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Halo type thing……
I’ve had a request from a customer to make a halo illuminated sign. Thing was, he doesn’t want to pay too much so I came up with a method using a standard lightbox and vinyls. Basically, I took a clear panel and backed it with pale blue vinyl with the letters missing on the reverse of the panel. (So the letters are clear) I then backed this with the same thing but in black. Then on the front of the panel I stuck white text outlined by 3mm to make it a bit bolder and then the same on top in blue. Basically, the light comes through the clear, hits the white and refracts out into the panel. I have found that lighter background colours work better. Anyway, very pleased with the result, showing the prototype tomorrow. Here’s a sample:
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30 Replies
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So you’re not just a pretty face then! 😀 Not too shabby for a southerner 😉
Seriously though, looks really good. 😀 Sounds like a good solution for producing the effect, how long do you think it will take to do the final job though as it sounds quite labour intensive? 😕
Cheers, Dewi
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Well there’s 4 layers of vinyl in all (2 front, 2 back) and the most important thing is accurate positioning, so a bit of care will be needed. Apart from that, it’s fairly standard stuff. Think I’ve a good chance of getting a job with a cheaper (although not cheap) alternative that otherwise would have involved buying in a lot of expensive built ups. I can’t believe how effective the result is. I’ve amazed myself!
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You could make a demo of it mate, its a bloody good technique. You would be known from that point forward as the Light Box Man! 😀 (far better than ppl like me thinking you look like the bloke from Top Gear 😉 )
Cheers, Dewi
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Thats really good Big G.
we used to do the same type of thing but just two layers,
very impressive will have to try that outSimon
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Very clever…… :2thumbs:
Marcella
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Thats very good mate ! I saw a similar effect at SignUK a few years ago and didn’t take enough notice of how exactly it was achieved but now you have worked it out thats a great help 😀
I guess you could add a fifth layer of transparent colour to the back of the clear to give you a different coloured halo too – what thickness of acrylic did you use, 5mm ?Thanks for sharing it !
Nigel
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That looks real well mate took me a couple of reads to get the gist of it 🙄 did you or will you be using translucent vinyl ?
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Nigel, I used 5mm. The first attempt using 3mm worked ok but I’ve found that the effect is better on 5mm. Probably something to do with refraction…..or physics or summink.
Steve, I decided to block all the colours to get the best result in terms of contrast. In any case, it doesn’t work too well at all if you don’t use white as an underlay on the front text as this is what reflects the light back into the panel. Whether it would work with translucents, I dunno?
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quote big G:it doesn’t work too well at all if you don’t use white as an underlay on the front text as this is what reflects the light back into the panel. Whether it would work with translucents, I dunno?
DOH!!!! yeah course. 🙄
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Don’t forget Steve, that a translucent on top of white will illuminate to some degree, as it will be on a clear panel, not an opal one.
Anyway, I’m looking at this sample panel now, outside in the dark at the end of the yard and I’ve got to say it works a bloody treat.
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its not true what they say about drummers then 😉
been thinking about simular and yourve got it sorted proper job
chris
on a nother note my sons drum rack kit is 50x40mm and cant find any brackets any ideas ? all others are 50x50mm sq tube
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Drummers? Are you mental?
What’s he on about?
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😳 sorry wrong geeeeezer forget the rest still a proper job on the sign though
chris
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A halo with no leds, neon or routing, now that is impressive. The effect looks outstanding but I see your light source looks very powerful. Do you know if the effect will be as good with a light box. If it does then I have got to have a go at that !!!!
Nice one 😉
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very effective andy!! 😛 😛 looks terrific 😀
like steve, it took me a couple of reads also to figure out how you did it!! 🙄
very nice :thumbsup: :thumbsup:
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Great stuff Big G 😀 Like Nik & Steve I eventually got the gist after a couple of reads. Looks great!! Thanks for sharing!
Carrie 😀
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Why do you think I asked him if he’d do a demo? 😉 I wasn’t going to admit I’d suddenly forgotten how to read plain english and couldn’t understand a word 😳 😳
Pictures, give me big, simple words and pictures! 😀
Cheers, Dewi
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Big G, you’re a real angel to think of that.
The sign looks heavenly.
Love….Jill -
quote Dewi:Why do you think I asked him if he’d do a demo? 😉
:lol1: Bless Dewi Im sure Big G would do a demo if you asked him very very nicely. 😀 Id like to see a demo aswell.
Carrie 😀
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quote Carrie:Im sure Big G would do a demo if you asked him very very nicely. 😀 Id like to see a demo aswell.
He probably would if I stopped calling him a big southern nancy! 😀 Maybe you should ask him Carrie, he’ll say yes to you 😀
Cheers, Dewi
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Dewi, perhaps if you twirl your hair and flutter your lashes he might just do it 😉 :lol1: not that Im saying Big G is into that sort of thing though.
On a serious note a demo would be great if ever you get around to one Mr Big G 😀
Carrie 😛
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quote Carrie:Dewi, perhaps if you twirl your hair and flutter your lashes he might just do it 😉
*hair*
quote Carrie:not that Im saying Big G is into that sort of thing though.Now who said Big G was a southern nancy? Not me!!! Spade anyone??? :lol1: :lol1: :lol1:
quote Carrie:On a serious note a demo would be great if ever you get around to one Mr Big G 😀 Carrie 😛How can you refuse Andy? Granted, she didn’t shake tic tacs, but the whole ‘Mr Big G’…. just the politeness alone is worth it!
Cheers, Dewi
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I’ll be seeing the customer tomorrow with the sample. Hopefully he’ll place an order and I’ll take some pictures as I make it. It’s actually very easy to make but difficult to describe.
In answer to signdevil’s question – There is a 40watt inspection lamp bulb behind the panel. I have placed a small fluorescent tube behind and the effect is better, as it is a whiter light, with a nice even spread of light. I can’t emphasize enough how absolutely amazed I am with the effect. Even at 4 o’clock, with the sunlight fading, the halo was as good as any LED lit sign I’ve seen.
Go on, try it.
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WOW very impressive Big G, you’ve got me excited (no I’m not into guys) just great thinkers with great ideas, I will have a go when the work dies down.
Thanks a million, have a drink on me.
Dave
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Well blow me down 😮 I have been in this business a long time and I would have never thought of that……………….
Forrest……………………
Trees……………..
🙄
Never say that you are to old to learn new tricks!
Well done that man. Give him a coconut ! :lol1: -
Nice job Andy.
I did something vaguely similar years ago for K Shoes, using clear acrylic with vinyl on both sides to give a 3D impression whilst keeping a smooth face for easy cleaning. It wasn’t illuminated though, and yours looks really good.
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OK Mike, where’s my coconut?
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Always one to lend a helping hand Mike…..
http://www.wrappedandreadygifts.com/Buy … conut.html
😀
Cheers, Dewi
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Dewi you have way tooooo much time on your hands :lol1: :lol1:
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Nah, I’m just addicted to the internet and uksb… I’m taking tablets and the doc says I should be fine if I limit my time to 16 hrs a day instead of the usual 18. What does he know, I discovered you can connect your computer to yourself and be online 24 hrs a day!!! 😀
http://www.nyu.edu/classes/keefer/com/buchm2.html
Roll on cybernetics… I could design a sign by thinking it 😀
Cheers, Dewi
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