posted
This was built from 1" HDU router cut with textures then hand lettered/painted. After all painting was complete I use a grey black glaze and "dirty ed" it up. After applying the glaze and ragging off it looked to muddy, so I used some citrus spray on a rag and polished the high areas of the sign. First time I have tried this and it seemed to work nicely. It was very scary to apply a mud looking glaze over a prefect looking sign. Very fun! See slow times are good for learning and trying new techniques! Thanks to GrampaDan for the eye candy in signcraft for this one!
-------------------- Aaron Taylor A Router Works Pensacola, Fl Posts: 69 | From: Pensacola, Fl | Registered: Apr 2008
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Looking good Aaron!! It looks like you were paying attention.
Now we just have to teach you to apply a series of glazes... first with warm colors and then gradually darker - wiping more off each time with each successive layer. It really gives it more depth.
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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My first reaction to the title was "how do they do dimensional tatoos?" but then I realized my mistake.
Very nice layout. You didn't ask for a critique, but I will offer a suggestion. I would have made the word "Tatoo" larger and given it the gold technique. The white scrolls and border grabbed my eye first rather than the main copy. Maybe less contrast there and more for the priority copy.
Like Dan said, toned glazes would look very nice.
-------------------- Chapman Sign Studio Temple, Texas chapmanstudio@sbcglobal.net Posts: 6306 | From: Temple, Texas, USA | Registered: Nov 1998
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I like it. There are some real nice qualities.
However, I'm going to go out on a limb here and make a comment. I may get flamed for it.
All you router people beware that you do not get caught up in the same trap as the digital printers. I'm finding that the backgrounds textures in a whole lot of CNC router work is really overpowering the piece, and also contributing to diminishing the clarity and readability. Just because you can, doesn't mean you have too. I've had that drilled into my head often enough.
Backgrounds should remain in the background.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I LOVE texture on a sign... probably more than anyone. I believe texture can be incorporated widely through a sign without diminishing its readiblity if there is still contrast. Contrast can be generated in texture just as much as color and values.
When we design a sign we need to ask what's most important... what's not. We have to build our signs so they read well by using these principles. It has to make sense. Like Kelly says above the same rules apply to ANY sign no matter what the method or medium you may choose to use.
The dark glaze on the panel above is of the same value as the lettering and fights with it, making it a little harder to read. The problems in the sign above aren't so much because of texture as they are of values and sizing of the relative importance of the elements to each other. The border and curly cues could perhaps be a darker color to make them drop back a little. As Raymond suggests the Tattoos could be a little larger. I don't have a problem of the black TATTOO if the panel behind it stays lighter with more subtle glazes.
Let me show you what I mean...
The little panel above has texture from top to bottom but there's contrast in the textures as well as the colors. What's important has to POP and the rest has to fade back and support it.
You are doing great Aaron... jsut needs some tweaks...
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Raymond, you never know with the trade of Tattooing the next big thing might be implants with tattoos over them for a nice dimensional effect!
I appreciate the critiques from everyone, that is the way I learn to create the best signs I can! Thank you Raymond for getting me to notice the lack of emphasis on the most important part of the sign! Your suggestions would have made for better impact on the sign.
Still learning and experimenting with glaze finishes. When the home life with a new born settles down I will attend a Sign Magic workshop, but til then practice, listen and learn!
Kelly, I agree with you on the "don't add every trick in the book" to the sign. I wanted to play with what I could do with textures and see how different they looked on the screen versus off the router. But as with textures on signs I think of the old sandblasted signs we use to make, and the backgrounds of them always produced a texture of some sort. I loved that about sandblasted signs. Then I got a router with out a 3D software and started routing smooth backgrounds, it just didn't do it for me. Hell I'm still learning, and like my wife said about me in the kitchen "you always add to much extra stuff to the recipe. I get very excited and just jump in, by the time I'm through I got to start taking the "extras" out. Oh well still pretty young maybe I got time for it all to soak in to this small brain!
