-
1 Attachment(s)
March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
3D Papercrafting in Xara
Attachment 101163
Embossing and shadows on text is soooo 2013. This month, Gary ran with an observation from Rik Datta on how to make paper look as though it was cut and peeling to make astoundingly eye-catching characters. It’s easier than you’d believe, we’ve done some of the work for you in the download files and before you know it, you’ll be hanging out at the scrapbooking section of WalMart.
Or not.
Watch the video and get the resource files so you too can papercraft in Xara. Then show us your work. And be sure to thank Rik for helping to bring this great technique to Xaraland.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
I enjoyed this and learned from it :) I played around with some different letters and I had a bit of trouble with the c and the e. I went back and looked at the video again and I think I've got it now.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
That really is pretty cool, Frances.
I like the paper effect on the lettering. :-bd
Unsurprisingly, I'm posting PAPYRUS!
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Thanks Rik. This technique was a great find thanks for bringing it to us. The paper texture was done with a seamless fill. Before starting the shading I ungrouped all the letter groups and cloned the letter shapes these clones were filled with the seamless paper texture and sent to the back. I then proceeded with the tutorial and once I was happy with the conical fills I grouped the shaded shapes (but not with the textured clones) a simple stained glass transparency blends the shading shapes with the texture shapes.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Nice improvisation, Frances. You "got" the gist of the tutorial almost immediately!
By the way, the alphabet isn't flawless. I didn't experiment with every character, and was based on a font I created based a little on Milton Glaser's work and some Russian Revolution posters (the 1917 one, not the 2014 one). There are very few ways to mess up the font if you need to customize it for legibility.
And Bonus Lesson # 1,428: There are some effects you'll be able to use in your career lots of times, like when you've perfected a metallic look, and other effects that get tedious and annoying if you use them more than 3 times in your life. I think this paper craft effect falls into the latter category.
It's an effect, it's cool, it enhances some work, but it isn't the heart of your work.
Incidentally, there was a font created by Roger Excoffon in 1958 (he also designed Mistal, Banco, and opther classics) called "Calypso", one of the most elegant, beautiful and illegible fonts I've ever plunked down $50 for. It is based on characters that look as though they're made entirely out of curled paper, sort of like origami, and then to simulate shades of grey, the whole font is halftoned:
Attachment 101227
At the bottom of the image above, is a very derivative font called Stiletto. It's more legible than Calypso and it's free to download.
Download Stiletto by Rafael Dinner here
UPDATE: I discovered a foundry—Letter Fountain—who were dissatisfied with the quality of the digital version of Calypso; the halftoning was inaccurate (in my copy from Linotype especially!), and the people not only recast the font from the original metal slugs, but they've made it more crisp and even offer a set of extras in a separate file.
Rejoice, 3D text lovers! Get the closest digital thing to Excofon's Calypso here!
Wow! I think I just went O/T! :(
Always trying to encourage diversity,
Gary
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Well, Frances.
I thought I would try a bit of a fill as well.
Tried to get the look of parchment.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Finally got round to this tut. albeit a bit out of line. When I got the shapes figured out and fills I grouped each letter, cloned it and gave it a Speckle seamless tile fill 96dpi and flat stained glass trans. 30% then a glow shadow.
Stygg
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Perfect following of the tute, and then some, stygg.
I'd love to see now what other alphabetical chararacters can be rendered, and perhaps change the colour scheme. When you're paper-cfrating, there's a lot of tetures and tones out there!
My Best,
Gary
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Cheers for that Gary, yes I'm going to try some of the other letters, I've got plenty of textures and I thought I'd try some of the colours from the Shades tints and tones palette if I think up a composition, but first for the umpteenth time I'm going to try and finish the pie chart :D
Regards, Stygg
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
I got to thinking that this technique could be used for more than just letters. The flowers and leaves in this piece use the conical fills shading. The vase and the stems I left as flat pieces of paper.
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
That's a great idea Francis, gives the leafs some depth, I wonder if you could apply this conical technique to an old parchment to give the torn effect :rolleyes:
Stygg
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Absolutely, Stygg. There is no reason to leave what we've learned from Mario Hugo's original concept and our adaptation to merely alphabetical characters.
