How to Draw Cool Alphabet Letters

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In this tutorial, I will teach you lot how to draw 3D letters step by pace.

3D letters may seem complicated at first, but with a bit of theory and some practice, you'll larn it in no fourth dimension.

Then even if you are a consummate beginner with no experience, y'all'll learn how to describe basic 3D letters after following this tutorial.

Earlier we begin, here is a quick overview of this tutorial –

Tools needed to draw 3D letters
The nuts of 3D. What are 3D letters?
How to draw 3D letters – A footstep by step procedure
3D letters alphabet template + Gratis printable 3D letters worksheet
Extra tips for 3D letters
Last words.

Without whatever further delays, let's get started.

If you adopt to watch, I likewise fabricated a video tutorial –

Tools needed to draw 3D letters

For this tutorial, you lot'll need just a few basic lettering tools.

These are the tools that I'm using (links to Amazon) –

A pencil
Paper
A ruler (I use the rolling ruler – super helpful!)
An eraser

If you lot wish to add together colors to your 3D letters you tin likewise utilize these other tools –

Markers
Colored pencils
Watercolors
Etc.

Ok, with that in heed, let's proceed to the next section of this tutorial.

The basics of 3D. What are 3D letters?

Instead of but giving yous a premade template for yous to copy from, I think it's crucial to have a basic understanding of what 3D messages are.

I believe it volition provide you with a strong foundation, and all the practice you'll practice afterward will be much more effective.

Without getting all scientific in this artsy lettering tutorial, here is a very basic and boiled downwardly definition of what 3D is –

3D is an object with height, width, and depth (or length).

We are basically adding an extra dimension to the apartment 2D letterforms we usually create.

IMPORTANT Notation –

I oft run across that people refer to 3D as shadows or shading.

However, it'due south not the aforementioned thing. In short, shadows are a dark area or shape produced by a trunk coming between rays of light and a surface.

I recall that these ii terms get dislocated and used interchangeably considering they seem similar at first.

Here is i skillful tip on how to recognize a 3D letter from a shaded letter.

We have a shaded letter of the alphabet and a 3D letter of the alphabet side by side to each other.

If you expect at it closely, yous'll see that all the corners completely connect a 3D letter. On the other hand, the shaded messages are not connected and thus requite the impression of them being cast behind the letter.

We tin as well apply various shading to our 3D letters to make them look even better.

But more on that later on in this tutorial.

Let's keep to the next section.

How to depict 3D messages – A stride by pace process

I'one thousand non sure if this method has a particular name to information technology, simply I call it – the equal altitude 3D method.

I call information technology this manner because well, the 3D extends equally everywhere.

The equal altitude method is adequately uncomplicated.

Earlier I start showing y'all how to utilize this effect to letters and words, allow'southward take a step back and endeavour with a simpler shape – a foursquare.

You probably call up this from your geometry course.

Draw a simple foursquare on a piece of paper using a pencil (it can likewise be a rectangle, information technology doesn't affair).

Once you've washed that, yous need to determine the direction of the 3D.

Where will information technology extend?

The selection is totally up to you.

Information technology can come up from whatever direction, and for this case, I'll extend it to the bottom right side.

I'll take my ruler, I'll place information technology on the corner and I'll describe my first line.

Every other corner should have a line extending in the same management.

Feel free to make these lines a bit longer, and what doesn't become used will be erased later on.

One time you are done you lot should have something that looks like this –

Notice that I didn't add a line on the top left corner.

That is considering that line would go "through" the square.

If I decided to point the 3D in the bottom left side, then I wouldn't have added a line on the top right corner.

Only remember that if a 3D line goes "through" the letter (or object) you tin can skip it.

The next step is to determine how deep our 3D goes, and again, information technology'southward totally upwards to yous.

The commencement line that y'all depict will determine the depth and it will be the same everywhere else.

You can outset either at the bottom or at the side. I prefer doing it from the bottom.

So I align my ruler with the lesser line of the foursquare, and I slide information technology a bit lower similar this.

The crucial footstep here is that the endmost line of the 3D shape follows exactly the direction of the original shape.

