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shadowed lettering – easiest way to achieve it?
I’m curious as to how the easiest way to apply the vinyl onto another layer to create the shadow effect. I have got a fairly large job to do for a nursery involving about 30 signboards all with shadowed text. Ive cut all of the vinyl out (black backing with green lettering). Do you apply the letters individually or with app.tape? Ive done a few samples to test and keep finding im getting dust etc under the letters making it look awful! Material is Foamex.
Any tips / advice would be great!
Thanks
Chris -
5 Replies
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Clean your fourex, then spray your fourex with a mist of metho and let it dry – don’t rub it dry, just let the evaporate.
That will demagnatise it so as it will not attract any more dust.
The easy way to apply a shadow, is to lay the bottom colour first, then lay the top colour, offset off the bottom colour. Does that make sense?
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nice one cheers! I did notice the foamex was a bit static! (first time ive used it!). Do you apply the bottom layer wet or dry? Also how do you apply the upper layer? All in one or letter by letter?
Cheers
Chris 😉 -
You can get rid of the static using a water too. I always pre-spray the coating to reduce the static whilst peeling it off & wipe the board down after peeling the coating just to be sure.
As for laying – wet or dry whatever your comfy with. If it’s BIG text you may be better doing it one letter at a time – for short runs of smaller stuff I’d keep it together. I normally don’t trust my plotter / or any possible stretch in the tape for long runs over 10 letters.
Id try a few letters at a time, if you find it’s awkward drop the number you do in one go. Work wet for the top layer seeing as how you sound new to this, and go dry when you’re confident of not getting bubbles or dust trapped.
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Chris, it does depend on how big the length is. Davids suggestion is good too, but I will apply both dry, and in one length, again depending on the length.
If it is really long, just use the hinge method. Then you can break the text up into smaller lengths and not worry about measuring each time.
When cutting your two colours, do them in the same cut run. Not that it will be obvious, but if you cut 1 colour, let the machine cool down, then cut the other colour, the servo motors may not be as accurate as when the are kept warm to cut both colours.
Cheers
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excellent thanks for the help chaps.
The text measures approximately 22" x 7" tall ish with the shadow dragging out from the bottom right hand corner.
I think to begin with (as im new to this!) ill apply the top letters seperately. I think though it must be the static buildup as Ive done layering on various vans and they have come up fine!
Thanks
Chris 🙂
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