CREATE CLEAN 3D TEXT WITH A LENSE BLUR IN ILLUSTRATOR


This is a really simple tutorial on how to create some really effective 3d text with a blur for a great finished look.

STEP 1: (Creating a background)

  1. Draw a square using your square tool (the dimensions above are 420px x 420px).
  2. Give it a gradient of 90% black to white (using the linear option)
  3. Play around with the opacity of your square to get the perfect ambient lighting
  4. If you are using CS4 you can use its new gradient editor to get a better look, otherwise you can use the paint bucket in one of the corners in CS3.
STEP 2:

  1. Using your text tool, create some white text.
  2. Add a drop shadow to it by clicking Effect>Stylize>Drop Shadow...
  3. Choose the Multiply option in the drop down menu.
  4. Use an opacity of about 55%.
  5. In the offset boxes use an offset of 3.7pt (both X & Y - use your discretion according to your text size).

STEP 3: (Applying 3d)


  1. Select your text and click Effect>3D>Extrude & Bevel... then use the following values:
  2. X axis rotation: 2 degrees.
  3. Perspective: 146 degrees.
  4. Extrude Depth: about 20 degrees.
  5. In the 'More Options' drop-down use the following values:
  6. Light Intensity: 100%
  7. Ambient Light: 46%
  8. Highlight Intensity: 100%
  9. Highlight Size: 100%
  10. Blend Steps: 50
  11. Shading Colour: Black
  12. Add 6 more light spots (see above screen-grab for positioning).
  13. Done!
STEP 4: (Blur)

  1. Draw a perfect circle with the 'Circle Tool'
  2. Give it a black-white gradient (see above).
  3. Re-size the circle to an oval so that the edges are almost touching the text.
  4. Make sure the oval is on top of the text before adding an opacity mask.
  5. Select the text and the oval then (on the transparency panel) click on the 'Make Opacity Mask' option then add a blur by clicking Effect>Blur>Gaussian Blur with a blur amount of 4.5 pixels.

STEP 5:

Align your blurred text with your normal text and that's it! You can add colours of your choice or even overlay other designs on the background using the same blur method as the text blur,
Enjoy!



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