How to Make 3D Text in DesignScape

Today, you will learn how to make 3D text in DesignScape using actions and layer styles. You can create this text effect with any font!

Go ahead and try out DesignScape with a free 30 Day Trial of the Gold Plus Membership if you're not a member yet. It's an awesome online alternative to Illustrator/Photoshop, where you can still use your own fonts with the software!!

Now let’s get right into it by starting a new project and importing our font into DesignScape. We chose to use a seasonal font called Holidays. There are two versions of the font, one with swirls and one without swirls. We'll be using the font without the swirls, but feel free to use the other version.

Step 1 - Add Text

Select the Type Tool (T) and change the font and font color if needed.

Click on the canvas, enter your text, and make any needed adjustments to the text. You can read our guide on text basics in DesignScape if you’d like to learn about all the available text features.

Step 2 - Duplicate Text Layer and Rename Bottom Text Layer to 3D Shape

Right-click on the text layer and select Duplicate Layer.

Rename the bottom text layer to "3D Shape".

Step 3 - Convert 3D Shape Layer to a Shape Object

Right-click on the 3D Shape layer and choose Convert to Shape.

Step 4 - Hide Top Text Layer and Select 3D Shape Layer and Path Select Tool

Click the eye icon on the top text layer to hide it. Then select the 3D Shape layer and the Path Select Tool (A).

Step 5 - Select All Paths on 3D Shape Layer with Path Select Tool

Click and drag over all text shapes to select all paths. You can tell that a path has been selected when you see all of its anchor points.

Note: if you can't select any paths by clicking and dragging, click on one of the shapes first, then click and drag over all text shapes.

Step 6 - Merge Paths and Change Fill Color

In the top toolbar, select Merge from the dropdown.

Change the Fill color to the color you want the 3D shape part of the text to be. We went with a darker purple (#9404d6).

Step 7 - Duplicate 3D Shape Layer and Make Layer Edits

Duplicate 3D Shape Layer

Following the same process as before, duplicate the 3D Shape layer.

Rename Layers

Double-click on 3D Shape copy's layer name and delete "copy." Next, double-click on 3D Shape's layer name, and rename it Shadow. See the following image for a better understanding.

Hide 3D Shape Layer and Change Shadow Layer’s Fill

Click the eye icon of the 3D Shape layer to hide it. Select the Shadow layer and the Path Select Tool (A) again. Change the Fill color to black.

Step 8 - Make an Action to Help Create 3D Part

Click on the Actions icon in the right toolbar to open the Actions panel or go to Window > Action.

Click the New Action Set button then the New Action button. Select 3D Shape and click its eye icon again to show the layer. Then click the round Record button to start recording the commands.

Record Duplicate Layer Command

Right-click on the 3D Shape layer and choose Duplicate Layer.

You should now see Duplicate Layer under Action 0.

Record Move Command and Stop Recording

Next, select the Move Tool (V), and using the arrow keys, move the 3D Shape copy layer down one click and right one click. You should now see Move Layer under Duplicate Layer in the Actions panel. Click the square Record button to stop recording.

Step 9 - Apply Action Set to Create 3D Shape

Make sure the 3D Shape copy layer is selected, and click the triangle Apply button to apply the Action. Continue clicking the Apply button until the 3D part is as thick as you want.

Our result is shown below.

Step 10 - Merge 3D Shape Layers Together

We will refer to all “3D Shape copy” layers as “3D Shape” layers. Click the topmost 3D Shape layer, then click the bottom-most 3D Shape layer while holding the Shift key to select all 3D Shape layers. Right-click on the layers and choose Merge Layers.

Merging layers will combine all 3D Shape layers onto a single layer. Now select the Path Select Tool (A) and pick Merge in the top toolbar to combine all the paths into a single path. Merging paths may take a few seconds.

Click the eye icon of the top text layer to show the layer again.

You could stop here if you want a simple 3D text look, but we will add layer styles and a shadow to make the 3D effect look better.

Step 11 - Add Optional Layer Styles

Add Bevel and Emboss Layer Style to Top Text Layer

Select the text layer at the top and click on the Layer Style button at the bottom of the Layers panel, then choose Bevel and Emboss.

In the Bevel and Emboss tab of the Layer Style dialog, use the following values or use your own values:

• Depth: 100%
• Size: 20px
• Soften: 0px
• Top Angle: 45°
• Bottom Angle: 60°
• Use global angle: Unchecked
• First Opacity: 50%
• Second Opacity: 50%

Leave the rest of the settings.

You can click on Contour and set the Range if you'd like, but the Contour Layer Style is not necessary. We have it at 50%.

Add Drop Shadow Layer Style to Top Text Layer

Click on Drop Shadow to enable it. In the Drop Shadow tab, use the following values or use your own values:

• Opacity: 40%
• Angle: 130°
• Use global angle: Checked
• Distance: 35px
• Spread: 0%
• Size: 30px

Leave the rest of the settings and click OK.

Add Bevel and Emboss Layer Style to 3D Shape Layer

Add a Bevel and Emboss layer style to the 3D Shape layer with the following settings or your own settings:

• Depth: 100%
• Size: 30px
• Soften: 10px
• Top Angle: 45°
• Bottom Angle: 60°
• Use global angle: Unchecked
• First Opacity: 50%
• Second Opacity: 50%

Leave the rest and click OK.

Step 12 - Create Optional Shadow

Create New Action Set

Open the Actions panel again and select the Shadow layer. Create a new Action Set for the shadow. Repeat the same steps as before, but move the layer down and left this time. Our light source is shining from the top right.

Apply Action to Shadow Copy Layer

Apply the new Action to the Shadow copy layer the same number of times or more as you did with the previous Action for the 3D Shape layer.

Merge Layers

Select all Shadow layers and merge them as we did previously with the 3D Shape layers.

Merge Paths

Using the Path Select Tool (A) again, merge all the paths as we did previously with the 3D Shape paths.

Move Shadow Layer

With the Move Tool (V), line up the shadow shape with the bottom "face" of the 3D part.

Change Blend Mode and Lower Opacity

Change the Blend Mode to Multiply and lower the Opacity to about 7%.

Wasn't that fun making 3D text in DesignScape?! We hope you learned about more of DesignScape's features as well.

Now, why not try learning how to curve text in DesignScape and then try creating 3D curved text?!?!