From the course: Motion Graphics for Video Editors: Working with Type

Extruding and inflating text

From the course: Motion Graphics for Video Editors: Working with Type

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Extruding and inflating text

- Besides its ability to work with photos and text, Photoshop has the ability to work with 3D objects or even create them. Let's go ahead and do that now. I've opened up a simple document here, with some letters in it. We're gonna turn this into a 3D object. To make this a little bit easier, let's start with the Workspace menu here, Window, Workspace, and choose 3D. I'll also choose Window, Workspace, Reset 3D so everything is in its default location. Now you'll see some general options here of what's gonna happen. For example, let's start by assigning a gold color to the text. We see it takes on the new characteristics. Now we could promote this to a 3D model. You'll notice here, under 3D, we have the ability to choose a layer, such as the Selected Layer. If I look at the Layers panel here, it's highlighted. That works well, or we can choose other options here. Now I want to turn it into 3D objects. You'll see the ability to make it a 3D Postcard, which just gives you the ability to flip a flat object in space, the ability to do an Extrusion, to create a Mesh using presets or gradients, or 3D Volumes. But for what we care about, 3D Extrusion is enough. When I click Create, it's gonna turn this into a basic 3D model. And you can see it. In fact, if you take a look here, you can actually get a pretty good idea. It's taking a look at the top down, but this is something that can be viewed. Now what we have is the ability to rotate this and position it. For example, let's just click here, and you'll notice that we can begin to rotate. I can change the rotation of the object. And if we mouse over that object here, I'll select the word SALE, you see additional controls. And this gives us the ability to turn or spin the object in 3D space, like you see there. You could also click on an individual arrow to move the object up or down or, on the smaller object here, to adjust scale. Let's undo that last adjustment there. In any case, these simple controls allow you to tilt or rotate the object in 3D space to position it as you'd like. And over here, you can see what's happening. Now from the view part here, you could take a look at this from the front if you want to see it or take a look at different views, such as from the side. Get a pretty good idea of the object itself. The default view gives you a view that matches the overall window here. So any adjustments to the camera will show through. But I find that generally viewing from the front or the top can be most useful and really helps you with general positioning. Now that we've got the 3D object placed, we can move on to stylizing it a bit with the property control.

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