How To Draw 3D Block Letters: 11 Steps (with Pictures) - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow How to Draw 3D Block Letters PDF download Download Article Co-authored by Swetha Shenoy

Last Updated: April 3, 2025

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  • Drawing Block Letters
    • |
  • Adding 3D Perspective
    • |
  • Filling in the Shadows
    • |
  • Sample Alphabets
    • |
  • Expert Interview
    • |
  • Expert Q&A
    • |
  • Tips
|Show more |Show less X

This article was co-authored by Swetha Shenoy. Swetha Shenoy is a Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist based in New Jersey. She is the founder of The Paisley Corner, a creative hub that provides art workshops & team-building activities for individuals and corporate teams alike. Swetha created The Paisley Corner to spread the joy of creating through her art workshops. She teaches multiple lettering techniques, including hand lettering, brush lettering, and watercolor lettering. Since founding The Paisley Corner 5 years ago, she has taught 2500+ students (adults and kids) at over 200 workshops. Notable corporate clients include Adobe, Shapeways, Rituals, Confetti, MixLife & the New York tri-state area public libraries. Prior to her career as an artist and small business owner, Swetha worked as a Software Engineer at multiple companies. She received a BS in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a MS in Computer Science from University of Illinois, Chicago. This article has been viewed 1,197,234 times.

3D block letters are great for headings, posters, and birthday cards. They’re not too tricky to learn how to draw yourself. Draw block letters by making rectangular outlines around regular letters. Make them 3D by adding perspective with diagonal lines, and then add shadows to make your letters really pop.

Steps

Sample Alphabets

Sample 3D Block Alphabet Sample Serif 3D Block Alphabet Sample Shaded 3D Block Alphabet Part 1 Part 1 of 3:

Drawing Block Letters

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  1. Step 1 Write large capital letters in the middle of your page with a pencil. 1 Write large capital letters in the middle of your page with a pencil. It’s also possible to do lower case letters in 3D, but it’s much easier in upper case, because more of the letters have straight lines. Write the letters in pencil because they will act as guidelines. You will erase them later!
    • It may be easier to practice on graph paper. Following the lines printed on the graph paper can help you create nice, even lines for your letters.
    • Be sure to leave more space than you usually would between the letters so that you will have room to outline them.[1]
  2. Step 2 Sketch block outlines around your letters in pencil. 2 Sketch block outlines around your letters in pencil. If you’re drawing on graph paper, just trace the graph paper in rectangular blocks around your letters. Make sure the letters are all about the same width. If you’re drawing free-hand, it may help to lightly sketch guidelines above and below your letters so that they all end up the same size.
    • For letters with curves, like “C,” try to draw a smooth curve and make the letter the same width as the straight-edged letters.
    • Don’t forget to outline the inside of holes in letters like “R” and “A.”
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  3. Step 3 Go over your block outlines in pen or marker to finalize them. 3 Go over your block outlines in pen or marker to finalize them. Don’t trace over the letters that you originally wrote, just trace over your block outlines. Try to make smooth, clean lines instead of light, feathery lines. Smooth, straight lines will look much neater! If it helps, try using a straight edge ruler.
    • Wait for the ink to dry before erasing your pencil marks so that you don’t smudge the ink.
  4. Step 4 Erase all of the pencil markings. 4 Erase all of the pencil markings. Use a large, soft eraser to erase all of the stray pencil marks and sketched lines. Now all that you will have on your paper are the final block outlines of the letters.
    • Clear away the eraser shavings so that they don’t get in the way.
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Part 2 Part 2 of 3:

Adding 3D Perspective

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  1. Step 1 Choose a vantage point for your letters to make them 3D. 1 Choose a vantage point for your letters to make them 3D. Decide whether you want to view your block letters from above or below, and whether you want them to face to the right or the left. If you were looking at them straight on from the front, they’d just look like ordinary block letters, so you have to tilt them to make it 3D.[2]
    • Your vantage point will determine the direction you draw your diagonal lines in the next step.
  2. Step 2 Draw small diagonal lines from the corners of your letters in pencil. 2 Draw small diagonal lines from the corners of your letters in pencil. Be sure to draw all of the lines so that they tilt in the same direction. If it helps, choose a vanishing point in the background. Then, use a straight edge to line up each line with that vanishing point before you draw it. If you’re viewing your letters from above, the lines should tilt up. If you’re viewing from below, they should tilt down. Draw the lines to the right if you want your letter facing left and to the right if you want them facing right.[3]
    • Practice drawing these lines in different directions until you figure out what you like.
    • Most people draw their block letters viewed from above.
  3. Step 3 Connect the ends of the diagonal lines together. 3 Connect the ends of the diagonal lines together. Use horizontal, vertical, and curved lines to connect the ends of the diagonal lines. This will be drawing the back side of the letters.
    • Think of it like drawing a cube, where you first draw a square, then small diagonal lines, and then connect the lines in another square. It’s just like that, except the shapes are letters instead of squares.
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Part 3 Part 3 of 3:

Filling in the Shadows

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  1. Step 1 Imagine that your vantage point is a light source. 1 Imagine that your vantage point is a light source. This will help you visualize the way the light and shadow will fall over your letters, so that you can shade them consistently. Making your light source be in the same place as your vantage point simplifies things, but you can choose another place for your imaginary light source if you prefer.[4]
    • It may help to lightly draw a little shining sun in one of the top corners of the page to help you remember. You can erase it later.
    • Most light sources are from above, like the sun, the moon, and overhead lighting, so that will look the most normal. But, you can have the light source be on the bottom if you want the letters to look like they’re behind stage lights.
  2. Step 2 Darken the surfaces away from the light source. 2 Darken the surfaces away from the light source. Use a dark pencil, pen, or marker, to shade in the surfaces of the letter that face away from the light source, which would be in shade. Leave the surfaces that are facing the light source a lighter color.[5]
    • If your light source is in the upper left corner of your page, all the right hand surfaces of your letters will be dark.
  3. Step 3 Add cast shadows to the letters, if you’d like. 3 Add cast shadows to the letters, if you’d like. Again, look at where the light source is, and draw the shape of the letter falling away from the light source, onto the imaginary floor. It can be a bit tricky to get the shape of the cast shadow to look realistic, so this step is optional.[6]
    • If you’re adding cast shadow, make sure to also add in cast shadows in holes in the letters. For example, in the letter “R,” one part of the top bit of the letter would cast a shadow on the other bit.
  4. Step 4 Finished. 4 Finished.
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Expert Q&A

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  • Question How can I improve my drawing of 3D block letters? Swetha Shenoy Swetha Shenoy Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist Swetha Shenoy is a Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist based in New Jersey. She is the founder of The Paisley Corner, a creative hub that provides art workshops & team-building activities for individuals and corporate teams alike. Swetha created The Paisley Corner to spread the joy of creating through her art workshops. She teaches multiple lettering techniques, including hand lettering, brush lettering, and watercolor lettering. Since founding The Paisley Corner 5 years ago, she has taught 2500+ students (adults and kids) at over 200 workshops. Notable corporate clients include Adobe, Shapeways, Rituals, Confetti, MixLife & the New York tri-state area public libraries. Prior to her career as an artist and small business owner, Swetha worked as a Software Engineer at multiple companies. She received a BS in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a MS in Computer Science from University of Illinois, Chicago. Swetha Shenoy Swetha Shenoy Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist Expert Answer Start by finding inspiration from examples online or in books that showcase various styles of 3D block letters. Then begin practicing by drawing simple block letters and focus on clean lines and consistent proportions. Next, add depth to your letters by incorporating shadows and angles to create a 3D effect. Using guides such as worksheets or graph paper can also help you maintain consistency and proper alignment. Don't forget to dedicate time and practice to hone both your style and your drawing precision.  Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 1
  • Question How do I draw cursive blocks? Community Answer Community Answer Write the words with spacing in good cursive handwriting. Outline with 5 mm spacing on both sides and erase the writing inside. You can fill color to make an awesome piece of art. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 43 Helpful 53
  • Question How do I draw a 3D Roman letter? Axis History Axis History Community Answer It's the same concept, just find the edges and make lines to a single point on the paper. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 33 Helpful 25
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Tips