One time I've closed the lesser line, all I have to practise is flip the ruler vertically, and align to the side of the square.

Now I slide the ruler to the corner created by the previous lesser line.

This fashion both my bottom and side have the same distance.

All that is left to do is deleting the lines that extend over our closed 3D shape.

And that's information technology!

Following this technique we just saw on the unproblematic square shape example, we can easily apply it to other objects (letters).

After all, what are messages if not more than complex geometrical objects 😀

Skilful, allow's get started on our messages!

Important note – For beginners, information technology'southward best to start learning 3D on cake letters. Once you've understood how to apply it properly on block letters, it will be much easier to create different lettering styles with a 3D upshot.

Pace ane – draw the alphabetic character.

For this instance, I'll go with a basic sans serif block letter A.

I'll describe it using the wooden board technique.

If y'all are not familiar with information technology, I talk more about information technology in my hand lettering tutorial for beginners.

In short, the wooden board technique teaches yous to divide and describe the letter into individual parts.

This method allows you to create better, more than consistent, and more balanced letterforms.

Step ii – determine the direction of the 3D

As I mentioned earlier, the alphabetic character's 3D (or the depth) can extend in multiple directions.

Nigh normally, it is either bottom left or bottom right.

Yous can do information technology top left and peak right also.

I would just avoid doing the 3D completely vertical or horizontal considering then the issue isn't that noticeable.

This time I went for the bottom right 3D.

Before you draw your lines, try to identify all of your corners and so equally not to miss any.

I've washed this so often that I know where to place my lines, only if you are simply getting started and experience overwhelmed, this will help yous out.

Notice in one case again that I haven't marked the corners where the lines would move "through" the letter.

I did the aforementioned thing with the foursquare example.

Pace 3 – draw the lines.

Ok, so I drew my beginning line from this corner.

At present, every other corner should have a line that extends in the same direction.

You can make these lines a fleck bigger, and what doesn't get used will exist deleted after.

Good, in one case you've drawn all the lines, it should look similar this –

As yous tin run into, we piece of work with a lot of parallel lines here, and it's precisely the reason I love using my rolling ruler for this.

Step 4 – Endmost the shape.

We take our lines extended from each corner, and now we just need to close the shape to get our 3D alphabetic character.

With the outset closing line, you determine the length (the depth) of the 3D.

This part is totally up to y'all.

You can outset closing your shape either from the bottom or from the side.

I prefer doing information technology from the lesser.

I'll brainstorm by endmost upwards the lowest points of the letter A which are these ii lines here.

The side by side thing I have to close is the first (inner) side of the letter.

I grab my ruler, align information technology to the side of the letter of the alphabet A and slide it to the corner I've created in the previous step.

This little corner tells me how far I have to go with my 3D.

In this way, I maintain an equal distance of the 3D from every side.

By closing this side I have yet another signal that tells me where to close the crossbar.

Then I marshal my ruler with the crossbar of the A, and I slide it to that corner and shut the line.

Finally, I only demand to connect the remaining side, and once more, I have this little corner at the bottom that tells me how far I have to go.

Once I'yard washed with connecting all the lines, all I have to do is erase all the extras that extend beyond our 3D.

And in that location y'all have information technology, friends.

You've successfully created your first 3D letter!

Nosotros tin, of course, farther style our 3D letter, but I'll cover that in the "Extra Tips" section.

Correct now, we are simply focusing on understanding the basics of 3D messages.

Every bit ever, it's best to move gradually from easier to more circuitous elements.

What about rounded 3D shapes and messages?

Applying a 3D effect to rounded shapes tin exist a fleck trickier than straight lines and edges.

Don't worry. It's zilch too complicated, but information technology does have a bit of practice.

Let's see an example using the letter C.

Once y'all've drawn your letter C, determine the direction of the 3D.

Here I'll go bottom left.

I'll start with this line inside since information technology has a corner.

Now, I'll move down with my ruler to the furthest signal of the letter C.

I'll do the same for the top side.

What matters the near here is that you locate that furthest edge of the rounded letter of the alphabet.

Once you accept all the lines it should look similar this –

Now i just need to determine how deep my 3D will extend, and and so just close the lines.

