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Warp Text To 3D Shapes | Illustrator Tutorial

Howto & Style

Introduction

In this tutorial, we will learn how to create a donut-shaped text effect in Adobe Illustrator. This is a fun and creative way to enhance your designs, and I’ll guide you through each step. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Setup Your Document

First, ensure that your Document Color Mode is set to RGB. The following steps will focus on the creation of the text and the donut design.

  1. Set Fill and Stroke:

    • Click on the fill box and choose a black color.
    • Click on the stroke box and select 'None' to remove the stroke.

  2. Create a Circle:

    • Locate the Rectangle Tool in your toolbar. Press and hold to reveal the Ellipse Tool.
    • Hold down Shift + Alt and create a perfect circle.

Step 2: Apply 3D Effects

  1. Enable 3D Revolve Effect:

    • Navigate to the top menu and select Effects -> 3D -> Revolve.
    • Adjust the offset to around 110 and increase the perspective for a more appealing look, settling around 110.

  2. Position the Circle:

    • Place the circuled text aside for later use in the design.

Step 3: Create Your Text

  1. Use the Type Tool:

    • Press 'T' on your keyboard or select the Type Tool from the toolbar.
    • Type out your desired text. In this case, ‘Vision Panther’ will be used in all caps.

  2. Expand the Text:

    • Select the text and navigate to Object -> Expand and click ‘OK’ to expand the type.

  3. Create Copies:

    • Hold down Alt and drag to create a copy.
    • Use Ctrl + D to duplicate the set several times for uniformity.

  4. Distribute the Text:

    • Ensure the letters are distributed evenly. Select the objects and use the vertical distribute center function.

Step 4: Change Color and Create Symbols

  1. Change Text Color:

    • Select the text and change its color to pink.

  2. Create a Symbol:

    • Open the Symbols panel via Window -> Symbols.
    • Drag the text into the Symbols panel, rename it, and click OK.

Step 5: Map the Text onto the 3D Shape

  1. Select the Donut Shape:

    • Ensure the donut shape is selected.

  2. Open Appearance Panel:

    • If it's not visible, go to Window -> Appearance.
    • Click on the 3D Revolve effect and then select Map Art.

  3. Map the Text:

    • Click on ‘None’ and select your created text symbol. Scale it down while holding Shift.

  4. Adjust Position:

    • Position the text to ensure ‘Panther’ is front-facing, altering the perspective or offset as necessary to eliminate back visibility.

  5. Expand Appearance:

    • Create a copy of the donut shape and navigate to Object -> Expand Appearance. Release clipping masks as needed to clean areas that don’t need text.

And that’s it! You now have beautifully warped text around a 3D donut shape.

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Keyword

  • Donut text
  • Adobe Illustrator
  • 3D Effects
  • Typography
  • Symbols
  • Map Art

FAQ

Q: What is the purpose of using the 3D Revolve effect?
A: The 3D Revolve effect allows you to create a three-dimensional representation of your designs, adding depth and realism to your text and shapes.

Q: Can I use different fonts for the text?
A: Yes, you can use any font you like, although experimenting with bold and stylized fonts may enhance the overall visual appeal.

Q: What to do if my symbol doesn’t fit well on the donut?
A: You can scale the symbol down in the Map Art settings or adjust the offset and perspective to achieve a better fit.

Q: Can I change the color of the donut shape?
A: Absolutely! You can easily change the fill color of the donut shape in the Appearance panel.

Q: Is there a way to save this effect for future use?
A: Yes, after creating your design, you can save the symbol which can then be reused in future projects.