Create a 3D text object, animate and apply the charcoal effect

In this tutorial, you will learn how to:
A. Tile a background
B. Type 3D text, set font style and text position
C. Apply an animation template
D. Apply the charcoal effect
E. Adjust material settings
F. Apply a shadow
G. Export as an animated GIF

Tutorial resource

Project File:

look.epp

 

Steps:

A. Tile a background image

1. In the Main Navigation Bar click the Select Background button to step to the Background page.
2. Select the Background-A category from the Background Category pull down menu.
3. Click to select the BG_A7 thumbnail displayed in the Background Gallery.
4. Press the Apply button to apply the image to your project, changes you make to your project will be visible in the Preview Window.
5. Set the background mode to Tile.
6. Adjust the number of tiles used to X=4 and Y=3.

B. Type 3D text, set font style and text position

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Select Text button to step to the Text page.
2. In the Text Box type LOOK.
3. To change font style, press the Select Font button. This will open a window with a list of available fonts and font styles. Select Pagoda SF font and then click OK.
4. Press the Apply button to add the 3D text object to your project. 
5. Use Zoom, Roll, Move, Rotate to adjust the text position.

1. The text templates supplied with Effect3D Studio enable you to create dramatic looking 3D text images.
2. Select the Dynamic category from the Text Category pull down menu.
3. Click the thumbnail of the fourth animation in the gallery.
4. Press the Apply button. 
5. Click the Play button located in the Animation Control Bar, this will begin to animate your text in the Preview Window.

D. Apply the charcoal effect

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Rendering Effects button to step to the Rendering Effects page.
2. Select the charcoal rendering style by clicking the Charcoal thumbnail
3. In the advanced properties, set the Line Color parameter to gray.
4. Press the Apply button to apply the changes to your project. 

E. Adjust material settings

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Material Effects button to step to the Material page.
2. Select the Shiny category from the Material Category pull down menu.
3. Click the Gray material in the gallery.
4. Press the Apply button. 
5. Set the Specular property to a value of 80 and Glossiness property to a value of 30. 
6. Press the Apply Setting button to apply the changes to your project. 

F. Apply a shadow

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Image Effect button to step to the Image Processing page.
2. Select the Tone tab to view the tone properties.
3. Change the background Brightness value to 30 using either the slider or typing the value.
4. Select the Shadow tab to view the shadow properties.
5. Turn the shadow on by checking the On/Off box.
6. Set the shadow properties to the following values: Blur=1, Opacity=0, Offset X=1 and Y=2.

G. Export as an animated GIF

1. In the Main Navigation Bar, click the Export file button to step to the Export page.
2. To export your result as an animated GIF, select the GIF tab.
3. Set the Anti-aliasing option to Best, ensuring the highest quality exported file.
4. To estimate the export file size, click the Estimate button.
5. Set the Output Range to All to export the complete animation sequence.
6. Press the Export image file button, a Save As dialog box will appear, enter a filename and click OK, your file will begin to render, once complete the file will open in your default viewer.