In the following steps you will learn how to create an isometric layered text effect in Adobe Illustrator.
For starters, you will learn how to create a simple piece of text and how to adjust its attributes. Taking full advantage of the Appearance panel, you will learn how to add multiple layers to the text. Using a simple 3D Rotate text effect, you will learn how to add an isometric look to the text.
Finally, you will learn how to add a simple background and a subtle texture to the final design.
For more inspiration on how to adjust or improve your final text effect, you can find plenty of resources at GraphicRiver.
What You’ll Need
You’ll need the following resource in order to complete this project:
1. How to Create the First Piece of Text
Step 1
Hit Control-N to create a new document. Select Pixels from the Units drop-down menu, enter 850 in the width box and 540 in the height box, and then click that More Settings button. Select RGB for the Color Mode, set the Raster Effects to Screen (72 ppi), and then click Create Document.
Open the Info panel (Window > Info) for a live preview with the size and position of your selections. Don’t forget to set the unit of measurement to pixels from Edit > Preferences > Units. All these options will significantly increase your work speed.
Step 2
Pick the Type Tool (T) and open the Character panel (Window > Type > Character). Select the Auro font and set the size to 200 px.
Click on the artboard and add your “Red” piece of text about as shown below. Make it black, for now.
Step 3
Select your text, focus on the Swatches panel (Window > Swatches), and click that [None] swatch to remove the black text color.
Move to the Appearance panel (Window > Appearance) and add a new fill using the Add New Fill button. Select that new fill and set the color to R=242 G=242 B=248.
Step 4
Make sure that your text stays selected, focus on the Appearance panel, and add a second fill using that same Add New Fill button.
Select this new fill, set the color to R=58 G=95 B=245, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Drag the Move-Horizontal slider to 0.8 px and the Move-Vertical slider to -0.8 px, enter 5 in the Copies box, and then click OK.
Step 5
Make sure that your text stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. Add a third fill and move it in the bottom of the panel. Set its color to R=242 G=242 B=248 and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Drag the Move-Horizontal slider to 0.8 px and the Move-Vertical slider to -0.8 px, enter 10 in the Copies box, and then click OK.
Return to the Appearance panel, select the blue fill, and duplicate it using the Duplicate Selected Item button. Drag this new fill to the bottom of the Appearance panel and open the Transform effect applied to it. Enter 15 in the Copies box and click OK.
Step 6
Make sure that your text stays selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel.
Continue to duplicate the bottom fills, varying the two colors, and with every new fill increase the value in the Copies box by 5. Stop at the 20th fill. In the end, things should look like in the following image.
2. How to Create the Second Piece of Text
Step 1
Duplicate your piece of text. Select the copy and simply replace the “Red” with “Blue”.
Step 2
Select your “Blue” piece of text and focus on the Appearance panel. Select all the blue fills and simply replace that color with R=235 G=47 B=38.
Step 3
Make sure that your “Blue” piece of text is still selected and keep focusing on the Appearance panel. One by one, open the Transform effects applied to the 19 fills and drag the Move-Horizontal sliders to -0.8 px.
3. How to Apply the 3D Isometric Effect
Step 1
Select your “Blue” piece of text and focus on the Appearance panel. Make sure that the entire piece of text is selected (simply click the “Type” piece of text from the top of the panel) and go to Effect > 3D > Rotate. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.
Step 2
Select your “Red” text and focus on the Appearance panel. Make sure that the entire piece of text is selected and go to Effect > 3D > Rotate. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.
Step 3
Bring your “Red” piece of text to front (Shift-Control-]) and place it as shown below.
4. How to Create the Text Shadow
Step 1
Pick the Type Tool (T) and add a second “Red” piece of text. Use the same font attributes and set its color to R=58 G=95 B=245.
Step 2
Make sure that your blue piece of text stays selected and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the attributes shown below, click OK, and go to Effect > 3D > Rotate. Enter the settings shown below and click OK.
Step 3
Pick the Type Tool (T) and add a second “Blue” piece of text. Use the same font attributes and set its color to R=235 G=47 B=38.
Step 4
Make sure that your red piece of text stays selected and go to Effect > 3D > Rotate. Enter the attributes shown below, click OK, and go to Effect > Distort & Transform > Transform. Enter the settings shown below and click OK.
5. How to Create the Background
Step 1
Pick the Rectangle Tool (M) and create an 870 x 560 px shape. Fill this new shape with R=242 G=242 B=248, send it to back (Shift-Control-[), and make sure that it covers your entire artboard.
Step 2
Select your rectangle, add a copy in front (Control-C > Control-F), and bring it to front (Shift-Control-]).
Make sure that this new shape stays selected and focus on the Appearance panel. First, replace the flat color with the radial gradient shown below. Use the Gradient Tool (G) to stretch your gradient about as shown below. Lower its Opacity to 5% and change the Blending Mode to Multiply, and then go to Effect > Artistic > Film Grain. Enter the attributes shown below and click OK.
Congratulations! You’re Done!
Here is how it should look. I hope you’ve enjoyed this tutorial and can apply these techniques in your future projects. Don’t hesitate to share your final result in the comments section.
Feel free to adjust the final design and make it your own. You can find some great sources of inspiration at GraphicRiver, with interesting solutions to improve your design.
