Need a rustic wood texture pattern

[MDCochrane]

I'm doing a freebee sign for a small school starting up soon. I'm carving the school name and logo on HDU (4'x8'), masking and painting two colors. Now the committee (design by committee... ho boy!) wants a rustic cedar texture on the whole sign to make it look like slivered cedar or barn board. Anybody got a suggestion where I can find vectors for that (cheap or free)? Using VCarve Pro 7. I've also got Cut3D. Thanks!

Mike

[hh_woodworking]

Watch this should help http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iTlRXNFma30

[gc3]

plenty of info on this 3dsignforum...

[Mayo]

This Youtube tutorial also is good for v-carve textures.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EEdH48ex9CI
Around 11 minutes into the video is where it begins to resemble wood grain.

Rather than create one pattern on an entire 4x8, it would look more realistic if you create several patterns maybe 8 inches to 12 inches tall one above the other x 8 feet across and then your sign will look more like a glued up panel of different boards.

The most realistic way unfortunately takes the most time for machining. Photograph some high contrast wood grain that you like, then create a 3D tool path from the photo. It will take hours and hours to machine but it will look pretty much like real wood.

I don't know if you can do that in VCarve Pro or Cut 3D - I did the one in the photo in Aspire.

[joe]

I'd make a wild guess most sign businesses, like myself, who are dedicated to creative sign making won't be interested in assisting. The invoiced price for this kind of sign goes between 3 & 4 K. This isn't an job for a part timer.

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

[t_vandemark]

Keep in mind this is a "freebee" sign Mike is building here. It doesn't matter if it has a 3-4k price tag in the full timer world. If Mike feels confident in doing the sign, i say do it. You should be able to particapate in this forum without worry of being told that you aren't good enough to do something. If you don't want to help then don't post. Sorry for the rant, i'm on the last day of my shift on my full time job. tonight i fly home and will spend the next week off creating signs "part time".:p

[kurt_rose]

Everyone has to start somewhere! I received a lot of help from the 3d sign forum. Give it a shot. The V-Carve method is way faster then 3d and I use it whenever I can. Check out this thread.
http://www.3dsignforum.com/index.php?topic=889.msg7875#msg7875

[jerry_stanek]

Mike PM sent

[joe]

Tyler and everyone interested.

I'm not posting often nor are many pro's. At one time this site was filled with sign artists. They had lots of examples of what they were doing and explanations of their work.

See how it work?

[t_vandemark]

Joe, i'm not discounting the contributions that yourself and other pros have made to this forum and others. But No one comes on here looking to get belittled or be made to feel that they can't do something. We appreciate all that you have taught and shown us over the years, as myself and others have learned a ton from you. But i feel you insult allot of people with the way you go about things, I hate being told I can't or shouldn't do something. Some of us "part timers" can produce some darn nice/quality peices.

[B. Pile]

Well said Tyler, I agree 100% With you, that's what the forum is all about, helping others.

[Brian Harnett]

I am still a big fan of doing things by hand, the motorcycle club plaque was textured in about 10 minutes with a die grinder, the bit I used was a large flame bit. A cone shaped carbide would work well in your application.

The coat of arms was textured with a dremel with a small carbide oval the picture really does not bring it out much.

Been doing cnc for 11 years and have found the human computer can do it faster on one off items.

http://i.imgur.com/Vymk7do.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/dPpW5wb.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/3GDy5pz.jpg

[garyb]

Brian, very effective. Nice plaque
did you just apply a clear coat to finish?
Gary

[Brian Harnett]

They all got paint, I sealed with catalyzed lacquer first, since all these pieces are for indoors used rattle can for the black and hand brushed acrylic paint for the rest.

Mica gold in clear acrylic for the lettering, and gold effect on the coat of arms.

I am not a pro sign maker I do primarily furniture with the bot but I am always up for a challenge.

http://i.imgur.com/GoGqzWK.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/W8bcO4p.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/7tJOQzM.jpg

[khaos]

Free to a good home: :rolleyes:
http://foo.joesboats.com/XXtmpfilexfr/WoodCrv.PNG
Zip file (file will self delete in two weeks) get it if you care.
http://foo.joesboats.com/XXtmpfilexfr/Wood.zip

Saved this as a crv from aspire. I hope it is compatible for your version of vcarve.

[brian]

Joe I tried your file an ASPIRE and nothing came up

Brian.

[tmerrill]

Brian,

You won't find anything because when you save in .crv format from Aspire it only saves vectors and toolpaths that VCP recognizes. This is a 3D component and it is not saved.

Aspire provides a warning about this when you go to save in the .crv format.

Tim

[scottp55]

Thanks Joe:)

[FSICM]

Wood grain

[khaos]

Joe I tried your file an ASPIRE and nothing came up

Brian.

The OP has VCarve so I saved as a vcarve rather than aspire crv3d. I actually didn't even save the project locally.

OK true believers [Stan Lee moment] here is an additional file with a 2 new projects in it. Aspire and vcarve. [Fanfare]

http://foo.joesboats.com/XXtmpfilexfr/wood2.PNG

http://foo.joesboats.com/XXtmpfilexfr/wood2.zip

Enjoy, again these files will self destruct in two weeks. As always No warranties express or implied. Free to a good home etc etc.

