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What materials (paints?) and general methods are necessary to apply color lettering, team emblems et.al. to natural grass athletic playing fields. Considering both end zones and center of high school'gridiron'.We are experienced wall dogs and bulletin men, familiar with enlargement of layout art, patterns etc. But 'down to earth'-- we are lost. Thank for any insights.
-------------------- John Schoock Bobs Space Racers 427 15th Street Daytona Beach FL 32117 Posts: 5 | From: DAYTONA BEACH FLORIDA | Registered: Sep 2001
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I had the same opportunity, only on artificial turf.
The following was the advice I received:
quote:I made a 10' x 40' reusable pattern for our local highschool. It was a heavy duty banner and I made a paper patern and taped it to the banner and the kids cut the letters out with X-Acto knives and scissors. When applied to the field, several small holes were punched into the parts like the middles of the B,A,D, etc. and large nails held them in place. As well as other parts of the banner that needed help staying down. Then, with a garden type 2 gallon pumpup sprayer, white latex paint was thinned down and sprayed on the grass. This is the same technique as using a paint mask on a sign . . . just on a larger scale. From the stands,,,, it looked just fine!! If you use this suggestion..... after spraying the graphics, pull the banner over behind the bleachers and let the paint dry before rolling up for storage.
-------------------- John Smith Kings Bay Signs 945 Haddock Rd. Kingsland, GA 31548 (912) 729-7792
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quote: When I worked at U.F. we did a large logo on the football field for the "OUTBACK Gator Bowl". They sent us a large pattern made out of rolls of 4' tall window screen material. It was all rolled up in a box. We unrolled it, and put the pattern together in the proper sections. The logo was sprayed onto the screen if I remember correctly. I did do a few other patterns myself after this project using a China marker (grease pencil) to mark the screen. We then placed it on the field, & used a turf marking paint that comes in a spray can, to mark the grass. We sprayed directly onto the screen. It allowed the paint to pass through onto the grass. I realize that you are going onto artifcial turf, but this method should work on any surface. All of the other logos, end zones, etc. I would lay out with large nails, and string. I would use the grid method, and then eyeball it to get it final. Being a natural turf, it was possible to use nails. You won't be able to do that. As for the proper paint to use on artificial turf, I couldn't tell you. Good luck.
-------------------- Luke Scanlan Scanlan Signs Ocala, Fl. Scanlan Signs@webtv.net
A long over due THANKS to both John and Luke. I am sorry to say I never got the job and to date, I don't think they have done anything . . .NEXT!
Good Luck, Bruce
-------------------- Bruce & Deb Newton Graphic Lettering San Marcos, CA Posts: 126 | From: San Marcos, CA | Registered: Sep 2001
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Usally wide tip,long handled,airless unit is used,with latex paint from Sherwin Williams. Intricate multi-colored logos are patterned via netting as used on fences around tennis courts(because of there size) Screen wire as John mentioned for smaller stuff. Grid,string,spikes for larger lettering. Hope this helps
-------------------- PKing is Pat King The Professor of SIGNOLOGY Posts: 3113 | From: Pompano Beach, FL. USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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John, I remember reading an article a few years ago on this subject in one of the trade mags, and the writer explained how his shop used old carpet to make patterns for race track infields. Layouts would be done on the backing and cut with carpet knives, and the carpet would mesh with the grass to give a sharp edge. Cant remember if they had an arrangement with a local carpet dealer, or if they just did a little dumpster diving for the material- but I imagine used carpet would be fairly easy to come by. I've never used this procedure myself, but it sounds like it might have potential.
-------------------- Jay Nichols ALPHABET SOUP
~the large print giveth and the small print taketh away~ Posts: 176 | From: SW Florida | Registered: Mar 2002
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A,...time the process so that the grass will not have time to sprout back thru the paint before the sporting event,depending on your area this may be a week to 10 days at the max. In the Carolina's during racing season the job has to be done usually the same week of the race.Allow yourself enough of a "window" on your calendar to complete in "fair" weather.
B,...mow and blow away any debris from the mowing process away from the area to be painted.
C,...have all your art work ready & approved. At most of the speedways we do the pattern on clear polyethylene with holes in the clear drop cloth material large enough to spray dots thru it with an airless.
D,...you'll need an airless,preferablly a gas powered portable unit and alot of paint. A 1000 sq ft area will use as much or more than 25 gallons, compared to the 2 1/2 gals a sign would. You can use either playing field marking paint if the budget allows and or as we do just the cheapest latex paint you can buy as anything you do will be lost in a couple of weeks due to grass growth & mowing. An 18" extention(almost a necessity) for the gun on the airless will save you alot of grief and a sore back.Also have plenty of water and drop cloths to clean and work the airless off of.
E,... If you are doing a playing field you may be very lucky as the area to be painted may already defined for you, otherwise you will need stakes and string to layout any shapes or positions for the patterns to line up on.
F,...several cans of latex traffic marking paint for layout and to use for the patterns(see step "C") I personally like to have several colors so if any corrections are needed I can do them in a different color,such as white, yellow, blue or dayglo orange.
G,... with help, position the patterns or stretch string on stakes like chalklines to layout the art.Use the traffic marking paint to lay the sign or art out with dots just as you would a bulletin.
H,...plan the painting process,as this is important because you can't paint yourself into a corner for one and you won't be able to walk on the background to do copy on top of it.This is a good time to make sure you have enough hose for the gun to reach wherever you intend to paint, as you don't want to be dragging the hose thru wet paint and smearing the art.
I,...set up and start the painting process. I personally try to do the colors in order so there is less cleaning to do with the airless,...white to yellows to reds to blues to blacks or light to dark so to speak.This is not always the case though because you won't want to paint the background then try to hop from letter to letter to fill in the copy area, you'll want to letter first then fill in around the copy.It will make a mess and slow you up horribly if you try to do the background first then the copy, unless you can fly,... The grass needs enough paint to make it appear the right color but not enough to seal the roots in puddles of paint as this will kill the grass.
J,...invoice the sporting event promoter and be sure they understand THEY pay for the paint you have poured out on the grass! We usually get paid by the sq ft depending on the complexity of the art work. One final note do not promise to do any art that has lines or strokes less than 3 to 4 inches or copy under 18" tall as there is little or no way you can do that sort of thing and make it look neat or presentable with an airless.
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