#After effect add drop shadow to text how to#

Send your drop shadowed text behind by hitting Command + [. Position your duplicated text against the original text to replicate a drop shadow I prefer to create a subtle shadow by placing the text just a few pixels down and to the right. With the Selection Tool (V) click on your text and duplicate it by holding down the Option key, then dragging across. Each letter now behaves as a vector shape so they’re easily editable. When you create your own drop shadows, stick to geometric fonts with sharp terminals, instead of rounded or serif styles.Ĭonvert your text to individual paths by heading to Object > Expand. This technique is ideal when working with solid shapes and helps to emphasize title treatments and headlines.īegin with a legible font style, such as Josefin Sans Bold. You can have more control over the depth and appearance of your shadows by utilizing the Duplicate command and the Pen Tool.

#After effect add drop shadow to text how to#

How to Make 3D Text with Solid Drop Shadows Everything you need to know about creating Gradients in Illustrator. Think of where the shadows may appear, and take note of the highlights that may be accentuated in the drop shadow. It’s important to stick to two or three swatches within the gradient slider for a smooth, even transition. To simulate shading and highlights within the drop shadows, let’s apply gradients to the rounded portions with the Gradient palette ( Window > Gradient). See all the things you can do with the Pathfinder tool in Illustrator. Rinse and repeat for the remaining letters. Open the Pathfinder menu ( Window > Pathfinder) and select the Unite command – it looks like two squares meshed together – to even out the color within the rounded portions of each letterform. Then, ungroup each letter with Shift + Command + G. In order to make the text editable, convert each letter to individual vector shapes by heading over to Object > Expand Appearance. Your text is still visible within the text box and is not yet editable. Then see how your text looks by checking Preview and then click OK to return to your design. I stick to a depth of 100 points or less depths larger than 100 can be hard to read.Ĭhange the Surface to Diffuse Shading to resemble a three-dimensional look. Adjust the Extrude Depth to alter the depth of your drop shadow. These numbers will closely mimic a subtle drop shadow look any numbers larger than these might tilt and obscure your text. Set your measurements to around 6 degrees, 8 degrees, and 0 degrees. The Extrude & Bevel Options menu will typically default to an Off-Axis Front setting. This handy menu allows you to quickly manipulate the look of vectors with unique three-dimensional effects, like drop shadows or isometric projection. Using the Selection Tool (V), activate your text object and navigate to Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel. Usually more sophisticated serif and script styles are difficult to read with drop shadows applied. When you add drop shadows to typography, stick to mono-weight sans-serif styles, such as Montserrat, or a bold slab serif, like Zilla Slab. Check out this primer on the Adobe Illustrator Type Tool to learn how to write text on an angle, on a curve, and more. I recommend setting your type to all caps lowercase styles, depending on the font, may make your design hard to read.

You can then add gradients to the drop shadows, which will create the points of light typically seen in 3D shapes.īegin by typing out the phrase of your choice with the Type Tool (T). Illustrator’s handy Extrude & Bevel effects will quickly simulate a three-dimensional appearance on your text.

How to Make 3D Text with Extrude & Bevel Effects There are several techniques for adding realistic and solid color drop shadows to your typography let’s dive into how to make 3D text in Illustrator using a two simple drop shadow methods. Designers and typographers have continually evolved the appearance of this style by adding grunge textures, drastic shadows, and gradients or halftones. These shadows range from subtle hints of color to more prominent or textured shadows. Discover how to make 3D text in Illustrator using realistic drop shadows.ĭrop shadows might get a bad rap in the design world, but there is truly no easier way to elevate type by adding three-dimensional elements to two-dimensional text. Flat, two-dimensional text can blend in with other design elements and make your design look lackluster.