Modeling a Simple Plaque in Blender

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:

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.

Step 2 – Extrude and Bevel Text

Object Data -> Geometry -> Extrude : 0.01

Object Data -> Geometry -> Bevel -> Depth : 0.01

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

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.

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

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

Step 7 – Extrude Faces

Deselect all.

Select the upper and lower face.

Extrude: E .16

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

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.

Step 10 – Set the Camera

Camera view

Lock camera to view.

Set view as you like.

Unlock camera.

Step 11 – Render Image

Render the image of our plaque in Blender. Here’s the final result: