This document provides instructions for creating 3D text in Blender. It explains how to load the default settings, add text using the add menu, rotate and position the text, change fonts, add color and materials, add lighting sources, and render the text for output. The steps include selecting the cube, deleting it, adding text, editing the text, adjusting fonts and size, extruding the text, choosing colors, and positioning lights to illuminate the text for rendering.

1. Page 1Version 1.0
Learn how to create 3D text in Blender
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2. Page 2Version 1.0
Create 3D Text in Blender -
Using the same parameters* that you
set-up for your video project, go to your
DEFAULT interface. You may need to
LOAD FACTORY SETTINGS to see the
original default screen.
You should see a 3D Cube.
After you set up your screen, you'll
want to view the cube via a camera. Use
your numberpad on your keyboard to
access the different camera point-of-
views.
Press "0" to look through the main
camera. Numbers 1 - 8 will give yo
different perspectives while "0" is the
default.
*LOAD FACTORY SETTINGS can be
found under the FILE menu at the top of
the interface.
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3. Page 3 Video Editing in Blender
To begin, click the Cube to select.
Press DELETE on your keyboard. Then
click, DELETE.
Your space is now ready for text.
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4. Page 4Version 1.0
Now, at the top of your screen, click:
ADD > TEXT
The default text will appear.
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5. Page 5 Video Editing in Blender
Now to rotate the default text so it faces
your camera, click the ROTATE icon
located at the bottom of the screen.
The controls to rotate your text will
appear on screen. Each color represents
a different axis so you can position the
text as you see fit.
Red Green Blue White
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6. Page 6Version 1.0
Now to edit the default text, select the EDIT
MODE from the menu. This will bring up
the cursor which allows you to type.
This is your opportunity to type the
text you need for your project.
Make sure to select the arrow.
Second from the left.
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7. Page 7 Video Editing in Blender
To change the FONTS, note the panel
to the right of your screen. The "F"
stands for FONT.
Whatever your text is on screen, re-type
it in this window.
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8. Page 8Version 1.0
Scroll down to the FONT section and
browse for the FONT of your choice by
clicking on the folder icon.
As soon as you select the FONT, your
text will change. It will then need to be
adjusted. In the example below, characters
that appear in the dark area will never be
seen by the camera.
To adjust your text, first select
OBJECT MODE. Then grab one of the
three arrows and move your text to the
proper position.
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9. Page 9 Video Editing in Blender
With your text in position, it can now
be seen by your camera. This means,
your viewers will see the entire text as it
will appear in your video.
Now lets bring the text from 2D to 3D
by using the EXTRUDE control - located
in the right-hand panel above FONT.
Play with the depth of the EXTRUDE,
but keep in mind that it will still need to
be legible.
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10. Page 10Version 1.0
Let's give the text some color. Click
on the MATERIAL icon to active the
panel you see on the right.
Click on DIFFUSE to access the
Color Palette where you'll be able to
select the color of your choice.
The Color Palette is where you select
the color for your text.
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11. Page 11 Video Editing in Blender
Now that we have added color to the
text, let's ADD a light source. From the
menu, there are five choices: Point, Sun,
Spot, Hemi, and Area.
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12. Page 12Version 1.0
Light sources help your text stand out.
Here is a side view of the "workshop" text
with one camera (on the right) and three
light sources. To acheive this view, press "1"
on your numberpad. To return to camera,
press, "0".
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13. Page 13 Video Editing in Blender
Each item within your composition
can be access and manipulated via the
list of items on the right-hand side of
your screen. To begin, click on an item.
In this example, I have clicked on one of
the "Spot" lights.
Once selected, you'll instantly see where
you're light is in relation to your text. The
lite-grey area is what your camera's view,
while the dark areas will not be seen by
viewers.
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14. Page 14Version 1.0
Use your numberpad to change your
point-of-view (POV) to give you a better
understanding on where your lights are
positioned. This will also help you to
better position your text.
Here is the 3D text as it rendered out
from Blender. You can toggle back and
forth between a Rendered view and the
Raw view by pressing F12 for Render
and ESC to go back to the Raw view to
continue working. We'll discuss
RENDERING later on in this workshop.
For now, let's save this file as
TITLE.blend. We'll come back to this file
to do some light animation.
You'll find tools and properties for
each item in your composition can be
adjusted and tweeked from the prompts
on the right of your screen. In this
example, since SPOT [light] was selected,
these are the prompts needed in order to
get the desired appeance and effect.
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15. Page 15 Video Editing in Blender
NOTES:
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16. Page 16Version 1.0

17. Page 17 Video Editing in Blender
Eddie Vega
Digital Media Specialist
phone: xxx­xxx­xxxx
email: eddie.vega@plattsburgh.edu
web: http://faculty.plattsburgh.edu/edwin.vega/