  • Start drawing your letters with a pencil and only trace over them with a pen when you feel confident. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • If your letters will be shown on a computer display, the light source should be on the upper left. This is the convention that most computer fonts try to observe. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

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Expert Interview

Thanks for reading our article! If you’d like to learn more about calligraphy, check out our in-depth interview with Swetha Shenoy.

References

  1. ↑ Swetha Shenoy. Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://youtu.be/ZaWH_DuIw-8?t=27
  3. ↑ https://youtu.be/ZaWH_DuIw-8?t=27
  4. ↑ https://www.drawinghowtodraw.com/stepbystepdrawinglessons/2016/04/draw-3d-block-letters-drawing-3-dimensional-letters-casting-shadows-tutorial/
  5. ↑ https://www.drawinghowtodraw.com/stepbystepdrawinglessons/2016/04/draw-3d-block-letters-drawing-3-dimensional-letters-casting-shadows-tutorial/
  6. ↑ https://www.drawinghowtodraw.com/stepbystepdrawinglessons/2016/04/draw-3d-block-letters-drawing-3-dimensional-letters-casting-shadows-tutorial/

About This Article

Swetha Shenoy Co-authored by: Swetha Shenoy Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist This article was co-authored by Swetha Shenoy. Swetha Shenoy is a Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist based in New Jersey. She is the founder of The Paisley Corner, a creative hub that provides art workshops & team-building activities for individuals and corporate teams alike. Swetha created The Paisley Corner to spread the joy of creating through her art workshops. She teaches multiple lettering techniques, including hand lettering, brush lettering, and watercolor lettering. Since founding The Paisley Corner 5 years ago, she has taught 2500+ students (adults and kids) at over 200 workshops. Notable corporate clients include Adobe, Shapeways, Rituals, Confetti, MixLife & the New York tri-state area public libraries. Prior to her career as an artist and small business owner, Swetha worked as a Software Engineer at multiple companies. She received a BS in Computer Science from Visvesvaraya Technological University and a MS in Computer Science from University of Illinois, Chicago. This article has been viewed 1,197,234 times. 9 votes - 56% Co-authors: 160 Updated: April 3, 2025 Views: 1,197,234 Categories: Featured Articles | Drawing Text and Lettering Article SummaryX

To draw 3D block letters, start by sketching out thick lettering in the center of your paper using pencil. Next, mark an “X” in the left or right upper corner of the paper. Then, sketch lines from the edges of your letters to the “X” mark and don’t forget to draw lines to the far corners of your letters as well. After you’ve drawn the lines, use them as a guide to create thick dimension on each letter. Finally, erase the pencil lines and outline the final drawing in black pen or marker so it stands out. For tips on how to draw pyramid letters, read on! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Reader Success Stories

  • Anonymous

    Anonymous

    Jun 22, 2016

    "Drawing pyramid letters is quite helpful. Good work guys."
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Yes No Advertisement Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Swetha Shenoy Co-authored by: Swetha Shenoy Modern Calligraphy & Watercolor Artist 9 votes - 56% Click a star to vote Co-authors: 160 Updated: April 3, 2025 Views: 1,197,234 Anonymous

Anonymous

Jun 22, 2016

"Drawing pyramid letters is quite helpful. Good work guys." Anonymous

Anonymous

Dec 31, 2016

"This is so cool, I can't believe it worked!" Kifer Bingo

Kifer Bingo

Mar 29, 2017

"It helped me draw H in a kind of 3D way." Anonymous

Anonymous

Feb 22, 2017

"Every method is great!" Share yours! More success stories Hide success stories

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