Emboss Text in Blender | Hard-Surface Tutorial

Learn how to engrave text into your models, and clean up the geometry and text artifacts after adding a bevel.
Fixing Artifacts video: • How to fix artifacts i...
Baking Normals Maps Tutorial: • Blender 2.8 : Bake Nor...
Instagram: / josh.gambrell
Twitter: / josh_gambrell
Artstation: www.artstation.com/wooden_rain
Also check out my full course on hard-surface modeling and how to get started with the workflow: gumroad.com/l/vOFiv
Biz inquiries - [e-mail]

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

This needs to go into a special category of “Blender tutorials that don’t delete the default cube”.

[@lawrencedoliveiro9104]

3:31 “Embossed” is the word you’re looking for.

[@FedePohl]

It was a headache to do with a super irregular surface, but i did it, thanks.

[@Captaincrime77]

You make the best tutorials. Very easy to follow. You know what beginners need.

[@xandervera7026]

By far one of the best channels for intermediate modeling in Blender, thanks a bunch!

[@JoshGambrell]

Cheers Xander!

[@afakhrik3002]

Yeah, the explanation is like zach cgboost

[@PJ-op3eo]

Great tutorial, Josh. Straight to the point. Bit of a newbie a in Blender, and this has solved my problem of creating meshes with svg files from Adobe Illustrator in to Blender. Phew! Thanks!!

[@garethellis16]

Read my mind! Was just about to start figuring out engraving and you posted this ! Really helpful video mate ! Learnt more than just engraving !

[@JoshGambrell]

Awesome man! Glad it helped you ;)

[@jonathanwalsh1206]

Absolutely awesome tutorial brother, many thanks.

[@jasontauscher3132]

Thank you Josh. I am new to 3D PRINTING and your video has furthered my abilities

[@tapiolahde6987]

Good tips! Couple of suggestions though; I'd use "Mesh->Clean Up->Decimate Geometry" instead of Limited Dissolve when reducing vertex count, keeps the form a lot better. And with the bevel modifier you might want to use Arc as outer miter type, gets rid of those kinks in the corners.

[@MusiciansReflib]

what's Arc? And what's an outer miter type?

[@blazejpopowicz1362]

Decimate is fabulous....thanks for that.

[@darkdoom907]

omg i just started ur video for the first time and i love the idea of all keys u r pressing being shown in the video itself

[@larrylifon1520]

man you're making really great tutorials bro.

[@ArkOfAges]

Thanks for the tutorial. I use to go in an convert text to quads manually, which needless to say took a lot of time lol. I probably should have taken the time to learn hard surface workflow.

[@aistensilva]

Thanks! I love your tutorial

[@taksinwatanabe9362]

Thank you very much! Your tutorial is very helpful.

[@xh3075]

This was so helpful, thank you!

[@eriksrandomstuff]

very helpful. thank you for creating this tutorial.

[@francineaires1455]

Muito bom. Obrigada por compartilhar algo tão específico e de forma simples. ^^

[@exe3958]

Blakey Don't stop making soft. I wished I started as early as you. You have a lot of years to learn!

[@trelligan42]

Excellent once again, thank you.

[@C-M-E]

Very useful! I've been looking for an in-application solution to use for labeling my 3D prints as my previous method in an error correction app was, ironically enough, breaking the manifold work I'd already put in. This I can work with!

[@someshsahu4638]

Very nice explanation thankyou so much 🙏🏼🙏🏼🙏🏼

[@blenderartist8367]

Super Video. Thanks

[@o.kiryukhin]

thanks, Josh you saved me again

[@BATCH3]

Man... im loving all of your videos. Thank you so much! (im Binge Watching like netflix series)

[@JoshGambrell]

Glad to help man, really appreciate that!

[@Ares-5933]

This was super helpful! I had to slow down the video to half speed though because I'm new to blender and had to watch where your cursor went because I don't know where anything is. I was able to add text to a 3D object for 3D printing though so cheers!

[@JoshGambrell]

Will keep the speed in mind ;)

[@forgeflarion8362]

A very well made tutorial! I love it!

[@JoshGambrell]

Cheers man :)

[@forgeflarion8362]

@@JoshGambrell thanks!

[@jbanimations8475]

Great video! THX!

[@ThunderPaladin]

Thank you so much.

