September 2013 Tips and Tricks: Drawing a 3D Invitation Card

[stygg2003]

Thanks for the file Rik, will definitely try that and follow your steps.

Stygg

[Big Frank]

But, where is your invitation card?!

Sadly, too much work, not enough time

[csehz]

All Art is highly personal and is about self-expression. If in the process you communicate your feeling to others, more's the better. But ultimately, I think we create Art as a personal affirmation that we exist, that we feel, that we are alive.

That is beautiful like that, I will remember to it

[stygg2003]

That is beautiful like that, I will remember to it

Told you csehz Gary would give a far better definition of Art, Creativity.

[csehz]

Then how to use the 3D Extrude Tool to get the desired look for the front and the back of the card.
Once this is done, then just trace out the shapes.

In fact, I learned how to use the Extrude Tool from Gary Bouton - when I was trying to draw a box.
Gary showed me how to use the Extrude tool to look at, and be aware of perspective and so on.

Thanks for the file, briefly so the Extrude Tool as itself is not enough to customize in each details a 3D object, but perfect base for Shape tool trace out as it give exact perspective?

Basically for the transparent space beacon I was rather struggling to trace it, as never knew where the back lines should be exactly. So yes would be interested how to draw a box Starting with Extrude tool and trace out with Shape tool, but knowing where to put those back things

[Rik]

Thanks for the file, briefly so the Extrude Tool as itself is not enough to customize in each details a 3D object, but perfect base for Shape tool trace out as it give exact perspective?

Xara Xperts and masters may well be able to extrude things in 3D and have it look right.

But, for me, if I then draw/outline the faces I need, I can then apply the shading that I need.
I feel that this way, you have a lot more control on what you want the faces to look like.

So:
1. Draw a square.
2. Use the 3D Extrude Tool to form the box.
3. Use the Shape Tool to draw the faces.
4. Apply shading as required.

Personally, I would have difficulty trying to imagine what a box would look like!!!
That's when Gary Bouton pointed out to me, that you can use the 3D Extrude Tool.

EDIT: In fact, when you've extruded the 3D shape, try changing the 'Perspective'.

[csehz]

Thanks Rik and especially for the .xar file, so which learnt good tactic to extrude something and to have more control after, making its faces to shapes and continue their customization with bigger freedom like that

[Gare]

By the way and not to get awfully O/T, the Extrude tool is wonderful for adding perspective to a photo.

Look at the difference between using the Perspective Mould (tool) and extruding and angling a photo the next time you need a picture in perspective. You WILL see if you zoom in that the Mould tool doesn't perform the quality of anti-aliasing that the Extrude tool does.



-g

[csehz]

Great tip too, also a long discussion probably how to put embossed picture to the foreside of the 3D invitation card. Taking a photo, photo heal or background erase to trace out a figure or flower, or with shape tool, after extrude maybe, emboss, or bitmap trace, or 3D Bump Map. If Rik once would plan an invitation card part 2 tutorial, sure I would participate.

I gave a go for the Mould&Extrude compare too, really looks better the extrude, the default lights are slightly misleading as modifying the photo brightness, assumingly those should be all white color? Also seems maybe slightly blurred.



Which I do not like that it put some frame to the photo, so that needs also some Shape tool tracing out probably

[Rik]

For me:
I use the 'Mould Tool' to place a thing, on top of something that's already there.
(Because, by moving individual corners, I'm not sure I will arrive at the correct perspective.)

I use the 'Extrude Tool' to turn and tilt something, and I know that all the perspective is going to be good.

But, both tool have their uses, and you might prefer one more than the other.