I need to close the line by following the exact shape of the letter.

This is the reason why these rounded letters are a bit more challenging.

You have to eyeball these closing shapes, and it's fine if it's not 100% the same as the original line of the letter.

Hither is how it should look similar in one case yous're done.

And that's pretty much information technology!

Now you know how to create 3D letters using the equal distance method.

3D messages alphabet template

Post-obit this method, yous tin can add a 3D effect to the whole alphabet every bit I did here.

I besides made a separate timelapse video where I add a 3D consequence to every letter of the alphabet.

Yous can watch it here –

Although nosotros covered several examples in the stride-by-step processes in a higher place, you might get stuck on certain letters.

If that happens, just come to this section and expect at these references.

Afterward doing the whole alphabet a couple of times, you'll already start to experience much more confident in creating 3D letters.

Believe me,

It won't take much for you lot to start drawing 3D letters without a reference.

3D letters alphabet template worksheets

To help yous do, I created ii block letter alphabet templates where you can practice calculation a 3D result.

Page 1 – Is totally empty and so you can start applying the 3D effect using a ruler
Page 2 – Has a barely visible 3D effect already applied to information technology so you can only trace it over.

Y'all can download these free worksheets (along with every other freebie) straight from the Lettering Crate.

To get instant access to the Lettering Crate, just drib your e-mail below and follow the instructions.

You'll receive a welcome electronic mail containing a link and a countersign.

Extra tips for 3D letters

Ok, now that nosotros have the basics covered, we tin can start looking at different ways to manner our 3D messages.

In this section, I'll mention a couple of different things you tin can try out.

The first thing nosotros're starting with is shadows.

Calculation shadows to your 3D letters

Shading your 3D letters is probably one of the best and easiest ways you can way your letters.

It gives more than depth to the letter, and information technology but looks and so much better with it.

To utilize the shades, we just need to determine our light source.

Shades are usually applied on the opposite side of the light source.

If you lot are just getting started, go on things elementary and shade only the lower parts of the 3D.

With rounded letters, you lot can try to create more than of a gradient look.

Every bit it goes from the bottom, information technology's darker, and as it moves towards the side, it gets brighter.

Once you lot get comfortable with a basic form of shading, you lot tin can showtime adding more than particular to brand it wait fifty-fifty better.

Go along in listen that understanding shading takes quite some practice.

Playing with the direction of the 3D

Another cool matter you can exercise when doing 3D letters is playing with the direction of it.

Let's say that if you have two words, yous tin signal their 3D'southward in the contrary direction.

Y'all could also incline your letters and shoot the 3D in the opposite direction.

There are a bunch of unlike combos you can play with.

Applying the 3D consequence to different lettering styles

Equally mentioned at the outset of this tutorial, information technology's best to outset learning 3D on basic block letters.

Obviously, doing merely basic cake letters can quickly get tiresome.

Once y'all've learned how to utilise a 3D effect to block letters correctly, yous can kickoff experimenting with dissimilar lettering styles.

Hither is an instance of a 3D effect applied on serif lettering –

Here you can see some other example of a 3D effect applied to script lettering.

Script lettering is maybe a bit more than challenging since nigh of the shapes are rounded.

However, I'm certain that with a bit of do you'll exist able to practice any style you wish.

Learn how to create a 2 signal perspective lettering slice.

You thought a 1 point perspective lettering looked cool?

Well so, let me introduce you to 2 betoken perspective lettering!

My friend Selina wrote an in-depth, step-by-step tutorial that will teach you how to create exactly that!

Bank check it out here.

Final words

And there yous have it, my friends!

I promise this tutorial will help you start practicing 3D letters.

The more you do it, the better you will get at it.

After a couple of times, you lot volition empathize how to draw a 3D result on whatever object, and you lot won't have to use whatever references at all.

Take it slow, don't rush information technology, and as I always say, motion gradually from piece of cake to more challenging elements.

A house is only equally strong as its foundations.

What lettering consequence or style would you like to learn next?

Let me know by dropping a comment below.

Also, experience free to drib a comment if you take any wishes or suggestions for futurity tutorials.

Cheers for reading and until the next one,

Stay Crawly!

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