Crossfit Letter Job

Here's a job we did at the Visual Edge Signs this last Friday. The client was required by his landlord to have lettering for the building front and being a new gym, money was pretty tight so we did this in the smallest font we could reasonably do. We also were able to install this ourselves by using the roof rather than renting a boom truck which is typically how one goes about this process. This was done in the city of Aurora and we're licensed contractors so we were able to do the work ourselves. Since there was a roof here we were able to get on that to put up the pattern, drill the through-holes and affix the sign without using a boom truck.

What's interesting in the Denver Metro area is that every municipality requires it's own fees and processes to be considered a licensed contractor. So far we've got contracts for Centennial (where we're located), Lone Tree, Brighton, Aurora and Thornton. If a client asks for work to be done in a new city that we haven't done work in yet we take the tests and pay the fees to get the certification.

Interesting tutorial video! Ever wonder how to wrap color around an object in Photoshop?

Photoshop Tutorial

I had fun doing this one. I think the creator of the video had a much better result. I don't know if it's because I didn't do something right on the filter (I had to make my own adjustments and positioning based on my tutorial, you will find each one is different unless you have the exact images that he used.) I shot a photo of my hand on my new phone (I am liking the Droid Ultra!) and used a high resolution web image of the American flag. What I found here after some failed experimentation (the best way to learn!) is that you have to chose a background flag that is fairly flat. Otherwise the "distort-displace" filter will react in weird ways to the way that the flag wraps around the hand. This only makes sense. If you image a fish eye lens, this is essentially what you are doing except Photoshop recognizes the lights and darks in the hand image and warps according to those values rather than a perfect circle.

Here is my final interpretation of this tutorial video. If you have some time and access to Adobe Photoshop I'd highly recommend checking this out!

Latest Project

This project was done for our next-door neighbors at Minute Man Press DTC. They asked my to put up a list of products and services along with a color logo. This logo was print and die cut on out HP Latex L26500. The logo and colored letters have a calendared laminate to protect it from the elements. One thing I like to do for the client is to provide them with a proof of what the project will look like using Adobe Illustrator to scale the files. If I know the actual window dimensions I can then make a 10% scale copy and this ensures all the text will fit when it is enlarged to full size and cut on the plotter. This technique works rather well with vehicle wraps as well. One thing to keep in mind is that your photograph MUST be straight on to reduce problems with perspective. If you can't fit everything in the photo or if there's a car in the way this method won't work; you'll have to revert to grey boxes in Illustrator to show the windows. Clients always like something they can visualize, it really helps sell the job.

Project from 2011 European Spa

This project was done when I worked at Signs Now Highlands Ranch. These graphics are all laminated and were applied using the "wet application" method, a soap and water type mix which is essential for very large solid graphics. This reduces the amount of air bubbles and allows you to reposition the graphics if necessary within a few minutes of application. After that, the adhesive begins to bond as the soap mix dried and you'll have a tougher and tougher time making any adjustments.

Projects from 2010

These 24" x 36" PVC signs were made while I worked at Signs Now Highlands Ranch. They were created using a combination of Photoshop, client artwork and some high resolution images I found on the web. They were laminated to protect the prints (we used a Mutoh Solvent printer at the time) and then hung in the lobby at Magic Rabbit Car Wash a few blocks from us. I liked this particular project because the eye is immediately attracted to the signs because of the bright colors and the patterns.