Create 3D text with long shadow in Illustrator

To create appealing graphics in Adobe Illustrator, it is essential to utilize dynamic Text effects. This guide will show you how to transform your flat text into a 3D object with a long shadow. For impressive optical depth and a particularly engaging aesthetic, you will learn how to adjust and design your text correctly. Let's dive straight into the details and start enhancing your text.

Key Takeaways

• Use the Appearance and Effects panel to adjust the text
• Apply the 3D extrusion effect to create depth
• Adjust the light sources for realistic shading effects

Step-by-Step Guide

First, ensure that your text is selected correctly. To do this, click in the layers panel where your background and text layer should be visible. If your text is not selected, you can either click on it directly or select it through the layers panel. To make sure you select the correct text, click on an empty area so that the selection tool remains active. Once you have the icon for your long shadow, you are ready for the next step.

Go to the Appearance panel, which you can access via the menu “Window” > “Appearance”. Here you can edit and adjust the characteristics of your selected object. At the moment, the panel only shows the opacity, which remains at the default value of 100%. An important point is to ensure that your text is inserted as a symbol so that you can apply the desired effects.

Specifically for this text, you need the option “FX for Effects” – click on it and select “3D” and then “Extrude and Bevel”. This will make your text appear three-dimensional. To preview the effect, hold down the space bar and slide the dialog window aside. This way, you can see the full view of the effect while you adjust the text.

In the larger dialog window, you can make significant adjustments. Click on “More Options” to configure more individual settings for light intensity and other parameters. Enable the preview so you can see the changes on your text immediately.

Your text should now already possess a certain 3D look. The preview cube represents the front side of your object, and using the rotation functions, you can explore different views of the text. To refine the settings, manually enter the values for the three-dimensionality by adjusting the rotation values in the corresponding fields.

To ensure that your text looks correct, an important adjustment is the depth of the extrusion. A depth of about 126 points also has a strong impact on the overall visualization of the text. Experiment to achieve the best visual results.

The placement of the light source is crucial for the appearance of your lettering. You can move the light to optimize the shading and effects. When you create a new light, you can experiment with different shadow effects by positioning and adjusting ratios.

For the desired effect, you should also adjust the values for ambient light. Set the ambient light value to 5 and increase the highlight value to about 60 to achieve a strong visual contrast. This will make your 3D text visually more appealing.

Once you continue with the same process and make the adjustments mentioned above, you will find that your text has a very appealing 3D representation. Confirm your settings with “OK” to apply the changes.

Now, to check the overall representation, hold down the space bar to change the viewing angle of your document. While holding down the Alt key and using the scroll wheel, you can zoom in and out of the image variably. Note that this 3D object is not the same as a fully 3D object in specialized 3D programs – here, the effect is produced by the 2D perspective of the text.

Summary

Creating appealing 3D text with a long shadow in Adobe Illustrator is an effective process that requires precise adjustments. With the right tools and techniques, you can achieve impressive results and give your graphics a new dimension.