Engraved text, how do I make that look real?

[Axhill]

A project in Affinity Publisher 2:

On a silver background I want to put a text that looks like it is engraved in that silver.

I can't manage to get this to look right. With the Bevel/Emboss settings I don't get a result that really looks like it.

Anyone have any advice on what settings I should use?

[KarinC]

Is this what you have in mind?

 

[markw]

Could you perhaps show some images of the sort of look you have in mind?
In the meantime perhaps the attached Publisher file will give you a starting point and perhaps some ideas.

Engraved & Incised Lettering .afpub

[Medical Officer Bones]

Honestly, nowadays I feel that playing around with layer effects in a 2d image editor to create effects like these is a bit of a waste of time because they can't be changed or varied very easily.

Effects like these look a) much better and b) can be adjusted in real time and c) with quick texture and realistic lighting variations in a 3d application such as Blender (for free). Point in case is the engraved end result as demonstrated in @KarinC's posted video: it looks very rough and unfinished - unconvincing even for a layer effects version.

I agree that learning a 3D app can be daunting, but it's also a lot of fun. And massively expands your creative possibilities.

Here is a 3 minutes rough Blender-made doodle:

[MikeW]

18 minutes ago, Medical Officer Bones said:

Here is a 3 minutes rough Blender-made doodle:

I agree...but your sample has perspective that wouldn't appear on a real embossed surface. 

[Alfred]

3 minutes ago, MikeW said:

I agree...but your sample has perspective that wouldn't appear on a real embossed surface. 

Oh, I dunno, it might not be a perspective effect at all: the letters may just be distorted that way!

[MikeW]

26 minutes ago, Alfred said:

Oh, I dunno, it might not be a perspective effect at all: the letters may just be distorted that way!

By nature, Blender is gonna want to add perspective.

Also not perfect, also done in a couple minutes...

[Old Bruce]

13 minutes ago, MikeW said:

By nature, Blender is gonna want to add perspective.

True, to minimize distortion just move the "camera" back and use a long focal length, narrow field of view. 

[Axhill]

@Markw : Thanks! I can use that.

[Medical Officer Bones]

On 1/11/2025 at 2:46 PM, MikeW said:

I agree...but your sample has perspective that wouldn't appear on a real embossed surface. 

On 1/11/2025 at 3:16 PM, MikeW said:

By nature, Blender is gonna want to add perspective.

? Switch the camera to orthographic...

Then just drag and drop various materials, and vary the lighting.

[MikeW]

Much better than your first example. And for say a signage rendering, very nice. But I wouldn't say those are examples of embossing. Rather applied lettering using different materials than the backgrounds. 

[Medical Officer Bones]

3 hours ago, MikeW said:

Much better than your first example. And for say a signage rendering, very nice. But I wouldn't say those are examples of embossing. Rather applied lettering using different materials than the backgrounds. 

Ah, yes, true enough. Got carried away, and made these quickly. Forgot about the actual meaning of the word in the process

Obviously "true" embossed or engraved lettering is also simple to achieve.

Anyway, if a more stylized effect is required simple layer effects will suffice.