Converting vector logo in 3D

This is the first lesson of 3D at our online animation school based on Odessa Animation Studio. Lesson is dedicated to converting the vector logo from Illustrator to Maya, and then create on its base a 3D model, as well as a bonus - a lesson for mowing the edges - Beveling The Edges.

Our task is to get any vector 3D logo model which will be ready for using in animation (left - source vector logo, on the right - 3D model of the logo).

Open or draw vector logo in Adobe Illustrator. There is one important nuance. If you have text in the logo, it must be converted to curves. 1 - select our text, 2 - Object > Expand...

After that, save it. It was pointed out that the version of Adobe Illustrator should be 8 (Adobe Illustrator CS2).

Open the Autodesk Maya: Create > and click on the box next to the menu > Adobe (R) Illustrator (R) Object.

Choose Curves and click Create.

Now we have our own logo - Outline.

Go: Surfaces > Planar and click on the small square on the right of the menu Planar.

Set the following settings and click Apply. I installed Counts - one to reduce unnecessary plane form, but it will depend on the shape of your logo.

Select the following settings form Counts then increment the counter if necessary, so you get the effect on the rounded edge of your logo.

Increase or decrease the Counts and other parameters to produce the desired shape, and then click Apply or Planar Trim.

Now we must hide our vector logo not prevent us: Display Hide > Hide Geometry > NURBS Curves, as the need for it anymore.

Now do the amount of vector form: Edit Mesh > Extrude.

Squeezing the required height of the logo.

Combine all the letters of the text, so that they become one object. Mesh > Combine. Then squeezing the entire object to the desired height.

You can use various logical operations of addition or subtraction of objects to the logo was similar to the original: Mesh > Booleans > Difference.

To select the logo colors of the original image, it is necessary: View > Image Plane > Import Image.

Open the Hypershade (Material Editor) Window > Rendering Editors > Hypershade. Create content - Lambert materials (or the other depending on the number of colors in your logo).

In the Material Attributes, click on the color and then select a color from the tool Color Picker.

Appointment of materials and shapes.

To change the background color to white, select: View > Select Camera.

In Camera Attributes expand options Environment (Environment), and change the background color to white.

Create a light and calculate the scene. I created Point light (spot light) and installed it in the upper right corner. Also I set Linear Decay Rate (linear decay rate) and included Low Final Gather.

Begin the lesso Beveling The Edges (mowing the edges) in 3D models. Do not worry, it's very simple - now will understand why.

Select: Surfaces > Bevel Plus.

Adjust the values Bevel Plus how to draw the image, or as needed.

Install Outer Style (external style) on the value - Convex Out.

You get a result, as shown below.

Good luck and success!

Using this article, please note the source Odessa Animation Studio!

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