Creating 3D Lettering Effects in Photoshop - Part 1

Overview

Dive into the first part of a two-part Adobe Live series featuring graphic and typography designer Angelo Konofaos as he demonstrates how to create stunning 3D lettering effects. Follow along as Angelo guides you through his entire design process, starting with initial sketches in Adobe Illustrator and progressing to the final composition in Photoshop. Learn valuable techniques for working with the Mixer Brush, creating shadows and highlights, using layer masks, and combining 2D and 3D elements. Discover tips for achieving cohesive lettering styles, animating type, and enhancing your designs with various effects. This comprehensive tutorial covers everything from vectoring and composition planning to adding finishing touches like strokes and background effects, providing a wealth of knowledge for both beginners and experienced designers alike.

Syllabus

Start
Intro to Angelo’s work
Sketch and plan for today’s work
Overview of the vectoring process in Illustrator
Moving the lettering over to Photoshop
Working with the Mixer Brush
How Angelo came up with his style
Working on the BLEND lettering
Mixing 3D and 2D
Previewing the composition - making edits
Overlapping the type - painting shadows
Pen pressure/stylus vs. mouse control
Clean masks for shadows using pen tools in PS
Experimenting with the effects - highlights for effect
Example of Angelo’s animation with type
Continuing with the shadows
Highlight and shadow colors
120:19 Focusing on highlights - secondary lights
Painting into a layer mask for a bg effect
Adding strokes to highlight the lettering w/pen tool
Using gaussian blur to push back the highlights
Creating overlap with an underline stroke
Cutting out shapes with/shadows
Recap and what’s next for the lettering composition