edcoleman
03-04-2007, 07:39 PM
OK, I mentioned this project in another thread and it was suggested that I explain the whole process....here goes:
I had a customer call and ask for a celtic cross design based upon an old stone cross they had seen while traveling in Scotland. Here’s a picture of the side of the cross they wanted me to re-create:
1393
I searched clipart sources for anything that might be applicable, but didn’t find anything too useful. Then I contacted an artist specializing in original celtic designs. She gave me an estimate (which I thought was very fair) for creating the artwork for me, but more importantly suggested that I push my limits and try and do the design myself. I figured that she’d most certainly do a better job at the artwork, but that it might not be the most “CNC-able” so I figured I’d give it a go. Here is the result:
1394
Programs used: Corel Draw and Vcarve Pro.
Machined on the shopbot and artwork laser engraved with a 35W ULS laser.
Here’s how I got to the finished product:
1)via web searches I found a celtic cross outline that I liked the proportions of and then pasted the graphic of the stonework inside the outline
2)I printed out the overlayed graphic and then used tracing paper and a pencil to use the underlaying graphic as a guide to create the shape of the branches and leaves. I tried to simplify the branches (keeping in mind that I needed to machine this thing).
3)Once I got a graphic I liked I scanned in the paper tracing into the computer to use as a basis for the vector artwork. Using Corel Draw I placed the scanned image on one layer and created a vector tracing layer on top of it. Sort of the same thing I did with the tracing paper and pencil in real life but on the computer. Now, I could have skipped the pencil and paper step and done everything in Corel from the start, but it was much more natural for me to refine the design with a pencil rather than a mouse.
4)To complete the decorative graphics I used a feature of corel that applies shading to a region and give the illusion of a 3D bevel, then added clipart for the animals and knotwork.
5)Export the cross outline vectors to VCarve Pro and do toolpathing for the cutout of the cross.
6)With the cross cut out, convert all the decorative graphics to a grayscale bitmap with a black background and send that bitmap to the laser engraver. The laser did an area clear of the dark areas and just “shaded” the vines and animals. See below for what I'm talking about:
1395
7)The cross was cut with a tennon at the bottom which was fitted into the base to make a free standing finished piece.
8)Finish the completed project with tung oil.
The point of the original post in the other thread was that pushing your limits can result in surprising yourself and you can be that much more proud of the end result if you do it all yourself.
-Ed
I had a customer call and ask for a celtic cross design based upon an old stone cross they had seen while traveling in Scotland. Here’s a picture of the side of the cross they wanted me to re-create:
1393
I searched clipart sources for anything that might be applicable, but didn’t find anything too useful. Then I contacted an artist specializing in original celtic designs. She gave me an estimate (which I thought was very fair) for creating the artwork for me, but more importantly suggested that I push my limits and try and do the design myself. I figured that she’d most certainly do a better job at the artwork, but that it might not be the most “CNC-able” so I figured I’d give it a go. Here is the result:
1394
Programs used: Corel Draw and Vcarve Pro.
Machined on the shopbot and artwork laser engraved with a 35W ULS laser.
Here’s how I got to the finished product:
1)via web searches I found a celtic cross outline that I liked the proportions of and then pasted the graphic of the stonework inside the outline
2)I printed out the overlayed graphic and then used tracing paper and a pencil to use the underlaying graphic as a guide to create the shape of the branches and leaves. I tried to simplify the branches (keeping in mind that I needed to machine this thing).
3)Once I got a graphic I liked I scanned in the paper tracing into the computer to use as a basis for the vector artwork. Using Corel Draw I placed the scanned image on one layer and created a vector tracing layer on top of it. Sort of the same thing I did with the tracing paper and pencil in real life but on the computer. Now, I could have skipped the pencil and paper step and done everything in Corel from the start, but it was much more natural for me to refine the design with a pencil rather than a mouse.
4)To complete the decorative graphics I used a feature of corel that applies shading to a region and give the illusion of a 3D bevel, then added clipart for the animals and knotwork.
5)Export the cross outline vectors to VCarve Pro and do toolpathing for the cutout of the cross.
6)With the cross cut out, convert all the decorative graphics to a grayscale bitmap with a black background and send that bitmap to the laser engraver. The laser did an area clear of the dark areas and just “shaded” the vines and animals. See below for what I'm talking about:
1395
7)The cross was cut with a tennon at the bottom which was fitted into the base to make a free standing finished piece.
8)Finish the completed project with tung oil.
The point of the original post in the other thread was that pushing your limits can result in surprising yourself and you can be that much more proud of the end result if you do it all yourself.
-Ed