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

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

Attachment 98655

Rik Datta takes the helm this month, and you’re all invited to…a tutorial on creating an invitation! It’s dimensional, photorealistic, and it’s do-able by all skill levels, because Rik has nailed each element of the composition to a concise set of steps with lots of support figures. If you need an invitation, or a wedding or birthday announcement, or a traffic summons, tuck into the Monthly tutorial post haste. Learn More…

Show us your cards in this thread.

Rik, as a Member, not a Moderator at TG, I want to thank you for the obvious amount of hard work you put into this month's tutorial.

This tutorial reads like a chapter in a book, it covers at least three techniques I think a lot of people would like to understand and add to their skill set.

You've made the Xone and TalkGraphics a much richer place, hats off to you, man.

My Best,

Gary

Thanks Rik for the tutorial, my invitation is a birthday one and all data are valid, when and what I would like to get :D

Attachment 98701

So sending for my wife and friends.. :D

But seriously (seriously will send), the tutorial of course needs some effort and time but can be learn a lot from it, also very delicate that the whole composition is playing with the shades of grey.

That looks absolutely beautiful, csehz. =D>

Yes. The tutorial is a long one. But, as you say, there's a lot to be covered.
The card and the envelope are interacting with each other and quite a few things need to be considered.
But, if you take your time to get the shadows and reflections right, then it's well worth it.

Thanks very much, for posting your card.

Rik thanks, just had a short glance and so an interesting addition, let me show my Xara working document after the tutorial, absolutely the chaos :D Printscreens and tracing the shapes, without any deletion as would not like to do twice, font tryings and backups before the mould tool, sure other users are doing that more organized :)

Attachment 98702

Anyway often having the feeling that the result is too early posted and still something should be corrected, but no more modifications this funny card will be sent. Slightly changed the text being in three lines yet, hopefully it is more real like that and associating that the whole back portion is with full writing :)

Attachment 98703

Now there are some days for the space beacon yet, because if really will get the FIFA 14 (Xbox game), that can be the end of my graphic hobbies for a while.. :D

Excellent Tips and Tricks Rik, really well explained and the diagrams for tracing was a great idea. Learned a few more shadow tips from this tut and the fine use of shades of black excellent. A really good educational piece, I hope I've done your work justice.:D

Stygg

Don't want to lose you to the X-Box csehz, you do some really good images as you've shown in the past. :D

Stygg

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Originally Posted by stygg2003

...I hope I've done your work justice.:D
Stygg

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That's very,very good indeed, Stygg. =D>
You've done great justification to the tutorial.

Thanks for the comment Rik, hope we get more good tuts. like that to do, much appreciated.

Stygg

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Originally Posted by stygg2003

Don't want to lose you to the X-Box csehz, you do some really good images as you've shown in the past. :D

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Thanks Stygg you are kind, but in the most of the cases only if a teacher leads me. My creativity has more chance on the football pitch :D

My creativity is not great csehz but I enjoy doing the tuts. because I always learn something from them. I did do a Tips and Trick myself and they are not easy, perhaps never come up with one again but that's not the point. I enjoy these forums and doing my amateur submissions now and again and think of all the free training and advice you get from G.B., Francis, Rik and many more. Not a bad free deal at all I reckon. :D

Stygg

Yes Stygg you are right and I am similiar, like the forums and great to have the chance as free to see how these beautiful drawings are created.

Anyway that is also a good topic, what is the creativity? My level is around that knowing already approximately all Xara tools, if someone leads me I can follow, but can not walk alone or how to say. Also I can take a photo sometimes and follow with vector tools, that gaves some illustration and own translation of it, but still following a pattern so not my own imagination. Also can start with some pattern in Xara, combine it with lot of tools and practices, maybe that is more creative, but in that case feeling that mainly the tools drive the mind. Next level maybe if on a photo there is an object, a figure, which should be illustrated from different angle, with different surrounding, so the base is an inspiration but the way is mine, recalculating the shines and shadows, well that is rather too high for me already. Not mentioning even illustrating something with following an idea straightly from the mind, that would be probably real original.

For example this tutorial astonished and teached me what a beauty can be done simply from greys. Fifty shades of grey (oops that is a different book :D ), and such a beautiful card can be formed, like a well composed black-white photo which can be customized by own. So just again brawo Rik and actually having birthday this week it was even functional to do some fun :D Creating a birthday card where the celebrated gives the hint in the top right corner for the presents :)

I'm about the same csehz, someone lead and I'll do my best to follow but even that is some creativity. G.B. is always saying that the smallest change or addage you make of your own to an image is creativity, good or bad as long as your pleased with it. I don't know if you did the neon signs tut. with the Cactus as the central point and the image was completely darkened, well I added a shadow of a man on the left of the image, you did not see the man, just the shadow, which gave a pleasing neon lit image a touch of mystery and intrigue.

When my friends saw the completed image, it was not the glowing neon cactus or the neon Bar sign that intrigued them but the one shadow of a figure, they loved it and said it gave an air of mystery to an otherwise pleasant image.

