Since the
Bootle font is used quite often for Beatles tribute bands, I thought it would make a great example how fonts translate into a 3D logo and some of the preparation work involved.
When using the text function in a vector based program such as Adobe illustrator,
Corel Draw or a 3D application, these programs place vertex points at various locations along the outline of the text connected by lines known as
splines.When designing for print, web or video these points are not an issue for output. It's when you use these vector files for 3D is where you can have problems and the clean-up work begins.
As you can see in this first example, the program placed it's vertex points where it thought they needed to be to create the text.
When the extrude and bevel actions are applied the program sees the points and connects the edges (the lines or
splines between each point) to make a solid object.
But due to extra stray points placed on the outline, the face of the "B" disappears and the inside of the hole is filled.
The close proximity of one or more points causes this and other issues such as smoothing errors at various locations on the sides of the letters.
If not corrected other problems also occur in the rendering stage such as flickering, disappearing faces or even whole letters.
After identifying the offending points I go back to the outline level and edit and/or delete any points that cause the missing faces or errors on the sides.
I make it a common practice to always go over
each letter and make sure the points are properly placed before any actions are
assigned.
The final product after making the
necessary point corrections. Note the smoothing along the rounded sides.
