How to create a 3d styled graphic in Photoshop @ novus.volce

How to create a 3d styled graphic in Photoshop

In the season of giving, I would like to share with you this Photoshop tutorial I made. I hope you have a Happy Holiday!

A while ago I saw a cool illustration made by Adam Woodhouse and I was inspired to take a crack at something similar. I hope the tutorial will teach you to mimick the 3d style using only photoshop. This will be especially useful for people who don’t have a special 3d program. We will be using a lot of clipping mask and creativity.

Step 1

First we need to create a new document. I started with 600px by 450px at 150 dpi. The size doesn’t really matter because if you go out of bounds we can use Reveal All later (Image > Reveal All). Let’s start with a gray background (#5C5C5C) followed by a white radial gradient with 50% opacity.

The base

Step 2

Now let’s create an abstract shape to stylized. Create a new layer and rename it “shape 1″ for future references. If you can’t think of anything, you can try to inspire yourself by checking out the graffiti section at dafont.

I’ll create it using the Polygonal Lasso tool (L) for simplicity but you can use the pen tool (P) for more control and styling. After creating the selection, fill it with white (Alt+Backspace with white as your foreground color).

The A

Step 3

While still selecting the shape, expand the selection by 3px (Select > Modify > Expand). Then create a new layer underneath the “shape 1″ layer and fill it with black (Alt+Backspace with black as your foreground color) and call the layer “shape 1 outline”.

The A Bordered

Step 4

Again while still selecting, Create another layer below “shape 1 outline” and fill it, this time with gray. While still selecting the shape, nudge while duplicating (Ctrl+Alt+Arrow keys) a couple of times until you get something pretty thick. It should be 20+. Keeping it selected should keep it from making new layers. There is many different style you can do depending on what arrow keys you press. Some examples of arrow keys combinations are:

down and left
down and right
up and left
up and right
down
up
anything + transformation.

Usually if you are transforming, you’ll be transforming it into a trapezoid like shape. After nudging to your hearts content, fill it with gray again (Ctrl-click the new layer’s thumbail then press Alt+Backspace to fill) to make sure your faux 3d is clean. Then rename the layer “shape 1 faux 3d” for future references. For the tutorial I’ll be using down and left.

Variations of this step

Step 5

To add more to the 3d feel, let’s add shadows in the corners of the 3d shape. To do so, create a new layer above “shape 1 faux 3d” and create a clipping mask (Alt-click in between the two layer). Then use a nice black soft brush and brush over each of the corner/bends. Then set the layer’s opacity to 10%. Now for organization purpose let’s rename it “corner shadow”.

Add shadows to make it more convincing

Step 6

Ok, now to spice it up. Let’s create 2 gradient layer (Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient…). Create one above the “shape 1 faux 3d” and one on top of “shape 1 outline”. Make sure the gradient layer is clipped to each one respectively. Also make sure that the “corner shadow” is above the gradient layer for “shape 1 faux 3d”. For the tutorial I created 2 gradient. a “red to yellow” for “shape 1 faux 3d” and an “orange, yellow, orange” for “shape 1 outline”.

Coloring it

Step 7

For this next step we’re going to need some thick diagonal patterns. You could get some here. Then after downloading a pattern create a new layer and clip it to “shape 1″ (Alt-Click in between the new layer and “shape 1″) and fill it with the pattern. Now lower the opacity of the layer to 50% and erase parts of it.

Coloring it

Step 8

Now lets create a new layer, select (Ctrl-click) “shape 1 faux 3d” and fill it with black (Alt+Backspace with black as your foreground). Then drag that layer below the “shape 1 faux 3d” and apply Gaussian blur (filter > Gaussian Blur) with the radius of 4px to create a shadow. Then lower the opacity of the layer to 50%

Adding some shadows

Step 9

I think the picture is coming a long pretty well don’t you think? Ok. Let’s do the same thing we did in step 8 except instead of filling it with black, fill it with a gradient between green (#BAFE00) and yellow (#FFFC00) and don’t gaussian blur it this time. Instead transform (Ctrl+T) it. Refer to the picture below.

Some more styling to liven it up

Step 10

Now create another shadow by doing the same thing you did in step 8 except do it to the green/yellow thing we created in the last step instead of the “shape 1 faux 3d” layer. Then set the layer’s opacity to 25%. Then transform (Ctrl+T) it. Again refer to the picture if you need to. The transformation will give the illusion that the shape is coming of the background.

Another shadow, but skewed

Step 11

Cool, now we’re basically done with the core. What we want to do now is to do the same thing with a couple more shape. When you are making more, don’t worry about the prespective of the picture. In fact make it out of whack for a more trippy look. Also put all the green/yellow together and their shadow together below them. Here is my result.

Do the previous technique to some more letters

Step 12

To add more pizzaz into the piece, we’re going to add some “glowing dots”, for a lack of better word. Create a new layer with the name “glowing dots” on top of everything and select a 3px brush with 0 hardness. Then press F5 on your keyboard which should bring up your brush settings. Set the scatter to 25% and Spacing to 150%. Now using black as your foreground color (so it’s easier to see what you’re doing) brush some around your shapes. Then set the layer to “Linear Dodge”. The dots should disappear but that’s OK, we’re going to fix that in the next step.

Ooh glowy!

Step 13

Now create a new gradient layer (Layer > New Fill Layer > Gradient…) on top of the glowing dots. Choose the “transparent rainbow” one and clip it (Alt-Click in between the two layer) to “glowing dots”. You should now have some cool glowing dots around your shapes.

Ooh glowy and color-riffic!

Step 14

Don’t you think the background is looking a bit dull? Let’s fix that. First of all we need to hide (tick the eye icon by the layer in the layer pallete) all the background layer (the gray and the white radial gradient). Then select all (Ctrl+A) and copy merged (Ctrl+Shift+C). This allows us to copy every object without a background. Now create a layer just on top of the white radial gradient and paste it (Ctrl+V). Then desaturate (Ctrl+Shift+U) and set the layer mode to “Soft Light”. Now set the layer’s opacity to 25%. Rotate it a bit. Do this a couple of times until you’re satisfied. And congratulations you’re done!

As easy as Ctrl-C and Ctrl-V

Conclusion

I hoped you enjoyed this tutorial as much as I enjoyed writing it. If it’s still too bland for you, you can add some sunburst and vignette like I did below. You might even want to go farther and wilder like i did in the second picture below! Share with us what you think below. And remember, be nice and safe during the holidays .