The point being one small addage was creativity so what exactly then is creativity? I'm sure Gary could answer that question much more in depth than I can and don't forget I was able to add this shadow because of what I've learned in the XaraXone. So I consider myself a winner because I was able to complete the Neon tut. and add my little bit of extra creativity to it. :D

Stygg

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Originally Posted by stygg2003

So I consider myself a winner because I was able to complete the Neon tut. and add my little bit of extra creativity to it. :D

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Good to read Stygg how you see, it gives me also motivation to see that the glass is half full and not half empty :D Because yes it is really performance itself to follow such tutorials. Also in the speed, as I remember at the beginning completed Gary Priester's wall clock tutorial in around two days, being happy that found the tools at all, now Rik's one maybe was two hours, so there is progress at least in the following :D
That time that Gary proposed me that after completing the tutorial, that was maybe the yellow duck already, that let's start again and do it again, it will be better. Well that I was not able to do yet to start the same again, that needs some extra mental power ant patience, but sure has to be true as the repeating is key in learning each abilities

Now your talking csehz :-bd

@ Rik, sorry to have gone off topic but a little motivation was needed here :D

Stygg

LOvely drawing Rik :thx

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Originally Posted by Big Frank

LOvely drawing Rik :thx

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Thanks, Frank.
But, where is your invitation card?! ;))

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Originally Posted by stygg2003

The point being one small adage was creativity so what exactly then is creativity? I'm sure Gary could answer that question much more in depth than I can...
Stygg

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You lose, Stygg. "Creativity" is about as elusive as "Art". I had an Art History professor back in college who asked us one question for our mid-terms: What is Art? And he summarily flunked anyone who attempted to define "Art". It's too large, you know?

The important thing (sometimes) is the process. If you hate doing something, you won't like the result. It's not the destination, it's the quality of the journey.

Back to "Creativity". Resourceful? Inspired? How about this one: "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.

Not bad for a Monday morning before my second cup of coffee, I figure.

-g

The Card Shape with 2 rounded corners etc... then use the 3D Extrude Tool

Those who are interested, may want to look at the attached .xar file.

It shows how to make a rectangle with only 2 rounded corners.
(Only 1 or 2 rounded corners has been discussed many times on TG. And there are different ways of doing this.)

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.

I knew you would have a far better explanation as in #18 on creativity :) Thanks for that Gary.

Stygg

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

Stygg

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Originally Posted by Rik

But, where is your invitation card?! ;))

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Sadly, too much work, not enough time :thx

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Originally Posted by Gare

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.

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That is beautiful like that, I will remember to it

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Originally Posted by csehz

That is beautiful like that, I will remember to it

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

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Originally Posted by Rik

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.

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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 :D Starting with Extrude tool and trace out with Shape tool, but knowing where to put those back things

Quote:

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Originally Posted by csehz

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?

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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'.

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

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.

Attachment 98794

-g

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.

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

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.

Without a doubt, the Perspective mode of the Mould tool is fast and accurate.

I wanted to mention imported bitmaps, though, Rik. If you need to perspective them (if that's a true verb!), the Mould tool will introduce harsh, jaggy, aliased re-mapped pixels. In contrast, the Extrude tool appears to be tilting an extruded photo with visibly less aliasing.

-g

Here's my effort from the drawing a 3D Invitation Card Rik. Really good micro tut. Rik. Thanks for that, anymore in the pipeline ? :D

Stygg

oops sorry Rik, uploaded the wrong file, here's the finished one :o

That's excellent, stygg.

I was just about to post that you may want to look at the tutorial and look at Figures 20 and 21.
But, I see that you've added the shadow effect that the card would cast onto the envelope.

I'm also pleased that you've left both of your images.
Because, it shows how much better things look.

One other thing you might want to do, is to look at the tutorial at Figures 34, 35 and 36. This give the card some 'body'
At the moment, your card looks 1 micron in thickness - unless you were going for that look?!

What I'd forgot to do Rik was change the line colour at the top of the card, so now I've got the thickness back :D

Stygg

That's excellent, Stygg. =D>

All we need now is the address of the hotel. ;))

Excellent work from everyone who has taken part in Rik's tutorial really very good but I've just got one criticism, the cards look a little bit too big to fit in the envelopes but all in all a Brilliant job. Cheers Rik

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Originally Posted by A Wrigley

Excellent work from everyone who has taken part in Rik's tutorial really very good but I've just got one criticism, the cards look a little bit too big to fit in the envelopes but all in all a Brilliant job. Cheers Rik

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It would be great, if we could see yours!
So, come on. Do it!

Hi Rik,
thought I'd make a couple pf alterations to the image as shown in #34 so I gave the gold rectangle rounded corners at one edge to match the card also added an extra shape to the bottom right corner piece to match also. I think it looks a little better than the first image :D And it will fit in the envelope by the time I've squashed it about ;))

Stygg

That fits the card much better, Stygg.

The one thing I noticed, is that the spacing at the edges is not the same all the way round.

Mind you, I've been told off before, for noticing stuff like that.
So, just consider it as something I noticed and not something you have to correct.

But, your choice of putting rounded corners was definitely a very good one.

Cheers for that Rik, I'm always getting told off for not noticing things like that so I will correct it, keep on noticing Rik as it's the little things that make a difference :D

Stygg