[Angelique Muller]

Thanks for that Shane,

I would be worried about fixing it….. with the windy conditions here in this coastal area that it would tear quite easily?

[Angelique Muller]

Congratulations! Well done!

[Angelique Muller]

Yep, very nice indeed! I like it a lot!!!

[Angelique Muller]

quote Graeme Harrold:

:cheer: :cheer: Woohoo………..all friends again

Aaah…is it over now…….. I was fun reading this whole ‘discussion’
Looked to me like Edward was reading things in the story that weren’t there…..poor David……
Anyway it is good that the peace has returned… let’s see what next innocent post will cause a big stir…

[Angelique Muller]

Follow Phill’s advice and visit the Signblazer forum.
I had real trouble importing/pasting Corel files into Signblazer. The two are not very compatible.
You have to make sure you have everything converted to curves and no fill effects anywhere….

Don’t know anything about cutting directly from Corel though….

[Angelique Muller]

Beautiful work!!

[Angelique Muller]

happy belated birthday wishes from me too!!!

[Angelique Muller]

Cute?!?!
How about this one:

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[Angelique Muller]

That’s perfect!!
Thanks Paul
😀

[Angelique Muller]

Congratulations on the new arrival to your family!! He is lovely!!!

I feel lucky that my son was small at birth: now at 8 weeks he is 5 kg……
I hope your wife recover soon! She will need her strength for the sleepless nights….
😀

[Angelique Muller]

I use Signblazer more often now that Corel. Especially the ‘bezier’ function I find a lot easier in Signblazer.
To be honest: I am only an ‘amateur’ and probably don’t use all the options that the software has…
So best to check out that website/forum that I send to you by pm.
Good luck with it!

[Angelique Muller]

Maude & Louis….

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[Angelique Muller]

I use Signblazer Pro. Initially had to get used to it (quite different to Coreldraw or Illustrator), but I really like it now.
There is a signblazer forum. I just checked and it is still being updated….

[Angelique Muller]

Thank you all for your ideas and help.
It has certainly helped in terms of getting inspiration.
After the weekend I will try and go back to work… after recent events…. 😀

[Angelique Muller]

Yes, I must say that I find that trend of dressing dogs up a hard one to swallow. It’s not for the dog.. it’s for the owner and I feel you aren’t doing the animal any favors..
They probably appreciate an extra walk/exercise a lot more…

Harry: whatever kind of dog you decide to get: I would stay away from working dogs. I’ve 2 border collies. I love them to bits… lovely temperament but they need sooo much exercise. They drive me nuts when I don’t have time to bring them to the beach to burn of their energy
Do good research and get a breed that suits your family life (and you probably end up with a retriever of labrador…….).

So sorry Roy… I would not know of a supplier for you……..

[Angelique Muller]

Thank you all for your best wishes!!! 😀 😀

[Angelique Muller]

quote Brian Maher:

congrats on the birth of your little boy… same birthday as myself :lol1:

not hijacking this but we also had a baby daughter Lucy on the 2nd of May.:lol1: :lol1:
both she and Lynn are doing great…

its such a humbling experience holding your new child for the first time,
my son is 13 in july and its scary to think he was this small, it seems
like yesterday… as shane said they grow up so soon.

enjoy every moment… and look after yourself :lol1:

Best wishes
Brian

Congratulations to you aswell!! Well done!
It’s funny… most people are all asking about how mother and child are. But I think they sometimes forget about the dads. It is an incredible experience for them too .
And although they might not do the physical part of labour.. standing there helpless, unable to help your partner in pain must be just as hard…..

[Angelique Muller]

I am going to find out what is is like to be a ‘cow’ ie: milking machine….. (see ‘my latest project’)
For you garment printing people out there: I recon there is a market out there for t-shirts with a slogan… something like ‘I’d love a hug…. but please mind my chest… i’m breastfeeding’ …….. Sell them in the hallway of the maternity hospitals and you could make a fortune!!! 😀

[Angelique Muller]

happy birthday!!!

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks!

I can see the the shape of the paper working quite well as an alternative to a scroll…….

[Angelique Muller]

quote Glenn:

I don’t think I’ve ever had this sort of situation before and I certainly don’t consider myself a designer

Yeah… but you come up with brilliant designs!!!!!

[Angelique Muller]

Lynn/Jill,

Thanks for your comments.
I am not a 100% sure what you mean with a hoop de doo…. I went trough my clipart cd but all the pinstripe type things I have are more floral.
I have been doing a search on signs in a Western/cowboy style to get inspiration. I have never done anything in that style before. …..
I see your point about the fonts being to modern. I have a good few ‘wild west’ fonts.. but I don’t like them that much and worry about legibility… I guess I have to put my personal taste aside and stay within the requested style.

