Today we’ll be creating a simple plaque in Blender. I’ll be using the following features and techniques:
- add text
- edit text
- extrude text
- bevel text
- convert text to mesh
- set cursor to world origin
- set selection to cursor
- snap
- join
- glossy material
- smooth shading vs flat shading
- sun light
- transforms in properties panel
This tutorial is going to be written in a concise style.
And here are the steps:
Table of Contents
Step 1 – Add Text
Delete the initial cube. Go to front view.
Add text and rotate it : R X 90
Scale the text : S 5 Go to edit mode and edit the text. Then go back to object mode.
![Add Text](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image.png?resize=378%2C118&ssl=1)
Step 2 – Extrude and Bevel Text
Object Data -> Geometry -> Extrude : 0.01
Object Data -> Geometry -> Bevel -> Depth : 0.01
![Extrude and Bevel Text](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-2.png?resize=378%2C287&ssl=1)
Step 3 – Convert Text to Mesh
Object -> Convert to -> Mesh from Curve/Meta/Surf/Text
Set origin to geometry : Object -> Set Origin -> Origin to Geometry
Set cursor to world origin : Shift + S -> Cursor to World Origin
![Convert Text to Mesh](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-3.png?resize=386%2C103&ssl=1)
Step 4 – Add a Plane
Add a plane and rotate it: R X 90
Scale the plane: S 3 and then S X appropriately (depends on the length of the name)
Position the plane.
![Add a Plane](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-4.png?resize=384%2C126&ssl=1)
Step 5 – Move and Extrude the Plane
Go to right view.
Move the plane just behind the text: G X -> Ctrl (to snap) + drag
Go to edit mode, right view.
Extrude vertices : E 0.1
![Move and Extrude the Plane](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-6.png?resize=259%2C387&ssl=1)
Step 6 – Extrude Edges
Edge select mode
Select upper front edge and extrude : E Z -.6
Select lower front edge and extrude : E Z .6
![Extrude Edges](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-8.png?resize=375%2C205&ssl=1)
Step 7 – Extrude Faces
Deselect all.
Select the upper and lower face.
Extrude: E .16
![Extrude Faces](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-10.png?resize=380%2C326&ssl=1)
Step 8 – Add Glossy Material
Go to object mode. Join the plane and the text: Ctrl + J or in Object menu.
Add a glossy material.
Change base color to copper (hex B87333)
Set roughness to .2
Smooth shading
![Add Glossy Material](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-12.png?resize=374%2C167&ssl=1)
Step 9 – Set the Light
Set world color to black.
Select the light.
Set light type to Sun.
In the Properties panel set the rotation of the light:
X: 90
Y: 30
Z: 10
Location doesn’t matter for sun light.
![Set the Light](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-14.png?resize=389%2C135&ssl=1)
Step 10 – Set the Camera
Camera view
Lock camera to view.
Set view as you like.
Unlock camera.
![Set the Camera](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-16.png?resize=369%2C237&ssl=1)
Step 11 – Render Image
Render the image of our plaque in Blender. Here’s the final result:
![plaque](https://i0.wp.com/prosperocoder.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/image-18.png?resize=703%2C397&ssl=1)