Any drawing that suggests a lighting direction will support a 2D object that has been "cut and curled", as long as you have the two pieces divided properly and the curl's shadow matches the opposite direction of the light source in the scene.
My Best.
Gary
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
angelize
I got to thinking that this technique could be used for more than just letters. The flowers and leaves in this piece use the conical fills shading. The vase and the stems I left as flat pieces of paper.
Very good idea Frances. I like it.
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Excellent idea, Frances.
I was going to do a Mother's Day card - using this technique but, just got too busy at the weekend.
(And a bit too busy with work.)
So, well done indeed. =D>
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
You know, as we discover and share all these techniques, it won't be long before we can start treating Xara Designer like Expressions was a decade ago. It began as a vector drawing program whose strokes looked like a paint program's, like ArtRage or Painter.
Wouldn't it be nice to visualize what's in your head exactly the way you imagine it without leaving Xara?
Right now it's like I have to drive downtown to my studio to use my airbrush, and then hike back uptown to use other art tool.
It is a wise programmer who creates a UI in which your creative process is never halted by a dialog box or for the lack of a way to accomplish a certain something.
-g
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Thanks everyone for the kind comments :)
Rik, I am going to save my papercraft lilacs image for a mother's day card (We don't have it here until May).
Stygg: The scroll idea is a good one why not give it a go ;)
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Made an attempt at some different alphabet letters and using my own colours, not very successful but if you don't try you don't learn :D I had a problem with the letter G so I made my own and the K I gave two cuts just to see how it would look. The composition, aptly named A Greek Tragedy as I think that it turned out to be one. Ah well back to the drawing board. :D
Stygg
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Before you go back to the drawing board, I think you deserve a pat on the back for this exercise, stygg. You did indeed learn from the tutorial.
I'm wondering what would happen in you put a Glow using the Shadow tool on the characters instead of the original drop-shadow idea?
I'm sure someone can do better than this!
Attachment 101280
-g
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Thanks for the kind comment Gary. I've posted two images, one with glow shadow and another the same except I put a rectangle over the image and gave it a flat stained glass trans. just to ease the glare a bit :D I see from your post Gary the G I had a problem with - doh! :o
Stygg
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
@stygg, my solution for the legibility of the "G" isn't perfect, but it's workable. Please understand that I had to invent these characters in very little time. I wanted everyone to have a whole alphabet to work with, but some characters I imagined came out better than others.
Oh, well, it's just the end of March, and I have 8 more months this year to redeem myself. ;)
Stygg, why don't you try making a bitmap copy of that and then adjusting the contrast view the photo and Live Effects plug-ins? It needs more contrast to improve legibility overall, and it's easier to adjust the contrast on a bitmap than 27,000 vector pieces.
-g
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Gary I wasn't complaining about the G, it was my inability to grasp how to get a G from the letter but when I saw the G in your post I was annoyed with myself for not seeing it in the first place. I have done what you suggested and made a bit map copy of the image, lowered the brightness a tad and raised the contrast. Don't know if you can see a difference but this is the best of a few combination settings I tried. :rolleyes:
Stygg
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
I can even see the improvement in the thumbnail, Stygg. Which means it's legible from a distance, one of the "acid tests" of good logos and such...to be able to see it on a mountain top whilst driving.
And then getting irritated that a company would ruin the scenery with a billboard.
-g
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
OK.
I thought I would have a go at applying the effect to all the letters.
The font is Disco Deck.
Some of the letters proved a bit difficult and I'm not sure I got the right effect.
The letter 'E' is strange looking but that is the original letter from the font.
The letter 'K' - well, that's about all I could do with it.
Can't do much with the letters 'I' and 'O'.
I'd love to hear your feedback and suggestions as to what you might do different.
The .xar file is attached, for you to have a go with.
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Good job Rik, the only two I was not sure about was the N and K. It's just my preference but I altered the K and the N, you can flip the N to which you prefer. Didn't do much to the K Rik just the shading slightly, like I said it's all preferences so seeing as your asking! I'm not sure about the Z :rolleyes:
Stygg
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Couldn't resist it Rik, here's my preference for the Z :D Do you think the altered Z as that John Travolta "staying alive" disco look, I can hear the music now from the Bee Gees ;))
Stygg
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
I like what you've done, Stygg.
