creating a simple 3D text in Cinema 4D using paths made from Photoshop

1. OPEN PHOTOSHOP. I USED PHOTOSHOP CS4.CREATE A NEW DOCUMENT.
2. WIDTH IS 900 PX
HEIGHT IS 500 PX
RESOLUTION IS 100 DPI

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x738.

CLICK OK.

3. Next is to create a path using the pen tool(Press P for shortcut key).once na select nyo na ang pen tool, Make sure na you select paths sa option ng pen tool sa bandang ibaba ng Menu as shown below.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x650.

4. Now create a path that you want using the pen tool..use the Ctrl key when you are done creating a path or you want to create another path(pressing Ctrl key while you are in pen tool mode will allow us to change the tool from pen tool to move tool.)This will allow us to deselect the path specially those open paths. Like a straight line.In my case, I used the word Drixx to demonstrate the path that im going to create.Gumamit ako ng guide line para mapantay ko as possible ang taas at ng paths na gagawin ko.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1018x734.

5. once you’re done.Export the file, but this time save it as a illustrator path.To do this,
go to File then choose Export then choose Paths to Illustrator.Save it sa Desktop nyo para madaling malocate. Name your file.Close Photoshop once you’re done saving the file.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 924x658.

6. Open Cinema 4D.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x739.

7. We need to open the illustrator file(with .ai file extension to cinema 4D).To do this Click File then choose Merge(Ctrl + Shift + O).Locate the file(sabi ko before save it sa desktop or sa isang folder para madaling malocate.Kapag nalocate nyo na..click Open.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x627.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x687.

8. Kung mkikita nyo sa screen shot, napaste na dun ung paths…we just need to rotate the camera inside cinema 4D para ma align natin properly.By pressing and holding number 3 in the keyboard and clicking the document…marorotate natin ang view ng document.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1004x690.

Now kung malaki ang paths just press and hold number 2 in the keyboard and click in the document to scale the document para mag fit sya Sa screen and press and hold also number para ma move natin ang paths sa center or kung saan na location gusto nyong ilagay ang paths.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x656.

9. Now lets modify the paths para maging 3D.Sa right side nang screen ng Cinema 4D ay may makikita tayong Objects panel at sa ibaba nyan ay makikita natin ang file name(in my cas its drixxx, click nyo at plus symbol para ma reveal ang mga paths.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x656.

Once we click the plus symbol..ganito makikita nyo…6 paths ang nagawa ko…dedepende ito sa kung ilang paths ang nagawa nyo before sa Photoshop..

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x553.

Select all the paths by clicking at the bottom of path(in my case its path 8) and drag your mouse upward until path 1 para maselect ang anim na paths.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x573.

Malalaman nyo na selected lahat kapag nakita nyo ung orange na kulay sa top ng bawat letra.Once all are selected, just left click and hold the mouse (in the object panel not in the document) and drag it just below until may Makita kayong symbol na arrow facing to the right then release the mouse.(the purpose of this is that yung anim na paths na nandon ay nasa isang object(kung sa photoshop, naka group, in order to apply a 3D effect sa bawat path, kailangan nating e hiwalay ang bawat isa(kung sa photoshop naman, may sarisarili silang layer).Once you’ve done that, you can delete the null object na may name ng previous filename nyo(in my case its drixxx)hindi na natin kailangan ito..select it and hit delete.ang matitira na alng ay ung anim na paths.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x595.

10. Next is to apply an Extrude NURBS sa bawat path.To do this, left click and hold the NURBS icon(ito ung may kulay green na nasa loob ng square),once you click that, choose Extrude NURBS. It will appear sa Object panel.Like this.



Now select and click and drag path 1 sa Extrude NURBS.kapag may nakita na kayong arrow symbol facing down as you drag path 1 to Extrude Nurbs,,release the mouse. Like this:

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x452.

As you can see. Path 1 is already inside the extrude NURBS. And letter D has a 3D shape applied to it.Do this step for the rest of the 5 paths.Here is the result after applying the Extrude nurbs.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x649.

11. We need to modify more about the width of the 3D text.To do this. Select path 1(which is the letter D in the object panel).and look below, you will find the attributes of each object.In the object properties just change the width from 20 to 60 m or 80 m(or depende sa width na gusto nyo).In my case I used 80.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 833x460.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 833x460.

Once you apply that.makikita nyo na ang letter D ay lumapad

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1024x555.

Do the same process to the rest of the 5 paths.See result.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1022x565.

Now lets add a floor to serve at a base ng 3D text.Left Click and hold the icon na may apat na arrow facing outward na may white circle sa gitna and choose floor.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x564.

Now select all the 6 paths and nodge it down until it touch the floor.click the green arrow(Y-axis) and nodge it down.like this.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 859x396.

Now lets make the size of the document larger coz as the default size is 320 x 240 which is a smaller dimension.lets make it 800 x 600px.todo this.Go to Render Menu(click it) then choose Render Settings(ctrl + B).Select Output then in the Preset choose Screen then choose 800 x 600.Then close the dialogue box by clicking the close button(X symbol).

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 991x629.

If you render it, it will look like this, there’s no light . there’s no detail…its boring and its flat.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x755.

12. so lets add some more…lets add a light..Click the light icon again(same as we did adding the floor.



But this time e select nyo ang Light(the very first option).
Then in the document, drag and manipulate the three axis which are x-axis(red color), y-axis(green color) and z-axis(blue color).para maposition nyo ang light
Either up, down, sideward etc…

Tips: kung nahihiharapan kayo mag click ng z-axis. Switch to different view like top, front and right view(the default is perspective view).

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 798x410.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 810x588.

13. Lets add some more effect…lets ad a shadow since we put a light and there is no shadow,so that it will look realistic.To do this. Go to Render menu then choose render settings or just press the keyboard shortcut Ctrl + B.Then in the effect located at the right side of the dialogue box, choose Ambient Occlusion.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 792x569.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 788x504.

Change the contrast to about 60% and the maximum ray Length to about 120 %.Just play with the settings.Then close it. Then render to get the result.If your not happy.you can change it anytime. I add one more light and position it at front center of the text and lower the intensity of the light to about 50%. So that it willl not blow up the contrast of the 3D text.see result..

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x727.

To add more depth.. I add caps and rounding to each text. Under Caps, I used Fillet cap for start and end…about 3 radius..



See result..

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x708.

Now we can start applying material onto it…I used the Nukei shader for the purpose of this tuts…for me it’s a cool shader…but you can use other and the best thing to this is that you can create your own…



Click that icon(Nukei and drag it to Extrude NURBS with path 1.)

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1000x224.

Then render it to make sure you like the result, otherwise you can change it.
To add shader tp the rest of the object.. just press and hold Ctrl key and click the icon from the Object Panel(Nukei and drag it to the second Object, in this case its path 3.(Letter R).In my case I like to make the Lettters D R I to be Nukei and apply another shader to the three X(perhaps a color RED)…In my case I used Danel Shader and apply it to the three X



then I render it..here is the result.

This image has been resized. Click this bar to view the full image. The original image is sized 1023x692.