So the lesson that I have lern today with help from you guys is, pay attention to the main focus of the sign. Make sure sizing, value, and contrasting color is where it should be, and keep all the extras down not to fight with the main message, and most of all keep studying and practicing effective arrangements in signage.
What a great trade that we are in I think that I have the best job in the world and everyday I think of what I can do to get better in this profession. I wish the days of the apprentices were still around. I would have been cleaning alot on signmens quills just to come up though the ropes.
So I want to thank you guys for helping me be the best I can be.
Back to tweak'in and soaking up info!
-at
-------------------- Aaron Taylor A Router Works Pensacola, Fl Posts: 69 | From: Pensacola, Fl | Registered: Apr 2008
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Just to clarify Aaron, my comment was not directed directly at you but at a trend I see developing where your eyes don't really find a spot to rest or focus which causes an uncomfortable tension in what is otherwise a great piece. In comparison to some of the work out there your background is quite plain. I really like the treatment of the background behind Tatoo. It manages to convey the diamonds in a very subtle but effective way. In my mind I can compare it to the soft focus background a photographer uses to compliment a portrait. The red background I do find a bit distracting, both the scale of it as well as the depth perception which is partly created from the glaze contrast and gloss.
All in all though it is an impressive piece and I agree with the comments about your potential.
-------------------- “Did you ever stop to think, and forget to start again?” -Winnie the Pooh & A.A. Milne
Kelly Thorson Kel-T-Grafix 801 Main St. Holdfast, SK S0G 2H0 ktg@sasktel.net Posts: 5496 | From: Penzance, Saskatchewan | Registered: May 2002
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I've met Aaron when I was at a trade show in Florida... he is one passionate sign guy who is eager to learn and all ears... Aaron is the guy to watch!!!
-grampa dan
-------------------- Dan Sawatzky Imagination Corporation Yarrow, British Columbia dan@imaginationcorporation.com http://www.imaginationcorporation.com
Being a grampa is one of the the most wonderful things in the world!!! Posts: 8738 | From: Yarrow, B.C. Canada | Registered: Nov 1998
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Nice work Aaron- (and Dan- that's a really great 'Robert'!)
Aaron, I agree with Raymond- I'd prefer to see 'Tattoo' in gold, and 'Black Sparrow' in ivory/white. It would balance nicely with the lower panel text, and the gold would hit your eye with the most important message in the optical centre first: Tattoo.
-------------------- "Stewey" on chat
"...there are no limits when you aim for perfection..." Jonathan Livingston Seagull Posts: 7014 | From: Highgrove via Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia | Registered: Dec 2002
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You have a great attitude Aaron! Keep posting and learning.
-------------------- John Arnott El Cajon CA 619 596-9989 signgraphics1@aol.com http://www.signgraphics1.com Posts: 1443 | From: El Cajon CA usa | Registered: Dec 1998
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Thank you guys for all the kind words! This really has been a very helpful post. In just one project I have picked up many very important things to look out for. Looking forward to the next panel and to apply what has been put in my brain by all of you. Thanks again for helping me produce better signs!
-at
-------------------- Aaron Taylor A Router Works Pensacola, Fl Posts: 69 | From: Pensacola, Fl | Registered: Apr 2008
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Aaron...you are not the only one that learns from this process...we all learn from the ctitique...I have also taken away some good lessons from this post...OK now I have an observation to add...why not approach the curly red doodads at top and bottom on the red frame in the same way you treated the flourishes around "TATTOO"...those areas are flat and uninteresting...with the level of detail the rest of the sign has they look unfinished.
posted
Wow, that is a great sign Aaron! I have hand painted 3 tattoo shop signs, & lettered the windows of 6, but never once did one dimensional. I was excited to see what you did, & sure wasn't disappointed!
-------------------- The Word in Signs Bobbie Rochow Jamestown, PA 16134
724-927-6471
thewordinsigns@alltel.net Posts: 3485 | From: Jamestown, PA 16134 | Registered: Oct 2002
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