Thanks for asking how I am doing: Struggling a bit with these last few weeks of pregnancy… I am due in two weeks…. My blood pressure is misbehaving and have doctors instructions to take it easy: and that is hard when there are so many jobs I could get on with.
So I am restricting myself to the odd design work on the computer. It keeps me sane and prevents me from doing other things that I shouldn’t be doing anyway….(that ‘nesting’ thing has kicked in).
The good thing about living in this part of the world is that there is rarely much time pressure on most of my jobs. (I seem to be very lucky compared to most of you out there).. So if I don’t get it done for this summer season (july/august)… oh well. then there is next year……

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks …. that is very kind of you!! I kinda struggle with this western look as it is not ‘my cuppa tea’ at all…..
I am at the stage where I leave a print-out on the desk, and then look at it again in a couple of hours or so. Then I probably decide I hate it and start all over again…..
But in general, in a situation like this: Would you design each sign on their own or do you see them as a whole?
Just curious……

[Angelique Muller]

You mean something like this?

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[Angelique Muller]

Yep… it all looks like good fun! Maybe next year…………………..

[Angelique Muller]

quote Lynn:

funnily enough we have used a table leg from B & Q for a hanging sign, worked a treat and customer was delighted, not that we said what it actually was 😀

Lynn

That’s clever!!! 😀

[Angelique Muller]

Hi from West Cork 😀

[Angelique Muller]

Peter,
Thanks for your offer… I will have a rummage around here first to see if I can find something.
by-the-way: Lynn was just giving out to me about looking for timber (as I am officially not allowed to work anymore: 36 weeks pregnant and blood pressure issues)……..
Harry: I agree that when it’s going to be painted it should not have to be a nice timber… I just hate mdf (but have never used the exterior grade), and pvc would not look very traditional?!?!
I will ask about the old sign. if they want it back. If not, I am happy to send it to you? What are you going to do with it?

[Angelique Muller]

I have found teak/iroco okay as long as it is well primed with aluminum primer.
I have never worked with exterior grade mdf.. but I’m not too fond of mdf in general.
Customer wants one sign painted white and the other one natural timber with white lettering.
So next visit to the timber yard I will have a look and see if they have oak (they are such small signs.. surely an off-cut will do).

Thanks for tips/help

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks Harry,

Yeah I know it’s nice the way it is with the crackle paint effect and the lichen growing on it…but it is really light and about to fall apart cause the wood is so rotten….
I was asked to make two replacements that last outside for a good while. They can keep this one indoors maybe? 😀

On the subject of long lasting. I was hoping to get some teak or iroco. Any other timbers you could recommend for our lovely damp climate?

[Angelique Muller]

Product Mike is talking about might be ‘ready strip’ available online from http://www.qvcuk.com. I have never used it myself but if you believe the tv add it works brilliantly.
I know that there is a Nitromors for waterbased paints… that should work… I would have thought…….

[Angelique Muller]

Are they maybe just trying to make a clear statement that they don’t like to be messed with? Sending out a reminder to everyone that when you buy a font you sign a license agreement that they take very serious!??!? 😮 😮

[Angelique Muller]

quote Lynn:

will this be your first Angelique ?

Lynn

Yep it is indeed…
All is going well so far….

Shane… hope you feel better soon!

[Angelique Muller]

Thank Lynn,

Middle of May…. if all goes to plan……

[Angelique Muller]

Adrian,
That looks like a pretty cool way to exercise the dogs. Maybe I should try that…. My pregnant belly is starting to getting a bit in the way of my dog walking these days (struggling to do 6 miles)… and that thing you have got there might sort out………. poor doggies…….

[Angelique Muller]

Really nice work Harry!!! Well done!!

[Angelique Muller]

quote Steve Underhill:

Lol yes I know you can cut dibond with those,
but you still have to be pretty accurate with your cuts else it can go horribly wrong, its easier to ruin a piece of dibond compared to MDF, if you are shaping it, that was why I suggested it.
its also very easy to scratch dibond, plus the fact that I think as a hanging sign it looks cheap and unfinished due to the edges, unless its in a frame obviously.