[@swordartdesign]

thank a lot bro! Save me 2 hours of work :D

[@MusiciansReflib]

really helpful! thanks

[@akira1717]

❤️❤️ thanks for tutorial sir

[@youngvines245]

Best tutorial

[@MikeMike-wc8on]

Thanks for help!

[@groundbreakerexplore]

Thanks a lot for sharing this video tutorial. Stay safe

[@bigt.y3085]

Thank man !!

[@ten-ub4xd]

sooooooo helpful thanks so much

[@MomfatTheDumb]

Using this for my stargate model

[@addmesh]

Это гениально, спасибо!

[@hossainahmed7202]

Thanks a lot . want more problem solving tutorials.

[@themilkmon]

Very useful! Thanks

[@JoshGambrell]

You’re welcome!!

[@bhaskar4281]

THANK YOU

[@leonmax3]

Thanks bro

[@erispe]

Thoughts on the curved engraving. Instead of boolean you could fake it by extruding the bottom edges of the text outward and then sliding the original edges up a bit. Basically creating an outward bevel on only the text.

[@UltraLightDashFlawless]

Thanks A lot Bro ;)

[@timemasterhms]

Emboss - Stands above surface Engrave / deboss - Pressed into a surface

[@shanecarless4671]

I noticed this, he must be an amateur sign-writer lol

[@timemasterhms]

@@shanecarless4671 I wasn't trying to insult him, just pointing it out so others know too.

[@shanecarless4671]

@@timemasterhms I noticed the difference and was going to point it out, til I saw your comment . I added a lighthearted pun. Sorry to offend.

[@timemasterhms]

@@shanecarless4671 All G, no offence taken.

[@alexandrearaujo4256]

great. thanks

[@Erichev]

This was my first attempt to do anything in any 3d editor. I was able to follow along for the most part. There were times that you used Shift Middle Mouse to enlarge or modify the number in a selection box. This didn't work for me. I also had to select Apply to see the results added. You didn't seem to need this (might be version #, but your way would have been easier). I would use the default method of doing things in tutorials unless you explain how to use a "known" shortcut. When I did the Boolean with my text it didn't go wonky at all. And I was unable to clean up an artifact in a small A at the tail. I'm printing the object in a few minutes, but it will take a few hours. Thanks for the tutorial. I don't think I'll remember a 1/3 of what you showed. So, I'll be back to follow along on my next font add.

[@KRewolucja]

Hi, could you make video about making a windows on round shapes like cyllinders? When I make them, I always have problem with distortion (I always make bulge around that window)

[@MIHAO]

nice! thanks

[@acburns.studio1438]

Great video! Let's be clear that engraving is removing or carving so that the image or text is inset into the surface or medium. Embossing (which this video focuses on) is when the image or text is raised up or stands out from the surface.

[@Dingle.Donger]

Unless the text is up close I wouldn't even bother using a boolean modifier. I would just bevel the text and leave that separate from the cylinder. Loved the video.

[@rotcivsi]

If you change the outer to arch on the bevel it would improve a bit the edges of the joint.

[@kelvinappiah7958]

Perfect

[@hectormoralesfranco6850]

To avoid deformation between the letters and the curved surface at the time of joining, it can be avoided if before joining the two we make more divisions in the sphere or cylinder, that is, more axes or cuts around where the text will go, this considerably reduces any distortion...

[@erikporter2194]

ty

[@truedox]

How do you exactly center a text mesh onto another object? I notice that if you are using Origin to Center Of Mass (Surface or Volume), the center is based off of the verticies and surface area created by the text. Rather I want the center based off of the overall bounds (height/width).

[@rahulrajsarma4580]

You know you have committed an eternal SIN by not deleting the default cube The blender gods will never forget you

[@chome4]

How can you get text to 'stick' to a moving surface? I've created a conveyor/treadmill and want to writ stuff on it!

[@ten-ub4xd]

none of this beveling after the bolean model works for me, is it becuase im using subdiv? thanks

[@remon563]

to fix the shading issue after a boolean you can use "MeshMachine" and transfer the normals. You can do this with a modifier setup as well ( I think the normal transfer one ) but its cumbersome to set-up. Good video. I was about to do the text in Painter/Photoshop but I think geometry is the way to go. You can even use the deformer modifiers to fan out the text.

