|
|
DECEMBER 18, 2003 3D Effects in Illustrator CS, Part 2
Relaunch Illustrator and apply Effect > 3D > Extrude & Bevel to your circular object. Now when you look at your choice of bevels, you'll see any new ones you've created listed along with the default bevels.  [an error occurred while processing this directive]As I said, it's pretty straightforward. What isn't so straightforward is determining what, exactly, the relationship is between the bevel shape you've created and the form your bevel takes on your 3D object. In some cases, the answer will be clear, while in others you may be left wondering what you did wrong. Let's take for example the bevel I created in the example above. If I apply it to a circular object at the default bevel height of 4 pixels, here's what it looks like. If I change the height to 25 pixels, it looks like this--very much like the original bevel shape I created.  And if I take it beyond 25 pixels, I get anything from this (26 pixels):  to this (100 pixels):  Can you guess why? It doesn't have to do with the size of the bevel object I created, but with the starting size of my circular object. Beyond a 25-pixel bevel height, the bevel shape intersects with itself in a non-Euclidean way (for you H.P. Lovecraft fans out there), and my current monitor doesn't deal well with non-Euclidean geometry. Or maybe it does, but I can't see it as my current brain doesn't perceive geometry beyond three dimension--at least not that I'm aware of. So, all cuteness aside, you have to watch out for bevels height settings that exceed the the physical dimensions of your starting 2D object. A good rule of thumb is this (for rectangular and circular objects): the bevel height should not exceed 40 percent the height and/or width of your starting object. If you created a circle that has a diameter of 100 points, the bevel height should be set no higher than 40 pixels--if you want predictable results. Prev 1 2 3 4 Next Related sites: • Creative Mac • Digital Media Designer • Digital Producer • The WWUG Related forums: [an error occurred while processing this directive] 
|