I was just thinking that MDF is a thicker substrate and can be made to look very nice.
MDF is only a nasty substrate if not finished correctly, its a very versatile material.
Finished with acrylic paint it gives a lovely smooth gloss finish and looks great.
Its not what you use its how you use it as they say 😉

MDF for exterior use?!? Anytime I used it, even with several coats of paint (primers, undercoat, gloss etc) it would swell up like a sponge…

[Angelique Muller]

Yes…I was thinking that.. I might steal it from another font and try to match the logo as close as possible….
Thanks for all your help

[Angelique Muller]

Would you not contact your supplier first and see if they can sort out the problem?

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks you… Looks very similar but the ampersand is different…….

[Angelique Muller]

I stopped smoking 4 years ago with the help of the Alan Carr book.
I normally don’t have any faith/believe in these self help books, but it definitely worked for me. The book explains quite well how you trick yourself all the time in believing you ‘need’ a cigarette……
So it might be worth giving it a try…….

good luck with it

Downside of not smoking anymore is that you can’t stand the smell of other smokers anymore… 😮

[Angelique Muller]

I would suggest you check the Signblazer forum (don’t know exact address, but you will find it easily trough Google). It explains the set-up well (there is something about the port you have to select in both the initial set-up and when you are cutting).
I remember I had some initial problems… but they are very help full there in sorting your problem…..

[Angelique Muller]

Happy Birthday!!!!!!!

[Angelique Muller]

quote Micheal Donnellan:

Howya doing.
Just noticed your from Ireland as well, seems we are slowly increasing in number on here.

from West Clare myself

& hello to you too!!!

[Angelique Muller]

Cool!!! I just wonder what happens if you want to excuse yourself to go to the ‘ladies room’………..

[Angelique Muller]

😀 😀 😀

[Angelique Muller]

Congratulations!!!
Robyn is a beautiful baby!
(hopefully I’ll have one of those in May……….)

[Angelique Muller]

quote Shane Drew:

I’ve got an old blunt drill I use for this stuff. Never get a clean cut on a sharp drill 🙁 Probably just me tho. It was the way I was taught when I was a learner sign maker 😳

I was also taught to use a blunt drill bit in college….. so you are not the only one……….

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks for all hints/tips/advice.
I will leave it and hope that it will improve soon (but with the terrible weather at the moment I don’t see that happening).
I suppose next time I will try and apply wet……

Thanks again

[Angelique Muller]

Last year or so I did a whole window with some foil I bought a hardware shop. I applied that wet and it took a couple of months to settle , but now there is no bubble in sight…
So maybe I should be patient……
I do feel that the window was clean (I remember the first one I did I used a scraper first…. but it was so clean that I did not bother using it on the second window…
I know the customer is happy with it and that I could leave it,… it’s just that I am not… and I don’t want potential customers looking at it…thinking it is really bad work….. 😮

[Angelique Muller]

eeeh… sorry no pictures… I did not have my camera on me (and I don’t think the camera on the phone would have picked up on the detail…..)

[Angelique Muller]

I did the work just before christmas, and I had hoped they would disappear…. It is the frosted sparkly effect, so pricking it hasn’t made it worse.
The bubbles are all over… not in a particular pattern.
I used a clean lintfree cloth to clean the window after I had rubbed the meths off with a tissue………….

[Angelique Muller]

It’s a food place … lovely and warm in there from all the fridges and freezers…… How would that work with moisture? It was a cold, wet and damp day when I applied it…. Does that have any effect?
I cleaned the window (methylated spirits) and dried it nicely before hand?!?!?!

[Angelique Muller]

I had my first encounter with Wii this chrismas with our niece being around. We played tennis, boxing and golf. Great fun because it was such a novelty.
I don’t think I would get hooked on it though…… Why not go out and play the real thing?
We did wonder about those early days of computer games and how kids these days would react to games like ‘pong’ and ‘pacman’? They probably think we were mad thinking these games were sooo cool…. 😀

[Angelique Muller]

Rob,
Thanks for your opinion. It’s always useful to hear what other people have to say. I see your point about opening times attracting a lot of attention. But I was just wondering the following: at the moment you are just looking at the sandwich board itself , but should one not judge it when it is in it’s location and see how it works there?
I mean, it’s in front of the shop where the name is very clearly displayed….If anything… I would have had to emphasize the items they are selling more, instead of the name……

Re Eddie’s comment: i get what you are saying, but I would agree with Rob that you always have to try the best you can.
In any job my eye will always be drawn automatically to the mistakes/imperfections, that I know other people won’t even notice until it’s pointed out……

[Angelique Muller]

:welcome:

[Angelique Muller]

Hi Simon,

Hope you had a good christmas too.
Still working trough all the left-overs and the cooking is becoming more creative….How many things can you do with ham and goose meat…….???

