Bill/Letter Holder

 

Level:  Beginner/Intermediate

Tools used:  Path tools; Continue Draw; Effects/Artistic/Painting/ Text tool; Horizontal Deform; Painting on edges

Done in PI 8; could be done in PI 7 or higher
1.  Start with a 400x400 white canvass.  Using the path tool, click on Ribbon shape.  Using 3D, any color, border 10, depth 30, make a shape 218 wide by 233 length.  (If you feel your back is too thick, you can reduce the border number to where you feel comfortable)
2,  Now, using the transform tool, stretch the shape to 290 wide and shorten to 163 in length.
Using Continue Draw

Back in 3D

 3.  With your shape still selected, go to Continue Draw.  Change the shape to eclipse and draw close to the upper edge, but not so close it distorts it.  You can click into edit mode to make adjustments to center it (click outside the shapes, then click the eclipse to position it if need be)  Go back into 3D
4.  Lets give our back a bit of character.  Go to Effects/Artistic (PI 8)/Painting.  Select thumbnail 43 and click ok.
5.  Now, using the path tool again, Rectangle, 3D, border 5, depth 30 draw a shape 240 wide by 80 length. I used a contrasting color - its best to use a lighter color on the font, so I used white.  To make our white brighter, click on brightness/contrast and click the 3rd button on top 2 times.

6.  Lets dress that up a bit; using the air brush, size 30, transparency 20, and soft edge 50, same color as your back, go to Effects/Creative/Paint on Edges.  Again, go back to Effects/Creative/Paint on Edges one more time. 

7.  OPTIONAL:  I added some text to mine, plus an apple graphic to dress it up and play up the red.  If you want to make your text curved, but have trouble with other methods, you can go to mode and Horizontal Deform.  I pulled the transform handles up on both top and bottom, curving the text just right.  Go back into 3D  Hold down the shift button and select all the part of your front; the painted on edges piece, text, and any graphic you have used, then merge to a single object.
8.  Our holder needs a bottom.  Using the rectangle path tool again, make a rectangle 3D, border 8, depth 30, and grey color (Hex #E1E1E1), make a shape 262 wide by 50 length. 

Using the transform tool, slant, slant the shape to the right, making sure the back corner is flush with the edge of the backing and the left front corner is flush with the front piece.  Once you've done that, use regular transform and reduce the piece to 28 length and 266 wide.  Right click, send to back.  Select both the back piece and the bottom piece, merge to a single object.  Do NOT merge front with the back/bottom yet.
9.  I added a bit of shadow behind my front piece to give it some depth.  Use the settings shown.
10.  Now you can make some "letters" or bills (mine are made from rectangles, 3D, border 3, depth 30, with an added stamp, text, and then set behind the front piece but in front of the back piece.  I staggered them a bit (but be assured, MY bill holder has tons more in it than this one!!! ;-)

DONE!!! I hope your holder has more letters than bills!!  Hope you enjoyed this tut.

 

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