3D Metal Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator CS5

Some of my friends realized me that after some Photoshop focused Tutorials like “Glow Effect in Photoshop”, especially in Text Effects “Colorful Light Burst Text” and "Glassy Effect in Photoshop”, I have not given time to my skills of Tutorial writing.

So after a long time here is Tutorial of Adobe Illustrator CS5 dedicated to my friends.  

Some key points of 3D Metal Text Effect in Adobe Illustrator CS5 are

Program:

Adobe Illustrator CS5

Level:

Intermediate and Beginner

Topics:

Appearance Panel

Source File:

DesigningMall_3D_Metal_Text_Effect.ai

Estimated Completion Time:

20 to 25 Minutes

Final Image will be like

Step 1

Start New Document with specifications

Draw Rectangle using Rectangle Tool (M), according to the size of Artboard

Fill with Gray Color. This will create an ease to view different effects during the tutorial steps.

Step 2

Write Designing Mall, Type Tool (T), Font Face Arial Black and Size 48 pt. You can make adjustments according to your text.

Remove Fill and Stoke

Note: I have created a copy and done this step only for visual and understanding purpose

Step 3

While the text is selected, Open (if already not) Appearance Panel, and select Add New Fill

Change the Gradient with the first color stop white and the second a light gray, change the location of white to 40 and angel -90

Step 4

Create a new fill like you did in previous step. Fill it with white and make sure it is below the first gradient in the Appearance panel.

While this white fill is selected, go to Effect > Path > offset Path. IN the dialog box change the offset to 1 px.

Then choose Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Change the Vertical Move to 1 px

Step 5

From the Appearance panel, select the white fill, and press the Duplicate Selected Item button at the bottom of the panel.
Select the bottom copy and fill it black.

Expand the attributes on the fill by pressing the small arrow to the left of the fill thumbnail if it is not expanded already.

Click on Transform to open the Transform Effect dialog and change the Vertical Move to 2 px.

Step 6

Duplicate the black fill like in the previous step and change the fill to a linear gradient.
Add two more color stops to the linear gradient and change the first to black, the second to a dark gray, the third to a slightly lighter gray than the second, and the fourth to a gray slightly darker than the second. Next, change the Angle to -90.

Step 7

Expand the attributes of the new linear gradient in the Appearance panel, and click on the Transform Effect.

With the Transform Effect dialog open, change the number of Copies to 10 and the Vertical Move to 1 px.

The result will be like

Step 8

With the four color stop gradient fill still selected in the Appearance panel

Choose Effect > Stylize > Drop Shadow. In the Drop Shadow dialog, change the Opacity to 100, the X Offset to 0, the Y Offset to 2, and the Blur to 2. This will give some blurry effect.

That’s it. This will be the Final Result with some grainy background used.

Important Note

You can save all this exercise as “Graphic Style” to use later on any other type or vector object.

Simply select the object and apply New Graphic Style through Graphic Style Panel. As I have created start and polygon type shape in the bottom.
Hope you enjoyed this tutorial.

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