3D Typography: Playing with Color and Volume
A course by Thomas Burden3D Illustrator
A course by Thomas Burden, 3D Illustrator
Learn how to create surreal typographical animations using Cinema 4D and Redshift
Influenced by the toys he was never allowed to have as a kid, Thomas Burden creates colorful 3D work that is both hyper-realistic and timeless. His unique nostalgic style blends 3D type and playful contraptions, getting him noticed and landing him freelance work with Nickelodeon, Netflix, Playstation, McDonald’s, Bloomingdale’s, and more.
In this course, Thomas takes you through his entire creative process for building typographical 3D animations using Illustrator, Photoshop, Cinema 4D, and Redshift. He shares some of his best work, teaches the essentials of each software, and explains his method for creating inflatable 3D type, a useful technique that can be applied to future design and illustration projects.
What will you learn in this online course?
29 lessons & 9 downloads
What Will We Do in This Course?
1 minute, 23 seconds
Overview of Software Workflow
4 minutes, 21 seconds
Initial Concepts & Gathering Inspiration
7 minutes, 55 seconds
Sketching Out a Layout in AI and Export Vector Paths
9 minutes, 30 seconds
Setting up the Cinema 4D Document
2 minutes, 1 second
Create a 3D Sketch in C4D
11 minutes, 31 seconds
What's included in this course?
Meet Thomas and get introduced to his work. He explains his career background and dives into some of his influences and inspiration. Then, he outlines the creative process for starting your project: creating an inflatable “FUNHOUSE” image.
Get started by seeing how to brainstorm and use references to come up with new ideas. After defining an initial concept, it’s time to learn how to create a basic compositional sketch in Adobe Illustrator. Using simple shapes and rough colors, define a structure that will serve as a guide for your project in Cinema 4D.
Discover the power of Cinema 4D by starting with the essentials, including how to set up a scene, how to use your sketch as a reference background, and how to import vector paths to model some basic shapes. Then, Thomas explains cloth dynamics and other modeling techniques you can use to create additional elements for your scene.
Finish the course by learning how to create an animated inflation effect and apply it to text and other elements. Then, see how to add mood by adjusting light and texture with the render engine Redshift. Use Photoshop to make some final adjustments before setting up your final render and exporting it for a client or sharing on social media.
Recommended software & tools for this course
What is this course's project?
Create a typographic “FUNHOUSE” piece or another inflatable digital artwork. The techniques laid out in this course are ideal for establishing a creative foundation for future 3D projects.
Projects by course students
Who is this online course for?
This course is ideal for students and professionals alike, especially 3D illustrators, art directors, or anyone who wants to improve their method for integrating text and image.
Requirements and materials
To take this course, you should have a basic understanding of Cinema 4D and Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator. No prior knowledge of Redshift is required.
Regarding materials, you will need a computer with the listed software installed. You can substitute Redshift for the render engine of your choice, if necessary.
Reviews
- rafahumxPLUS2 years ago
Excelent!excellent teacher and artist!
- 3 years ago
Le cours est génial !
- jimmy_francois69PLUS3 years ago
nice course !
- 3 years ago
Amazing and very well explained content.
- 3 years ago
Thank you for different methods for different versions of C4D. Excellent tutorial
Thomas studied Graphic Design at Camberwell College of Arts in London before working for top illustration studios like McFaul and I Love Dust. In 2013, he made the jump to freelance work, producing ad campaigns and other projects for brands, music festivals, record labels, and editorials. His client list includes McDonald’s, Netflix, Nickelodeon, Playstation, SC Johnson, Bloomingdale’s, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The New Yorker, Harpers Collins, and more.
Content
- U1
Introduction
- Introduction
- Influences
- What Will We Do in This Course?
- U2
Initial Ideas and Sketches
- Overview of Software Workflow
- Initial Concepts & Gathering Inspiration
- Sketching Out a Layout in AI and Export Vector Paths
- U3
All Things Cinema 4D
- Setting up the Cinema 4D Document
- Create a 3D Sketch in C4D
- Adding Some Basic Lighting / Textures and a Camera with Redshift
- Modelling the Letters 1
- Modelling the Letters 2
- Modelling the U
- Modelling the Ball Pool
- Modelling the Cushions
- Modelling The Mats
- Modelling the Castle 1
- Modelling the Castle 2
- Modelling the Castle 3
- Finishing Touches: Adding Cloth Dynamics to the Curtains and Some Balls to the Scene 1
- Finishing Touches: Adding Cloth Dynamics to the Curtains and Some Balls to the Scene 2
- Extra info on newer versions of Cinema4D
- U4
Final Touches to the Final Image
- Adjusting Lighting/Refining the Render Settings
- Using Redshift AOV Manager
- Importing Final Render and AOV to Photoshop: Preparing Photoshop Files for Editing
- Editing/Refining Final Image Using the AOV Files
- Saving the Final Image as a Friendly Client Photoshop File
- U5
Additional Resources
- Inflating an Individual Letter: Practice 1
- Inflating an Individual Letter: Practice 2
- Introduction to Redshift
- FP
Final project
- 3D Typography: Playing with Color and Volume
What to expect from a Domestika course
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FAQs
Yes, this course is designed for students with intermediate skills in illustration or 3D design who want to expand into inflatable 3D type and advanced workflows.
You will need Adobe Illustrator, Cinema 4D (with Redshift), After Effects, and Photoshop to fully participate in all course lessons and projects.
You’ll learn how to create inflatable 3D type from concept to final image, including sketching, modeling, simulating dynamics, rendering, and post-production.
This course covers Cinema 4D and Redshift basics, but prior experience with 3D software is recommended. Beginners may find it challenging without some foundational knowledge.
The course teaches you how to collect and analyze reference materials, drawing inspiration from vintage toys, folk art, and children’s books for unique 3D artwork.
Yes, the course covers cloth simulation and dynamics in Cinema 4D to achieve realistic inflation and soft-body effects in your 3D models.
You’ll use both digital sketching in Illustrator and 3D modeling. Basic drawing skills help but are not strictly required as most work is digital.