3D in a common effect used by designers. You can implement this effect on any object, including text. In this tutorial, you will learn how to create a 3D text using GIMP. The type of 3D we are going to create in this tutorial is basic one, with a slant text which you can see on the image above.

The key of creating the 3D type like the image above is simple: you need create a text and add the motion blur (in different layer) of the concerned text then duplicate the layer of the motion blur to certain amount until you get the thickness level you want.

Are you ready? Let’s go!

Bonus: Most essential GIMP shortcuts

• First and foremost, launch GIMP on your computer and create a new file. You can use any size. In this example, I use a 1200×800 image size.
• Click the Text Tool menu on the Toobox panel and add your desired to text to the canvas.

• The step above will automatically create a new layer. With the new layer selected, go to Layer -> Layer to Image Size.

• Go to Filters -> Map -> Map Object. On the appearing pop-up dialog, check the Transparent background option on the Options tab.

• Still on the same pop-up dialog, switch to Orientation tab. Set the X and Z values on the Rotation section. In this example, I use the value of -30 for both value. Click the OK button.

• Create a new transparent layer by going to the Layer -> New Layer menu. Select Transparency on the Layer Fill Type section.

• You will use the layer you created above as the top layer of the 3D effect. To ease your job, rename this layer with something like “top layer of 3D”.

• Select layer that contains text and go to Layer -> Transparency -> Alpha to Selection.
• Select the “top layer of 3D” layer and change its foreground color.

• Select the Bucket Fill Tool on the Toolbox panel and click on the text area to apply the foreground.

• Create a new transparent layer and change its foreground with different color to the “top layer of 3D” layer. You will use this new layer as the lower layer of the 3D effect.
• With the Bucket Fill Tool selected, click on the text area.
• Go to Select -> None.

• Rename the new transparent layer you created above with something like “thickness” and move it right below the “top layer of 3D” layer.

• Select the “thickness” layer and go to Filters -> Blur -> Motion Blur. On the appearing pop-up dialog, set the value of Length (the thickness level of 3D effect) to 30 and Angle to 270. Click the OK button.

• Lastly, duplicate the “thickness” layer to certain amount until you get satisfied with the 3D effect. In this example, I duplicate this layer to 20.

• To make your 3D text look more attractive, you can also change the background. To do so, select the background layer (bottom-most) and select the background color.

• Go to Edit -> Fill with BG Color to apply the background color

Following is the example result of this tutorial.

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