3DS MAX | TYFLOW | V-RAY | ILLUSTRATOR | PHOTOSHOP
TRANSFORM CALLIGRAPHY INTO A 3D NEON SIGN
Hussain Almossawi shows us how to turn our 2D typography into an awesome light-emitting 3D design
LIGHTEN UP A 3D calligraphy art piece that takes traditional calligraphy, and blurs the lines with contemporary modern CGI to create a unique look and feel
I n this tutorial, we will explore how to take a simple typography or calligraphy piece from 2D and turn it into a cool neon light 3D piece. We will start by quickly moving from 2D to 3D, and then create the basic geometry of the neon light, setting the different materials, light, details, rendering, and finally compositing in Photoshop. You will find that there are many layers and levels of detail involved, and they are the secret ingredients to any art piece; it is the things you can’t identify or see from the first time that leave a good impression on the viewer, and the more subtle the details are, the closer we can get to achieving a result that is both cool and realistic. I will share the basic principles and methodology, to make sure designers of all levels can follow along, but I would also encourage you to explore further beyond this tutorial, and see what works best for you. The most important thing is to have fun, so let’s create some cool things together!
AUTHOR
Hussain Almossawi
Hussain Almossawi is a CG artist, director, and product designer based in Brooklyn, New York. A significant part of his work has been working with world-famous companies such as Nike, adidas, EA Sports, Ogilvy & Mather, and other world-renowned brands. www.mossawistudios.com
DOWNLOAD YOUR RESOURCES For all the assets you need go to https://bit.ly/3Dworld-environments
01
TRACE YOUR REFERENCES
Find a reference of a calligraphy piece that you like, or create your own, preferably something that is straightforward and is made up of simple connected lines. Start by tracing your reference either in Illustrator or 3ds Max. You only need to create a path that goes through the centre of the letters rather than tracing it all around. Make sure that your paths are nice and smooth – the less points you have, the better the outcome usually.