WELCOME!

It is hard to believe that it was almost ten years ago I witnessed a CNC router in action for the very first time. I was fascinated and simply had to have one! Although I had been in the creative end of the three dimensional sign business for most of my life I didn't really know what I would do with one of these machines - but I just knew it could do fantastic stuff.

Along with the CNC router I discovered the wonderful material called Precision Board and the glues, primers and other companion products they offer. Since then we have gone through many tons of the material using it in most signs and projects we tackle. This journal will chronicle our many adventures both past, present and future. I'll talk from the perspective of someone who pushes these products to the creative limit on a daily basis. I'll be adding to the stories two or three times each week. -dan

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Elegance

My daughter Rebecca who helps paint our name panels for our Sign Magic Workshops is always delighted when ladies take our workshops. It gives her a chance to do 'some girlie' flavored panels. I try and oblige with the designs. The panel had to feature a flowing script of course, a letter style from Letterhead Fonts. The bottom border was created as a flat relief, then a domed center was added. The outline of the lettering was also created as a flat relief and then modified using a similar sized oval. I did the lettering border and the plaque separately so I could float them to final position after the texture was applied.


The maple leaf bitmap texture is another from my DVD of textures. The whites raise the highest, then the grays and the black does nothing. 


With only one click of the mouse a stunning texture was instantly created. The lettering border was then nudged into position vertically and then merged with the background.


Finally the bevelled script lettering was added finishing the file. 


I routed the panel on the MultiCam from 1.5" 30 lb Precision Board in about 30 minutes. This heavy board leaved superb detail and required little finishing.


We are making great progress on the plaques... but then four more people signed up today filling our workshop to the max in an instant.

-dan