3D Can – Create the Object

* Done

This tutorial will show you how to create a 3D beverage can for use in a marketing video like this one:

Create a 3D Can Object In Illustrator

After you’ve designed your can full wrap, we’ll create a realistic 3D beverage can in Adobe Illustrator using the 3D and Materials engine.

1. Create the Profile (The Path)

  • Create a new document in Illustrator: 800 x 2000 pixels, RGB, 72ppi resolution.
  • Draw half the silhouette: Use the Pen Tool (P) to draw a vertical profile of exactly half the can.
  • Keep it simple: Include the slight inward curve at the bottom and the “neck” at the top.
  • Stroke, no fill: Give the path a light gray stroke and ensure there is no fill color.

2. Apply the 3D Effect

  • Go to Effect > 3D and Materials > Revolve.
  • In the Object tab, ensure the “Offset Direction” is set to the correct edge (usually the Left Edge) to wrap the path into a cylinder.

3. Dial in the Aluminum Finish

Switch to the Materials tab within the 3D panel:

  • Base Material: Choose “Default” or look for a “Polished Metal” preset if available.
  • Metallic: Crank this slider up to 1.0.
  • Roughness: Set this between 0.2 and 0.4. Lower values make it “shiny/mirror-like,” while higher values create that “brushed/matte” look.

4. Lighting for Realism

Switch to the Lighting tab:

  • Intensity: Increase to brighten the highlights.
  • Rotation: Move the light source until you see a strong vertical highlight (this defines the cylindrical shape).
  • Softness: Increase slightly to smooth out the gradients on the metal.

*Wrap Your Label Design Around the Can

  1. In Illustrator, open your 3D can file
  2. Also open your full wrap can design in a second file
  3. Copy your full-wrap can design and paste it into your 3d can file
  4. Group your full-wrap can design
  5. Open your Symbols palette and drag your grouped full-wrap can design into it to create a symbol
  6. Go to the 3D panel and the Graphics tab
  7. Select the symbol and apply it onto the can

*Creating the Can’s Pop Top

Because the can’s top is a flat surface with complex cutouts, it’s best to create it as a 2D vector graphic first, then apply depth with 3D Inflate, export it as a 3D object, and then attach it to the 3D can in After Effects.

  1. Draw the pop-top shape in vector
  2. Select the five shapes and make a compound path
  3. Fill it with #CCCCCC (light gray), no stroke
  4. Select the grouped pop-top shape
  5. Under the dropdown menu: Effect > 3D Materials > Inflate
  6. You can see the rest of the 3D settings below, along with the final button to click (Export 3D object…)

Here’s a screen capture of my workspace in Illustrator to show you:

Screen capture showing how to draw a pop-top for a beverage can in Adobe Illustrator.

*Export the Can and Pop Top as Separate 3D Objects

1. Export the Model and Pop-Top in Illustrator (Separate files)

  • Select your pop-top or can in its respective file
  • Window > Appearance > Export Assets
  • Name your asset (3D Can Pop-Top)
  • Select your asset, set the Format to GLTF
  • Click: Export
  • This will export them as GLTF files (3D Object file format) for use in After Effects