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks! Yeah I have a video on this actually: kzbin.info/www/bejne/jWmpdZ-GmLp2g6c&t

[@remon563]

@@JoshGambrell your welcome. Awesome ill check out that video.

[@captain_code]

Josh, need your say on this. First, do you use Unity?. If yes, then I really need to know what's the best Blender to Unity workflow. This topic is not really that much addressed and after going through countless forums and asking various communities, there really aren't any solid methods. I have used Blender for little over a year and am new to Unity. I can make really nice models with Blender and pull out some nice textures by using its Shading tab. The problem is that Unity and Blender run on different engines so you can't just import a blender file along with its materials. Been searching for an answer for weeks and still haven't gotten any.

[@clubdonk9651]

my shrinkwrap modifier doesnt have the same options as you. there is snap mode but no 'mode'.

[@RDUBTutorial]

great video but this is all raised text ...do you have one that does engraved text? I'm stuck where I havve the texted embeded into the solid with a boolian but it its creating a hole into the solid. But I want the text 2mm deep but not a punch through. Any help appreciated.

[@jeffspinner6579]

I have to make an asset that has a logo on the cup surface for a game asset. Just in time, I got asked to do it *today.* It's amazing how merge by distance works just like remove doubles (sic). Btw, in 2.90, it works with just M still (hehe). AND move to collection works with M too! Thanks for all your contributions to remove the ignorance of the Blender community! Wait a second...when I did my subdiv modeling, I shrink wrapped it, but then I cut the geo border into the mesh, then extruded after a couple of control loops. I have to look up how to "cut in" the shape on the curved surface...

[@JoshGambrell]

Thanks Jeff! Really glad it helped you :)

[@jeffspinner6579]

@@JoshGambrell imgur.com/jull8iN, Idk if the client wants an innie or outie, so I did it just a little out. Then again, I can't find the mesh statistics like number of verts yet in 2.90, so I may be ova the limit (!) Idts. Just in time tuts, pretty good!

[@JKaty10]

I imported an svg text to blender. i followed through the steps but im stuck at the boolean part. "Failed to set value"pops up whenever i click on the text. Is there a way around this?

[@Mark-xw5yt]

The engrave cuts onto both sides of my shape. Any idea what I did wrong?

[@Phuskooz]

How can I export this as an stl file without the text appearing to protrude? (Trying to create an engraving for a 3D print)

[@dna100]

Just the ticket.👍👍👍

[@vertigo6982]

at 02:43 you clicked ";" and then it looked like you took the text out of wireframe mode.. Is that what you did? Did you assign wireframe mode toggling to ";"?

[@labandazozor]

thank's from belguim

[@taylormartin482]

I think I'm missing something when adjusting the merge by distance points. I see "shift + left mouse", but I don't have a "left mouse". Can someone help me out? I'm using a G700's mouse.

[@fahriazhari]

sir how to join the object with shrinkwarp?

[@skateerdud]

Im using this tutorial to engrave my friends name into an object for 3D printing, but when I export the object as an STL the lettering is raised rather inset. Is there a way to make the text stay engraved and to get rid of the original text object? Thanks for the tutorial btw, very well made edit: Nevermind, figured it out. Had to apply the boolean

[@yvetteluna6370]

Can you tell me what you did?

[@mr.lunatic3157]

@@yvetteluna6370 he or she applied the boolean.. Because modifiers isn't really there until you apply it

[@emmasure8552]

How would I use this technique to create a candle mold so I can have text on a candle, I have a 3d printer? Does the text push through into the cube for example so if I removed the top I could pour wax into it? thanks for the turtorial.

[@flamet]

He says what to do at 3:30, you would want to do boolean difference instead of Union.

[@emmasure8552]

Cool thank you x

[@rzyas]

hello sir can you make a tutorial on how to make the grooves in a desert eagle barrel? I was stuck there thx,,

[@falxonPSN]

Assuming you have a hollow tube, add a few circular edge loops. Then select just the end and rotate it to get a twist with proportional editing turned on. Or you could use the simple deform modifier to make a twist.

[@rhomis]

I want to do a clear embossed beer bottle with a LOGO on it. Any tutorials on that

[@moniquedennett5515]

Any idea why my text option isn’t there in the add section??

