080 pixels and a resolution of 300. This step-by-step guide is designed for beginners and will help you transform simple text into eye-catching 3D elements.

Step-by-Step Guide

Setting Up the Background

  1. Create Background:

    • Select the Rectangle Tool and create a background box for your document.
    • Use the Eyedropper Tool (Shortcut: I) to select the desired background color from your color theme.
    • Lock the background layer by navigating to the Layers panel to prevent accidental selection.

  2. Add Text for Background:

    • Select the Type Tool and type the word you want to use as a background pattern.
    • Choose any font, for this tutorial, we're using “Alphabet 4” with a size of 225.
    • Duplicate the text by holding the Alt key and dragging it downwards. Press Ctrl+D to repeat this action multiple times.

  3. Grouping and Aligning:

    • Select all the duplicated text and group them by pressing Ctrl+G.
    • Use the arrow keys to adjust their alignment and arrangement.
    • Lock this text layer in the Layers panel to prevent movement.

Creating the 3D Inflated Text

  1. Type the Main Letter:

    • Select the Type Tool and type the letter "B".
    • Change the font to "Porky's Heavy" and set the size to 555.
    • Use the Eyedropper Tool to apply the desired color.

  2. Applying 3D Effect:

    • Go to Effects > 3D and Materials > Inflate.
    • Set the depth to 22.

  3. Adjusting Material Properties:

    • Within the Materials tab, set the Roughness to 0.35.

  4. Lighting Settings:

    • Adjust the rotation to -146 degrees.
    • Change the height to 51.

  5. Enabling Shadow:

    • At the bottom of the lighting settings, enable the shadow option.

Building the Word

  1. Duplicating and Adjusting Letters:

    • Rotate and duplicate the letter "B" to form the desired word.
    • For the word "Barbie", change the letters accordingly.
    • To move letters behind others, use Ctrl + [.

  2. Finishing and Grouping:

    • Use the Direct Selection Tool (A) to select all the letters, then group them with Ctrl+G.
    • Manually align the grouped word for the final touch.

  3. Rendering with Ray Tracing:

    • With the Direct Selection Tool, select each letter and click on "Render with Ray Tracing."
    • Repeat this process for all letters.

Final Steps

  1. Locking the Layers:
    • Lock all layers by going to the Layers panel to secure your work.

Conclusion

With these steps, you've learned how to create a stunning inflated text effect using Adobe Illustrator. This technique can add a creative flair to your designs, making your text stand out.

Keywords

FAQ

Q: What is the document size and resolution used in this tutorial? A: The document size is 1080 x 1080 pixels with a resolution of 300.

Q: Which font is used for the main letter? A: The font used is "Porky's Heavy."

Q: How do I duplicate text in Adobe Illustrator? A: Hold the Alt key and drag the text; press Ctrl+D to repeat the action.

Q: How can I lock layers to prevent accidental selection? A: Navigate to the Layers panel and click on the lock icon next to the layer you want to lock.

Q: What is the shortcut for the Direct Selection Tool? A: The shortcut is A.

Q: How do I apply a 3D effect to the text? A: Go to Effects > 3D and Materials > Inflate to apply the 3D effect.

Q: What are the roughness and lighting settings used in this tutorial? A: The roughness is set to 0.35, and the lighting rotation is set to -146 degrees with a height of 51.