3D Logo

Step 1

Create a new document in Photoshop. Grab your Gradient tool to make a Radial Gradient. I created one using a background color of #000000 and a foreground color of #009092. Place it a little bit under the center of your work, it'll look nicer at the end.

Step 2

Duplicate your layer and set the layer properties of the top layer to Color Dodge. This will make your light ball a stronger light effect.

Step 3

Now we'll add some distortion to our orb, just to break the pattern. Create a new layer and render some clouds by going to Filter > Render > Clouds. Make sure you use a blackground with #000000 and foreground #FFFFFF

Change the layer style to Overlay and change the Opacity to 30%. Now go to Filter > Sketch > Chrome, use the default settings (Detail 4 & Smoothness 7) and press OK.

Step 4

Let's change applications. Open up Illustrator and place a character or word in a new file. I'll be making the word QPoit with a color of #000000 and a font called Terminator. Go to Effect > 3d > Extrude & Bevel to open up a new window.

I used the following settings that you can see below. Check the "Preview" box to show a preview while editing your variables. I also changed the shading to #FFFFFF. The second part of the word ("Designes") uses the same settings as the "UBL". The only change is the Y-asis: it has a rotation of -26.

Step 5

Drag your 3d characters to your Photoshop file to directly implement them. I know it doesn't look very pretty (yet) at this moment, but we're getting there.

Step 6

Right click on the right word (in my case the "Designes" part) in your layers and select Blending Options. I added an Outer Glow with the Blend Mode set to Color Dodge. The color I used was #FFFFFF with a total opacity of 75%.

Also add a Gradient Overlay with the Blend Mode set to Overlay. The gradient has an opacity of 50%, starting with #009092 and going to #000000. The angle is set to 180.

The "UBL" part uses the same settings, but only with the Gradient Overlay has an angle of 0.

Step 7

Create a new layer on top of all your other layers. Grab your Pen Tool (P) and create a Path. Try making it look fancy, as if it is really turning around any part of your 3d character.

Step 8

Grab a basic brush with a diameter of 7 with a hardness of 100%, the color #FFFFFF and flow of 25%. For Photoshop CS3, open up your Brushes palette (F5). Check Shape Dynamics and set Control to Pen Pressure.

Right click in your paths palette on your just created work path and select Stroke path... The source is a brush and make sure you check the Simulate Pressure box: It'll give the nice, smooth edges. You can now delete your path.

Step 9

Get rid of the parts of the swirl that you want to look like as if they are behind the character. You can use the Eraser Tool (E), but since I'm a fan of non-destructive Photoshopping, I would recommand creating a Layer Mask and brushing those parts away.

Step 10

I created two other swirls that are wrapped around my characters. Add an Outer Glow to each swirl by changing the Blending mode. Set the Outer Glow to Color Dodge with an opacity of 50%. I used the color #009092 with a size of 13 px.

Also add some inner glow to the swirls. Set the Blend Mode to Normal with a size of 3 px. I used the same color for the Inner Glow as the Outer Glow: #009092.

Step 11

Particles give a nice, futuristic effect to this kind of art. Grab a soft brush with a size of 9 px. Now go to your brush palette (F5) and play around with the Size Jitter, Scatter & Spacing. I decided to make the particles #FFFFFF and brushed them on a new layer above the swirls. Change the Layer Properties to Color Dodge. I used the following settings (Click to enlarge the image)

Final Step

We're now at a stage where we can call the artwork already pretty much done. I couldn't resist adding a Lens Flare behind the letters by going to Filter > Render > Lens flare and using the 105 mm prime with a brightness of 90%. Set the layer style of this layer to "Screen".

You can also add some circles using the Elleptical Marquee Tool (M), filling them with #FFFFFF and setting the opacity really low. It'll give the piece some final touches.