[@artberesta]

Спасибо

[@infuriatinghealer]

The problem is after i do this, blender does not add the engravings from the text to the cube's vertices. when i select the cube and go to edit mode the engraving isn there. i'm not sure what im doing wrong.

[@yusrighouse]

apply the boolean.

[@TheDucaChannel]

I Josh, your image during the tuts COVER UP an important UI part... and because is not necessary, maybe can you remove it in the next tuts? Thanks! The second problem is at around 2:00 where you delete the original contours of the font. The font identity, dimension, contour... should ALWAYS remain as similar to the original as possible.

[@Wombats555]

When I go SHIFT+A I don't get an option for Text, I have about a third the options and all seem geometric or meshes. Do I need a full license? I am just learning on the free version atm.

[@ssmeier]

You may be in Edit Mode when you are press Shift+A (Add menu). Tap Tab (toggle to Object Mode). Now when you press Shift+A (Add menu), "Text" will be one of the menu entries.

[@rosehwangssaem]

7:00 thank you - shrinkwrap

[@Captaincrime77]

Hey Josh !! Remember that Blue microphone logo you made in that hard surface modeling series. I have problem texturing it. I can't make it look silver. It just looks different and weird. What might be the problem /

[@VLena_art]

Clearcoat up, roughness down. In the shader wokspace you can add a inperfection roughness map to make it look more realistic.

[@Captaincrime77]

@@VLena_art It didn't work. It doesn't look metallic. I can give it any colour but can't make it look metallic. The silver material works on other mesh but not on logo. Anyway thanks

[@VLena_art]

@@Captaincrime77 oh... the logo!

[@Captaincrime77]

@@VLena_art yeah !!

[@bhaskar4281]

THERE ARE LOTS OF TOOLS IN BLENDER...DON'T KNOW HOW CAN I REMEMBER ALL OF THIS PROCESS.BUT I AM TRYING MY BEST.

[@JoshGambrell]

One step at a time man.

[@falxonPSN]

Why are you using all capitals? No need to yell! 😉

[@bhaskar4281]

@@falxonPSN SOMETIMES I LOST IN BLENDER...THEN AGAIN STARTING FROM "0"

[@erispe]

Also save useful videos to a playlist so never lose them

[@RonHicks]

My previous technique for "fixing" the text involved Remesh and then separating the text by loose parts, perhaps you've found a more elegant solution😊

[@manuelparrinello6531]

Me too! That changed my world definitely

[@cekconi1773]

👍👍👍

[@loganpochatko2423]

BIG DAY FOR CUBE!!!!!

[@jdlaweb3]

I don’t have merge distance when I press f3 lol

[@SagaStreamAI]

when i put " cntrl + j " for union letters dessapear =(

[@thebonemaster]

What is an ngon?

[@bonni2]

thereb isn't merge by distance propriety

[@smorebob2418]

For some reason it keeps telling me “cannot apply modifier for this object type” whenever I try and add a modifier to text.

[@talgatospanov7283]

I dont know if its still relevant, but to fix this problem simply go to Object - Convert to - Mesh

[@wktodd]

Engrave / emboss ?

[@leinadreign3510]

It bevels the whole object for me, not only the text Bevels the text as seperate object, not as a merged one somehow. Even if the text is placed partally within the object and the bevel modifier placed under the boolean, the text is still solid and does not appear to be merged. At this point, and after an hour of trying out stuff and ranting, im giving up.

[@amitaibergmann5650]

no need for Shrink Wrap modifier when you have Curve modifier.

[@leemiller2243]

How would you bake this ?

[@JoshGambrell]

Usual normal map baking processes. Unwrap low poly, bake high poly.

[@leemiller2243]

@@JoshGambrell did that but the bake came out like crap. Will try again

[@zade6828]

Sir I kinda feel triggered by the white title bar.... any chance you wanna switch to the dark side ? :)

[@JoshGambrell]

In Blender? How do you change the title bar color?

[@zade6828]

@@JoshGambrell I'm happy to help! You can change it in windows Settings > Personalization > Colors > see if the bottom-most option - "title bars and window borders", is checked. Then you either go "Custom color", like absolute black from the color picker (windows warns that you might face some issues with it but I have tried it in my main PC and found zero issues.) or, you can just pick any color, from "windows colors". PS - I really appreciate the type of content you post.

[@7808y]

I wish this was as easy as it is in tinkercad, its about 50 less steps