My initial objective was to work with the letters in the original font.
So, do you think you could do something different with the original 'N' in the font?
As for the 'Z' - your backward Z is showing your age!
As to whether it looks OK backwards, that's going to be a personal choice.
As I said earlier, I'd like to see if you or anyone else can do something with the original 'N'
The original 'E' doesn't much look like an 'E' in my opinion, whether you do something to it, or not!
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
I'm delighted to see so many members grasping the technique, refining it, and then mastering it. This is a great process to sit back and watch!
By the way, I'm not in love with this knock-off of Milton Glaser's original typeface. As close as I could come to it without ever seeing the entire alphabet is a font I freely give away, here, attached. It is not identical to the font I created on a single page for this month, but it's a creative start for people. And it's upper and lower.
Attachment 101303
I think we all recognize that balance between a phrase that looks as though one single, coherent font was used, and making a cglyph so the character needs a piece cut and curled.
My Best,
Gary
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Well Rik all you have to do with my backwards ageing Z is flip it. :D Here also is the best I could come up with for this "awkward" N :D
Stygg
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
My attempt at the O Rik was not very successful but a slight improvement, yet another awkward letter :D The shadow fill wants lining up better. I'll have another attempt at that later when my eyes are back in focus :D Had another go, left it as it is except for colour change.
Stygg
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Well, Stygg.
I can see what you're trying to do with the 'O', but I've not found anything that I like!
As for the 'N', this is what I did.
Just moved the fold over a bit. And I thing this looks good.
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
It looks good Rik, as long as your happy with it, me I've got three N's to choose from now, you can't have enough choices :D
Stygg
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
I had a quick go Rik, but it's all a bit Greek to me - maybe I should sharpen them scissors....
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
handrawn
I had a quick go Rik, but it's all a bit Greek to me - maybe I should sharpen them scissors....
You should patent those scissors.
Hairdressers will pay a handsome price for them!
I've now done the fills with linked colours.
So, you can change the colour to suit your needs.
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
handrawn
I had a quick go Rik, but it's all a bit Greek to me - maybe I should sharpen them scissors....
Looks good but I think you should sharpen them, or were they pinking shears? ;)) That said don't get Mr. Whatshisname after me.
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
There is nothing wrong or illegible about putting a curl on the "O" the only character that doesn't have this special effect. It would make the alphabet thematically more consistent
Your interpretation of Mario Hugo's original idea—and extension of it— is magnification, and thanks Rik, for naming the colours.
Gary
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
handrawn
I had a quick go Rik, but it's all a bit Greek to me - maybe I should sharpen them scissors....
I like the idea you had with that image handrawn so I did one with a little difference.
Stygg
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
That is bizarre, stygg.
And also wonderful to look at, almost an optical illusion or a contradiction.
A beveled edge transformed into a curled paper slice at right.
Whay drugs are you taking, and will you share them, please?
:)
-g
-
2 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
@handrawn: inspired turn to diversity with Greek glyphs. Delta and Theta might be worth experimenting with, too.
Here's a gift: I discovered a Ouiji board that was manufactured after William Fuld invented the board, but before game manufacturers prettied it up.
Attachment 101338
Symbol also worthy of pursuit might be Nordic runes and/or alchemy symbols.
Do a Google search for images on "Rudolf Koch the Book of Signs" a book from 1955, or browse through the book at Google Reads
Just some thoughts. You guys are far more inventive than my part of the tutorial!
My Best,
Gary
-
1 Attachment(s)
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
Quote:
Originally Posted by
stygg2003
I like the idea you had with that image handrawn so I did one with a little difference.
why thank you :)
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gare
Whay drugs are you taking, and will you share them, please?
drugs you call those drugs... these are drugs! :
Attachment 101341
[homage to stygg]
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gare
@handrawn: inspired turn to diversity with Greek glyphs
why thank you too
-
Re: March 2014 Video Tutorial - 3D Papercrafting in Xara
I love it handrawn, could be anyone of the Tandoori restaurant signs where I live :D
Stygg