posted
Well Glenn, I'd say you have a bit of a problem. The first thing that hits me is a 3.5 foot letter on a 4x8 doesn't allow for much negative space at the top or bottom of the letters. Not enough negative space makes a sign harder to read and less visually appealing.
An even bigger problem is that arial bold at 3.5 feet tall, with normal kerning occupies a width of 10 feet 10 inches. Your not going to fit them on a 4x8 unless you squash the letter width by 70%.
Anyway, it will take a 48" plotter to cut them. I'm sure there are a few heads out there that have a 48" plotter, but if no one can help you, you can order them from Gregory (800-835-2221)
They say same day shipping, free freight on an order over $50. 42" letters are $24.53 each with Trendfilm HP, or $26.03 each with 3M Scotchcal or $34.01 with Scotchcal Translucent.
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6465 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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posted
Actually, Arial Narrow Bold looks ok on a 4x8 at 36" and looks a little crowded at 42". Whether you cut 36" or 42", by breaking the W and cutting VFV V, turning the letters 90 degrees on the cutter, you can cut them just fine on a 30" wide piece of vinyl - a much more common width.
There's nothing wrong with Gregory, but it is a make versus buy decision. It's $27 tops of vinyl, probably less. It's a simple block, not a fancy script. Do you pay Gregory $75 or do you cut it yourself and put the $50 in your pocket? If I did not have a 30" cutter and couldn't find someone local to cut it, I would just divide the job into straight bars and cut it on the small cutter. One man's opinion. Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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Thanks Guys I understand what you guys are saying but this is the space they have to work in sign code here says no more than 32sq.ft. of signage on the building . and they all ready have a free standing sign. they wanted letters as big as they could get being its only 3 letters so thats what I came up with! if anyone has better idea please let me know.
thanks for all the great info.
and Dave Sherby thats camm 1 still going strong!! Thanks for the great deal!!! wife and I are going to plan a weekend up there again soon !! what you got for sale now ...lol..??
posted
If you have to make letters that size, I don't see why you don't just mark out the copy with a china marker or whatever, and cut them out with an x-acto knife. It's all straight cuts and you could use a staight edge. I really think your making this way more complicated than it needs to be.
Or just paint it. If your not a painter, just lay 2 rows of 24" premask down, mark it, cut it, and roll it.
-------------------- Jeff Ogden 8727 NE 68 Terr. Gainesville FL, 32609 Posts: 2138 | From: 8827 NE 68 Terr Gainesville Fl 32609 | Registered: Aug 2002
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posted
Glenn, there have been some good posts here in the past about how proper use of negative space improves a layout.
Others here can give way better explanations, but the punch line is, 36" letters will have better readability than 42". You need negative space all around so the eye can make out the letters. Vic G
-------------------- Victor Georgiou Danville, CA , USA Posts: 1746 | From: Danville, CA , USA | Registered: Dec 1998
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posted
I agree with Jeff & Rob. Seems like painting would be best. There are no curves. Instead of using a large plotter, if you have an overhead or opaque projector, mask it & blow it up that way, then clean up, cut & paint. Or just paint without using a maskant.
[ October 13, 2002, 12:48 AM: Message edited by: Bill Cosharek ]
-------------------- Bill Cosharek Bill Cosharek Signs N.Huntingdon,Pa
bcosharek@juno.com Posts: 704 | From: N.Huntingdon, Pa, USA | Registered: Dec 1999
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posted
provide the client with some scale drawings & show them the negative space realities as mentioned above. If size is their only way of recognizing "bang-for-the-buck" then at least paint the 4x8 to match the building, then 42" will not appear crowded into that space. Also use Ariel condensed as you will see that letters designed as a condensed form look much better then just forcing a regular letter to squeeze into a clients requirement.
Although the concensus would have you paint, if you are comfortable applying that size vinyl & prefer to stay in that comfort zone, I agree that without any curves you could order enough 4 ft. material & hand cut that job in 20 minutes, & with very little basic math instead of an overhead projector.
posted
you can use a roll of 2" masking tape and a house painting brush and do this thing in an hour or less. don't be afraid of paint -- you don't have to be a "master" to do it. you could even buy a quart of semi-gloss latex exterior house paint (or even a pint of Rustoleum enamel paint) at the local hardware store, if you don't have ready access to 1-Shot. the tape, paint, and brush will come to less than $25.
here's the difference between letters with some breathing room around them and letters that crowd to the edge of the board.
as i told a customer the other day, you don't make a room look bigger by putting more furniture in it.
-------------------- :: Scooter Marriner :: :: Coyote Signs :: :: Oakland, CA :: :: still a beginner :: :: Posts: 1356 | From: Oakland (and San Francisco) | Registered: Mar 2001
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YOU Guys have been talking to my wife havent you??
I get same thing from her, always a better way to do it....lmao
never get the anwser Im looking for ........lol
Im going to take yours advice and make the letters smaller !!
I have been following letter head advice right along and so far they have not steered me wrong!! just once I wish could just get an anwser with out a better way.......lol well maybe not that would screw things all up..!
ok guys I gots to get back to work!! my helpper is on vaca for next 2 weeks so I working in and out of shop!
THANKS AGAIN GUYS !!
PS. I want to learn more about negative space anyone !! willing??
He should use all caps Brush Script. It has a lot more flow...
Have a great one!
-------------------- Bruce Bowers
DrCAS Custom Lettering and Design Saint Cloud, Minnesota
"Things work out best for the people who make the best of the way things work out." - Art Linkletter Posts: 6465 | From: Saint Cloud, Minnesota | Registered: Jun 1999
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