The way you center things sound way more complicated that what I do….. I suppose I rely on the software too much (I use Signblazer Pro and use the ‘centre’ object button). Forgive me: I am only a beginner.
Also thanks for explaining your views on the use of caps. I suppose that using text on signs is different than in ‘normal’ writing.

Because I am new to all this I kinda like ‘rules’ to stick by. It makes life easier for me…… 😀

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks Lynn,

I centered all the text, but maybe something went wrong there….. I’ll have another look at it and check……..
Making signs is still a huge learning experience for me. Getting used to the software is only one thing….

I had all this lettering in frosted glass vinyl cut out to go on a window there two days ago. Just stuck it down… all happy that is was straight without any bubbles etc….. only to realize I had forgotten to hit the ‘cut in mirror’ button…SO I could start all over again. I suppose that’s one mistake I won’t be making again soon…….

[Angelique Muller]

I have sort of settled on this (with customers approval).
Have taken your comments into consideration Lynn and swapped the times and days around. I would however like to keep the white border.

In terms of capitalization: what are the rules? I copied what Andy did, but should all words start with capitals on a sign like this? I mean should words like ‘of’ and ‘to go’ have capitals as well?

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[Angelique Muller]

😀 😀 😀

[Angelique Muller]

quote Peter Normington:

Died 1989

his Coffin was twice as large as normal to allow for negative space

RIP

Peter

😀 😀 😀

[Angelique Muller]

Thank you very much Simon. I had not done anything to the kerning yet… still more concerned about general lay-out. But I will work on that as soon as it gets the go-ahead from the customer..

A BIG thanks to Andy (it’s clear that I used his suggestions BIG time) and Jill of course for her use full comments.

Now let’s hope the customer likes it…

[Angelique Muller]

How is this?

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[Angelique Muller]

I really like what you did there Andy… but I feel it is not in keeping with the shop front.
I thought it would be important to be consistent with a look?!?!
So Futura on the shop, Futura has to go on the sandwich board..
Or would it be okay to go and change things a bit? (I was also asked to do some work on their labels and they are a complete different look……)

I think I will have to use another typefont with it…. something script like what you used…

But I keep the customer in mind who likes the simple clean (almost clinical) look….. 😀

You have certainly given me food for thought!

Thanks Andy

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks for that Jill,

I was thinking about what you told me: what is most important etc. Well, I thought the phone number did not need that much space (if people need it/look for it, it is there…. if you know what I mean :D.
The lines of products they sell are more important I thought, so I want to emphasize that somehow a bit more…
It’s a bit late now… I will have a fresh look at it tomorrow.

In the meantime… keep the comments coming!!!

Thanks

[Angelique Muller]

Yes… i like that one Jill. the little image is very clever…….

[Angelique Muller]

And a good 2008 from me too!!!

Angelique

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[Angelique Muller]

I usually put the whole design on the clipboard and paste it into Corel Photoshop. Then adjust the size etc. for e-mail or printing & save as JPeg.
Maybe not the right way to do it, but it works for me

[Angelique Muller]

right…. so I will have to trust my own judgment………………..scary!!

[Angelique Muller]

:lol1:

[Angelique Muller]

Really really nice sign Jill!!!
It has a lovely celtic feel to it.
I will certainly show it to them and make a good pitch for it!

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks again for your suggestions. I am happy to forward them to the customer and see if they are in any way interested in something else than what they asked me to do. The thing is: the most important thing they sell is the jewelery, so somehow that has to stand out most in the sign
(they design/make the jewelery themselves, the pottery etc. are secondary)
Cheers

[Angelique Muller]

A question slightly off topic: Do you need permission from the council for a wall mounted swing sign? 😮

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks for the suggestion Simon,
I had not thought of it. But I think there is enough going on on the sign, that such an ornate capital might be a bit too overpowering.
I also don’t think it is the kind of look the customer is looking for….
But I will keep the suggestion in mind if I am ever find myself struggling with ‘funny’ looking capitals again. :lol1:

[Angelique Muller]

Hello from me too!!!!

[Angelique Muller]

John,

Oeps yeah 😳 thank you.
I remember we discussed the spelling at the time (clients are german) and I said I would check it for them…. of course I forgot!!!

I will change that a.s.a.p.