~Yours in sawdust.

[dmidkiff]

Thanks Joe I will play with these today.

[tmerrill]

If you are using Aspire V4.0 it now has 12 wood grain 3D textures as part of the included 3D clipart.

As for saving 3D components or toolpaths from Aspire in the .crv format, it will NOT work and Joe's posted .crv files contain nothing usable. Just trying to save the VCarve Pro people some aggravation.

Tim

[khaos]

OK, I downloaded VCarve Pro demo and took about an hour try to figure this out and I was able to make something that could be mistaken for a wood if you stand back and squint... I tried importing STLs, DXFs, and Images nothing really seemed to work. It was most frustrating.

Please read and heed Tim's post and save yourself the aggravation. :(

Sorry to have misled anyone.

The crv file format exported from Aspire is not anymore useful than an ai. Less so I imagine since an ai can be universal.

[khaos]

I was able to import the cutfile http://foo.joesboats.com/XXtmpfilexfr/48x26-woodgrain-sbp.zip into Cut3D but I have no idea how or if that helps at all.

[scottp55]

It's the thought that counts! Hadn't gotten past the download. Thanks to you and Tim for the followthrough!!!

[Billions]

Jeez, Joe Crumley... How much do we owe you for that "NO TRESPASSIN'!" sign you just left here? LOL:)

[bleeth]

Regardless of what design program you have, as long as it is one of the higher level ones, you can import a photo of a textured board that you like and then create a relief of it from the bitmap. That way you can do a larger sign without a bunch of tiling creating a repetitious look.
Can't find a board photo you like? Take a big plank of cheap pine, sandblast it good so you get a lot of contrast, and take a good photo of it.

There are also ways to create a good board texture just by drawing lines resembling grain and then cutting between them with a wider angle v-bit. The advantage of this is it cuts faster but the 3-d looks better. Thats why a large sign like that done right would cost so much. Lots of machining time. On the other hand, you should be busy doing something else profitable while your ball nose cranks away.

[GlenP]

Hey Mike. Sent you a message. Hope to hear from you. I hope you consider how to mount a sign that large made from HDU. HDU has little strength and even wall mount if it is outside you need to make sure it will hold up. There has been tons of info on mounts to put inside a HDU sign or behind to stiffen them up. Hate seeing a beautiful sign built and installed only for the mounting to fail and destroy it.
I am not going to weigh into this "pro" and "part timer" thing on this post. I have my opinion and don't want to go to the negative side and stay positive to help others starting down the road of signmaking. The road has LOTS of bumps and hills and valleys and asking for some help is definitely smart imho.

Cheers yawl.

[powerlsc]

Thanks for your constructive remarks, Tyler.

When I first joined the forum and asked novice questions I too received many demeaning replys from seasoned craftsmen. I learned to search the forum for info before I asked questions but still got curt answers like, "There are no shortcuts, do your reasearch and watch the videos." I also watched other "new" signmakers get shot down.

I rarely posted after that and simply became a reader of other questions and answers trying to gain as much knowledge as I could.

I also switched to other forums where the atmosphere was one of sharing and teaching not so jaded. There are too many fine craftsmen in this business willing to share their thoughts, ideas and skills. I am grateful to each and every one of you that take the time to contribute to us that are just trying to learn.

I had several seasoned signmakers give me very good advice on this site but the biting remarks that were publicly presented were the ones I associate with this platform and it hurts all new folks just looking for help.

Let's help each other in the true purpose this forum was created for.

[GeneMpls]

I am really impressed with how helpful and kind 99% of the people on this board have
been... there are other boards that are like diving into a shark tank. And there are always
the 1%ers everywhere, of course. Gene

[powerlsc]

Very true Gene and I am so glad so many members jumped in with help.

A comment was made that really hit a nerve and wanted to throw my two cents in. Over that. My bad.

Have learned numerous ways to get a wood grain finish so all in all worthwhile thread.

[ssflyer]

If you have a lot of time (as in 3D relief textures), as opposed to way faster 2d textures, you may want to check out Spiral Graphics, free Wood Workshop program. Seamless repeatable textures you can design any way you like. Here's a quick example - but once again, it takes a long time to cut any 3d texture...
This is an Aspire toolpath preview.

[joe]

It's important to note:

The question remains, how does one get up to speed?

Without a teacher, school or internship the best and fastest method is to experiment with samples. I'm talking about pieces that are of the quality to go on your wall. Finished articles. It would be helpful if there were workshops teaching the basic skills of how to run a business and what to offer but in absence of that are the samples. Almost no one, that I've seen, makes this effort. It's the fastest and most productive way to get the skill level. Here are but a few sample pieces that should be made.

Texture backgrounds.
...Media Textures
...Smalts
...Woodgrain
...Faux Marble
...etc.
Masking samples for V carving
Raised letter Styles
...Cowboy
...Art Nouveau
...Roman
...Script
...etc.
Gilding
Panel Shapes
Transparent Glazes

These are but a few practices a person needs to go through.

You'll learn more in the shortest time by making samples like these. The finished articles can be used as sales tools.

I know there are lots of guys who've bought CNC's and can't wait to enter the sign market. Yes, everyone needs a place to start but giving away signs isn't the way to go about it. Practice is the answer.