Let's Colour a 3D Letter
Download the Instructions and Templates here:
So here we are all still in lockdown, so I thought I’d bring you some more free lettering resources for you to do. Today we’re going to be colouring in some 3D lettering. I love doing 3D lettering, making type look like it's jumping off the page, but it can be quite frustrating getting it to look right. I've put together a whole alphabet of individual 3D letters that you can colour in without having to worry about getting those shadows in the correct positions.
So first up, click the link in the description and download the files. I’ve included a PDF document so you can print off your chosen letter. But if you don’t have a printer I have also included jpegs of all the pages so you can use it digitally on your iPad, tablet or even your phone. If you would like to do it on paper but can’t print it off, then display the jpeg of your letter on a screen like your monitor, TV or tablet and use that as a lightbox to then trace the letter on to it.
With the paper version, you can choose to colour straight onto the printout or trace it onto a different surface by covering the back of the sheet with a soft pencil or chalk and then drawing over the front so it acts like a carbon transfer sheet.
Next, grab your tools. Whether that’s paint, crayons, coloured pencils or pens. For mine, In the downloadable files, you also find a guide on how to colour your letters, where to place the main colour, outline, shades and shadows.
Plus if you’re stuck for what colours to use, I’ve given you 6 example palettes to choose from with and without the background colour.
So have a go, see how you get on and feel free to tag me in your posts with
@ianbarnard, I would love to see your results!
1. Getting Started
Download the files
Print off your chosen letter
Use a tablet, monitor or phone
as a lightbox to trace onto paper
2. Choose Your Method
Colour straight onto the
sheet or digital file
Cover the back of the paper with pencil
or chalk and trace onto another surface
3. Choose Your Tools
Paints
Crayons
Pens
4. How to Colour Your Letter
5. How each Letter is Shaded
6. Colour Palette Inspiration
Feel free to tag me in your creation with @ianbarnard
Made your own letters using LetterBuilder
8 Responses
Tricia Murdock
The Bob Ross hair is so amazing. Glad to know I’m not the only one to look like that in quarantine. Love the download, super helpful to know what colors each area should be.
Mariana
This is awesome!!… Thank you very much!!
barbara
as so many times before: THANK YOU, IAN!
Christopher Porter
you are such an inspiration. Thank you so much for all of your content, esp the free stuff. You are one of the main reasons I’ve got into lettering. seriously, you are such a gem, THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Dani
Wow, Ian, thanks for this resource. I love how you lay out the directions simply and make the files super easy to access. So excited to work on a project with these.
Ruth Meder
This is so cool. I love that you included the shadows for the ridge on top of the letter. I was never brave enough to try this
Jocelyn
Thanks a lot Ian! it was very helpful! saludos desde Honduras y gracias por compartir tus ideas!
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Isabela Schielke
July 23, 2020
Thank you so much!!!! I’m having so much fun coloring this