New signs .....

[dvmike]

Always looking for some creative / constructive criticism...

http://img683.imageshack.us/img683/2383/sany0854.jpg (http://img683.imageshack.us/i/sany0854.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

http://img219.imageshack.us/img219/2227/sany0892.jpg (http://img219.imageshack.us/i/sany0892.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[dvmike]

http://img809.imageshack.us/img809/295/sany0889.jpg (http://img809.imageshack.us/i/sany0889.jpg/)
Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

[fozzyber]

Nice work,

[Brady Watson]

Looks really nice, Mike. Keep at it!

-B

[bleeth]

Hey: That's my birthstone and I didn't even know there was a beer named after it. I'll take a six pack and start off by toasting your fine work.

[fozzyber]

first let me say I'm not being a smart a$$ or any thing like that.
But is that you final paint on that? is this sign going up high? or at eye level? I have only done one rehab project and one routed project, and I'm trying to get an idea of what is acceptable level of paint finish, how close are you really able to follow a line or edge, I know you have to hand paint, and my hand and eyes are not as god as they were.
FYI I am mostly a large format digital printer so i like sharp crisp lines but, can't seem to achieve that hand painting, someone give me the low down of what is good or acceptable....

[knight_toolworks]

after a few feet away all f those things vanish.

[scottbot]

Nice. I like that a lot.

[feinddj]

Really nice.
D

[joe]

Nice panel Mike.

Jerry
As you pointed out this kind of work takes cosiderable painting skill. What a wonderful lesson. With your plotter and Gerber Mask that process can be shortened but there will always need for some blending. All the pieces having hard edges can look grade school, paint by numbers. Blending would be advised.

Keep up the good work.

J.

[dvmike]

In all honesty ,the finish on this sign isn't my favorite aspect. The sign is the customer's logo. The lights and darks in the mountains are all snow patterns on the mountains , and patterns that are like thin snow.
I'm not an artist of the caliber of Mr. Crumley, but we are getting much better . Man what a difference a couple of years make !:)
Hopefully one day we will get to the level of quality of a shop like Norman sign Company !

I appreciate the comments ! I want the bad ones as well as the good . It's by self criticism and constructive criticism from others that we grow.
Again thanks !

[joe]

That's the advantage of this forum. It's the leader.

Like you I struggle with finishing HDU. For me it's necessary to prime the surface as smooth as possible. I spray several heavy coats of High Build Primer. Lots of painting can be done with thin roller material. I chomp off pieces of 1/8" foam rollers to dap on paint. Works like a dream.

Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com (http://www.normansignco.com)

[fozzyber]

In all honesty ,the finish on this sign isn't my favorite aspect. The sign is the customer's logo. The lights and darks in the mountains are all snow patterns on the mountains , and patterns that are like thin snow.
I'm not an artist of the caliber of Mr. Crumley, but we are getting much better . Man what a difference a couple of years make !:)
Hopefully one day we will get to the level of quality of a shop like Norman sign Company !

I appreciate the comments ! I want the bad ones as well as the good . It's by self criticism and constructive criticism from others that we grow.
Again thanks !

I actually have a degree in architecture, and when we would do a design, we would have a design review, and get ripped pretty hard, I have to be careful sometimes to word things in forums as to not hurt peoples feelings.
It is only by pointing out mistakes and asking why did you do that?, that we truly improve our design and skill.
I struggle very hard with painting, and might need to look in to some ed-u-ma-kation to do it better,
I was even thinking of looking in to some letterhead meetings.

Tell me more about this blending stuff?
Right now I am using outdoor latex house paint the good stuff from lowes,
is there better stuff to use?

I also need to research more on primers.

Jerry

[dvmike]

We use several types of HDU .
We use Precision Board from Coastal Enterprises, Sign Foam Brand, and Dura Board.
Usually the Dura board doesn't need much in the way of priming.
But whenever I use a primer it's usually FSC 88 primer from Coastal Enterprises, no matter the HDU brand.
2 coats of this stuff will leave a surface that's slick as glass. I usually thin it 8:1 with water.

I have been using a high grade oil based paint for lettering, and occasionally automotine finishes.
My near future explorations include gold leaf guilding :eek: , and One Shot lettering paints.

[kevin]

Mike your sign looks great I wish I could do this at your level

Thanks for posting and raising the bar for me

[joe]

Jerry,

Blending can be done several ways. If you don't like the effect, a fresh coat of paint will allow a new start. It's hard to fail. Here are a couple of techniques with latex.

Background blending. Once a background is painted and dry, I load up a small spray and darken down the sides.This gives depth and focuses the eye. I mix in a little clear latex for this job. I go back and forth laying laying down mist coats building up color. Keep in mind, Latex will dry down lighter.

When blending in a small selective area, I like to work wet on wet with a brush. Using several cups of the background color, you can tint them with a darker color. With the background wet, keeping it misted, brushing on a slightly darker colors. I like using a larger fitch, bristle brush, and mixing the colors with it. A little practice and you'll be an expert in no time.

The blend below was done with my favorite little spraygun a "Critter"


Joe Crumley
www.normansignco.com (http://www.normansignco.com)

[fozzyber]

I like that, I really like the acrylic cut letters on top of the foam.
what did you use to glue the two together, silicone?

I see what you mean by blending, nice effect.

[dakers]

wowie what a fabulous sign that has alot of demonsonality due to serious thinking about making something special using standard techniques.