Hi, I've been lurking around a couple of years, reading and trying to absorb some of the knowledge that's shared here, than attempting to put into practice. Now i'm stumped. I am trying to paint a white circle, centered on a 4 x 8 blue panel, but i want it to fade into the blue at the edges. laid out and cut a mask with transfer tape, than sprayed lightly, but it gave a sharp edge. Is there a simple way to do this and have a soft edge while still keeping a nice circle? Any ideas would be appreciated. Thanks, Bill
Posted by Tony Ray Mattingly (Member # 469) on :
I have not tried this but it sounds like it would work. 1.Cut out your pattern in something that has a little stiffness to it. 2. lay several small items down on your 4X8 on the outer edge of the circle. You might try stacks of coins. You are going to trying to hold the mask slightly off the 4X8 while spraying. 3. You will need to be sure and spray straight with no angles.
That should leave you a soft edge.
I would try this on some scrap first to check how high the mask needs to be.
Posted by Peter Schuttinga (Member # 2821) on :
Spray the circle white staying away from the edge by a few inches, then spray the edge of the circle with the same blue as the panel, and you'll have a nice soft edge. Note the circle will be smaller than the masked circle by a few inches or so.
Posted by Joe Rees (Member # 211) on :
What are you spraying with Bill? Rattle cans aren't going to give you enough control to accomplish what you want. You'll need a spray gun or at least an airbrush. There's a little technique involved but the big secret is to think of it as a two-to-three-color spray process.
Starting from where you are with a solid white circle on the blue field I would thin down some of that white, put it in an airbrush and slowly blur that stark border till it disappears. If you were careful the circle will still appear pretty round, symmetrical and evenly faded, but the white overspray on the blue won't necessarily look too good. Time to thin down some of the background blue and repeat the process, this time working from the solid blue slowly into the blend area.
At that point you'll be at a crossroads as you'll now have a dry overspray area if you stop spraying the background blue. To get an even gloss on everything you can switch to a larger spray gun and just keep going till all the blue is re-wet. Either that or you could clearcoat overall - a whole new set of potential problems, or just live with the dry overspray.
If you want to get real fancy, mix a blend of the white and blue and make a third pass very lightly over the transition area. To me a 3-color blend will beat 2 colors every time. Good luck Show a pic of how it comes out ok?
Posted by Ray Rheaume (Member # 3794) on :
Airbrush would be the best way out of this one...
Any time you mask a shape, you're apt to get a "sharp edge", even if it's only caused by the paint being another layer. It's slight, but if you lay down too much paint, it will cast a line along the edge.
By the desciption, it's not really a circle you're after, but a round, glowing backround on the sign. If your going to be working over it with lettering or a design, laying it all out first and just doing some small freehand spots with an airbrush can be easier. Doesn't sound like a whole lot of detail and, for just a few bucks, you could pick up a hobby shop airbrush and try it out.
Hope this helps... Rapid
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
It's easy.
Bring the panel in your truck to a repair shop with a hoist.
Raise the truck and remove a rear wheel.
Bolt the panel to the wheel making sure its centered for where you want the circle.
Have someone start the truck and put it in low gear with one foot on the brake to govern speed, and one foot on the gas.
While the board is spinning slowly, spray your white circle.
Simple.
Posted by Dave Grundy (Member # 103) on :
HaHaHa Rick...Good suggestion!!!
AND it might not be a bad idea in essense!!!
Like for smaller panels, place the panel on one of those wind -up aftermarket turntables for microvave ovens. Crank it up and just hold the gun steady, then slowly move it inward to the centre. Pobably wouldn't work for a 4x8 tho unless you have REALLY long arms.
Posted by Rick Beisiegel (Member # 3723) on :
Bill
I don't have an answer, but, I'd like to welcome you to Letterville. It appears as though you have recently taken up residence!! You look kinda like the Wal*Mart price cutting guy!
[ December 04, 2004, 03:59 PM: Message edited by: Rick Beisiegel ]
Posted by Bill Hubbard (Member # 3381) on :
Thanks for all the responses, i pulled a little from a few responses to get this done. did a couple smaller ones for practice first, it came out OK. i appreciate all the suggestions. but now i have another question: how do i get all this overspray off my truck?
Thanks alot Bill
Posted by Frank Magoo (Member # 3950) on :
Meguiar's clay bar system. works great!!!
Posted by Rick Sacks (Member # 379) on :
Brad Johnson in Corvallis has mounted signs on an electric potters wheel to accomplis circular spray patterns. A 4x8 would be a tough size, but he's done 4x4's.
Frank, please tell us more about the clay bar system???
We often find some windex works if the overspray hasn't dried long and the airbrushing was done onto a solid wet base.
Posted by Monte Jumper (Member # 1106) on :
I think tony has the right approach...but I'd like to add to it...depending on the size of the circle cut out a pice of masonite or sintra (or anything ridgid) set it on something like thinner can caps (or rolls of 1/2" masking tape well in from the edge) and spray from the inside area of the cutout so the spray goes out over the edge and not under the cut out...If done carefully I know it will work...you can always touch up with a small "touch up" gun.
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