How to Do a Vector Block

Blocks are made by creating 3D cubes.

Vector blocks are made by creating 3D cubes. You can use a 3D software like Maya or 3DMax to draw blocks, but you also use your traditional graphic editor. With Inkscape, render the 3D effect by tracing around an image. With Adobe Illustrator, render the 3D effect by using effects. With Gimp, render the 3D effect by using filters. First, make your 3D cube, then add the texture and illumination.

Instructions

Inkscape

1. Find an image of a cube. Open a new document in the free program Inkscape. Go to "File," "Import." Search for the cube image. Click "Open," then "Embed." Click "OK."

2. Click on the "Draw Bezier Curves" tool. Trace around the cube in order to show three faces of the cube. Double-click on the last dot to exit the Bezier tool. Click on the "Select" tool. Click on the image and drag it aside. Delete the image.

3. Click the "Select" tool and click on the drawing. Select a color in the color palette at the bottom of the drawing board. Click on the "Create and Edit Gradients." Draw a line on top of your vector.

4. Go to the "Draw Bezier Curves" tool. Draw a small line. Go to the top of the drawing board. Under "Shape" select "Triangle In." Press "Ctl" + "C." Press "Ctl" + "V" twice. Put the three lines together to form a three-branched star over one apex of the square. Align each branch along a vertex. Click the "Select" tool and draw a square around them. Click "Object," "Group."

5. Click on the "Fill and Stroke" tool placed at the top of the drawing board. Click "Stroke Style" and slightly blur the star by moving the "Blur" tool bar. This will give a 3D impression to the cube, making it look like a block.

Adobe Illustrator

1. Open a new document in Adobe Illustrator. Click on the "Rectangle" tool and draw a rectangle.

2. Go to "Effect," "3D," Extrude & Bevel Options" to create a cube. Under "Position," click "Custom Rotation," then type "-39 degrees," "-23 degrees" and "18 degree" in the rotation boxes. Perspective is "142 degrees." Extrude Depth is "130 points."

3. Go to "Object," then "Expand Appearance." Go to "Object" and select "Ungroup." Color each face of the cube individually.

Gimp

1. Open a new document on the free Gimp graphic program. The dimension of the page should be 300x300px.

2. Click on the "Path" tool. Click four points on your canvas to draw a square. Hold the "Ctrl" key and click on a point to close the "Path" tool.

3. Go to "Filters," "Map," "Map Object" and select "Box" under "Options/Map." Click "Background" under "Options/Transparent." Under "Light/Lightsource," select "Point Light." Under "Orientation/Rotation," select these numbers "X: 30,0," "Y: 45,0," and "Z: 0,0."

Tips & Warnings

• In Inkscape, click the arrow at the extreme end of the color palette and select a color theme.

• Think about where a light bulb or the sun would shine over your cube. Lighter colors should appear closer to the light source and a darker colors should appear father from the light source.

References

• Vector Tuts: Use Inkscape to Create a Grunge RSS Box Icon; Ambroise Coutand; 2009
• Vector Tuts: Craft a Delicious Chinese Food Icon; Jonathan; 2009
• 3D Realistic Looking Rubik's Cube in Gimp; 2008

Resources

• Drawing Shapes with the Path Tool; Tuomas Kuosmanen; 2002
• Create 3D Metal Type Pieces in Illustrator; 2010
• Make Lovely 3D Looking Graphs; Lombi; 2008