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generally, after you cut out the individual letters, you ask yourself: what next? how can I "dress up" ordinary elements of a sign to give it a little extra "pop" in the final design.
here is a little something I did for a Covid Project just to keep busy and entertain my skills.
start with a design that is within your set of skills and tools on hand.
make a full size paper pattern - tweak it until you are satisfied with the over all project.
I found a photo of a design I liked online and copied it and made several changes to it to make it unique to myself.
I used PosteRazor to make a full size workable pattern on my home printer and traced the elements out with carbon paper (actually Saral Transfer Paper) onto a sheet of 3/8" thick HDU SignFoam.
then, with your tools of choice, cut out the individual letters and other elements like you normally would.
I used a Roto-Zip and Dewalt 611 modified trim router to cut them out. a scroll saw would have been much easier, but I don't have one
after everything is cut out, draw the dimensional bevels that need to be removed to give the letters body and character. slowly, carve or sand off what is needed to make the letters dimensional.
the rest is just "hand-tooling" (or CNC if you choose to go that route) and dry fitting to the pattern.
I used a piece of 1/4" PVC sheet cut to shape and heat formed to make the ribbon banner. I carved a piece of 1/4" HDU to make the word "SIGNS" and laminated that to the PVC and used Bondo to fill in the gaps.
make the main sign panel using your imagination and skills (think outside of the box).
prime and paint according to your desires. (get out of your comfort zone)
~ Continued in the next post below ~
here is a little something I did for a Covid Project just to keep busy and entertain my skills.
start with a design that is within your set of skills and tools on hand.
make a full size paper pattern - tweak it until you are satisfied with the over all project.
I found a photo of a design I liked online and copied it and made several changes to it to make it unique to myself.
I used PosteRazor to make a full size workable pattern on my home printer and traced the elements out with carbon paper (actually Saral Transfer Paper) onto a sheet of 3/8" thick HDU SignFoam.
then, with your tools of choice, cut out the individual letters and other elements like you normally would.
I used a Roto-Zip and Dewalt 611 modified trim router to cut them out. a scroll saw would have been much easier, but I don't have one
after everything is cut out, draw the dimensional bevels that need to be removed to give the letters body and character. slowly, carve or sand off what is needed to make the letters dimensional.
the rest is just "hand-tooling" (or CNC if you choose to go that route) and dry fitting to the pattern.
I used a piece of 1/4" PVC sheet cut to shape and heat formed to make the ribbon banner. I carved a piece of 1/4" HDU to make the word "SIGNS" and laminated that to the PVC and used Bondo to fill in the gaps.
make the main sign panel using your imagination and skills (think outside of the box).
prime and paint according to your desires. (get out of your comfort zone)
~ Continued in the next post below ~