The Archives

[Rodger MacMunn]

My design skills weren't really challenged on this one, with a student designing the logo at the top, but I was allowed to use a font that has been around since at least 1865 for the main copy. I feel that a sign for a public archives should NOT look modern or trendy......
One of the more difficult concepts in signmaking is choosing appropriate fonts for the job at hand. It usually entails purchasing fonts, which many seem reluctant to do. You should NEVER have to pay for a font yourself - your customer is the guy who pays for it. Then it's yours to use again & again .......

Clear, vertical grain Western Redcedar. ... sandblasted, with Porter & PPG acrylics. Posts are 5" x 6" Eastern Whitecedar.

[Joe Pelonio]

Very nice, and good advice. I have had to buy fonts a few times and always passed that along, if they didn't like any of the 5,000 or so I offered. Western Redcedar holds up very well, with that good paint yours should last a long time.

[Keith Outten]

Nice work Rodger.

I like the font, particularly on this design. Concerning fonts I have often found that certain letters look terrible in some fonts so I never know what to expect when I use a font that is either new to me or one that I haven't used in a long time. Dealing with customers that specify a particular font can be be a pain when the text just doesn't look right to me. If they insist......well that's their prerogative.

[Rodger MacMunn]

Thanks Joe. You know, you shouldn't be giving them 5000 choices LOL you're confusing them big time .....
Keith, almost every font has a letter in it that I dislike the look of, or one that leaves a big ugly space between it & the adjacent letter. "LA" is the usual culprit.
As for disliking certain letters , I often node edit them to suit me. It seems that upper case "R"s often have the kicked-out leg looking just "wrong", but it's an easy fix, especially in Coreldraw.

[Mike Null]

Rodger
Nice work. I share your views on fonts.

[John Bion]

Hi Rodger,
Thanks for sharing again. I love the effect you have achieved with the font used. Is that simply shadow on the sides of the letters or have you applied a “shadow” to the font sides?
Kind Regards, John

[Rodger MacMunn]

John, the shadow & the letters are all one raised element. It's a pain in the arse to do, but looks good. At least I think it looks good .... LOL

[John Bion]

Hi Rodger, thanks, I thought they were but was not sure if you had added a darker tone to the sides of the letters.
What masking method do you use? At present I am only using my CNC Router and lasers for signage but would love to do sandblasted too. I have a large-ish (24” X 14”) UV exposure unit for photoresist (which I use with Rayzist film for sandblasting glass); could I use this method with a different film or would I have to go the vinyl cutter route?
Thanks and kind regards,
John

[Rodger MacMunn]

John..I have no idea what you're talking about . I' just use the pale yellow paintmask from Avery, cut on a plotter, with a clear transfer tape. Even then, it's difficult to register .
For sandblasting wood, you need a LOT of air. The compressor I use is getting old & weak .... it's a 1967, & although it once put out about 100CFM, it's likely down to about 65 now. I'm starting to rout them down with the CNC to get the depth, & then blast for the texture. I can't afford .to spend $15k on a newer used compressor, although I'd love to have 175CFM.