How to Create a 3-D Logo
- 1). Open Adobe Illustrator, and select "Print Document" when asked what kind of document you want to create.
- 2). Draw a flat version of your logo using the pen tool, pencil tool, shape tool and text tool in the left hand tool bar. Select a tool and drag it over the page area to create lines or shapes. Click on several points in the area to create a path with the pen tool, and drag-click to create a curved shape.
- 3). Click on "Effect" in the top menu bar. Hover your mouse over the "3D" option, and select "Extrude & Bevel" from the drop down menu.
- 4). Click on the arrow next to the "Position" box, and select the vantage point from which you want to see your logo in 3D, for example "Off-Axis Front."
- 5). Click on the arrow next to "Extrude Depth" to determine how "deep" your logo should display, for example "20 pt" or "50 pt."
- 6). Click "Ok" and wait for Illustrator to generate the 3D effect.
- 7). Select your logo by dragging your mouse over the whole area. Click on "Object," and select "Expand Appearance." Illustrator will now stop seeing the 3D as just an effect, and will convert it to paths, enabling you to edit separate sections of the logo.
- 8). Click on "Object" and "Ungroup." Click on the logo again to see if you can select separate sections. If not, repeat the ungroup command until all the components of the logo are separated from one another.
- 9). Select a round corner path (or side) of your logo. You will discover that consists of separate parts. It should be one shape. Select the separate parts by clicking on each part while holding down the "Shift" button. Click again to deselect if you accidentally select the wrong part.
- 10
Click on "Window" and select "Pathfinder." The pathfinder toolbox will appear. Select "Add to Shape Area." Illustrator now combines the separate shapes. - 11
Click on "Window" and select "Gradient." Use this tool to create shading effects for each section of your logo. Click on "Window" and select "Swatches." Drag any color from the swatches to the Gradient bar to create different shaded color effects. - 12
Select a darker color range for the sides of the logo than for the front or top part. - 13
Select "File" and "Save As" as soon as you are happy with the final logo result. Give your artwork a name, and save it as an ".AI" file as well as ".EPS" format. - 14
Select "File" and "Export" to create a jpeg image of your logo. Give the artwork a name, and select "JPEG" from the file format options.
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