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks…
This is what I had done with it..
This the sign that the people want done..
It is their own designs: they specified the font, lay-out and words and colour…
I am personally not too keen on it (don’t like the font and the curved line) but they seem to know exactly what they want…… (and I like to keep the customer happy)
Is that ‘H’ acceptable like that?

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[Angelique Muller]

forgot the attachement……

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[Angelique Muller]

I don’t know about metal workers in Monagan, but the local forge here certainly isn’t cheap. I had a simple table frame welded last year… nothing special and that was 200 euro’s (NOT galvanised so it is rusting like crazy)……
Do you buy ready made boards at all & where do you get them from?

[Angelique Muller]

quote Warren Beard:

£137.48 incl vat and delivery

Thanks for that. I will give them a ring in the morning and see if they charge me the same. :lol1:

[Angelique Muller]

quote Warren Beard:

Angelique, trust me when I say it, the ones I posted from SMP are very large and are solid steel and extremely heavy

The middle one in the picture is the one I have used before and is 790mm x 1230mm, so there are also bigger ones if you wanted, I battled to carry it myself and must have weighed about 50kg.

These will do the job you want and they are also stock items so available next day (well they used to be anyway)

Trust me, I’m a doctor :lol1:

Warren

I trust you Warren, no worries there.

I think I could sell that different dimension to the customer (although they are very very specific in what they want… down to the exact design and everything)….
But I am located in Ireland and getting one of them over here might cost me a fair bit….
I am just going through all the brochures I picked up at sign Ireland, but can’t really find anything yet that I think would be the best solution….

The one you are suggestion does look the best!! (what price roughly is it…. just so I can compare with others….)

[Angelique Muller]

Thank you for replies.
The brochures I have here at home are from Robert Horne.
The biggest one on their list are 1060 x 805 mm.
Maybe I should convince the customer to alter the size as durability was very high on their list.
I know the requested size is quite big, but they also want it to function as an obstacle so cars can’t park right outside their shop (it is a dead end street more used as a car park……)

[Angelique Muller]

Just a quick note:
In the text dialogue box you can select which list of fonts it displays. It seems to automatically select SBF fonts….. if you change that to ‘all fonts’ your font should appear (well… that has been my experience anyway…. 😮

[Angelique Muller]

The best of luck with your new venture!

[Angelique Muller]

:welcome:

[Angelique Muller]

quote Jillbeans:

..also Comic Sans, Mistral, Balloon, and Copperplate Gothic.
And of course, Brush Script!
Was out at a big shopping mall on Saturday, saw a fancy Italian bistro with a lit-up Vegas style sign, very expensive looking, in all-caps Brush Script!
Here’s their site:
http://www.bucadibeppo.com/
and they also had another script on their damn awning.
Papyrus is good for some applications but not many, and boy is it ever over used.
Love….Jill

………..but I like copperplate Gothic!!! 😀

[Angelique Muller]

Yes, and ‘Algerian’ is everywhere aswell!!

[Angelique Muller]

It’s funny to read this thread again and looking at the dates!!! That was June…..I gave the people in question a few designs ages at the time. Last week they got back to me with a decision and the request ‘if I could have it done for the opening at the end of October!!! (oh yeah, and they have not even painted the walls yet!!)
Lovely as the Irish weather is just great this time of year for outside work…… NOT 👿
Anyway…. I won’t complain cause I hope it might lead to more work.
Jill, your guide price per square ft is a good idea…I’ll see how it translates to euro’s and compare it with previous jobs..
I just know that I won’t make big money on this job. I decided to go easy on them because it is a community project funded by fundraising+ lottery money… So this will be my contribution (and covering my costs)….

[Angelique Muller]

quote littlelou:

Thank you for the instructions, they’ll be very useful.

I’ve got a problem with my Creation P Cut 630 where by I’ve lost the original CD that came with it containing the driver and the downloadable one from Signwizard isn’t working.

I bought it from them at the beginning of the year but I’m not having much joy getting in touch with them. Would anyone have an alternative source for the driver?

Any help would be really appreciated as I feel like I’m banging my head up a wall at the moment !

Would you like me to copy my cd with the drive and I can post it to you?
Pm me your address and I’ll send it of next week…..

[Angelique Muller]

Congratulations on the new arrival!

[Angelique Muller]

there is a special sealer for it….but i think a few coats shellac might work aswell…..

[Angelique Muller]

What are the names of those fonts you are using (the one that says ‘signs’ at the bottom design)?
I don’t really tend to use those kind of fonts…. maybe I should……

[Angelique Muller]

How about grey (silver maybe) instead of black.
I have moved the word sign up a bit into the other text. Is that better?

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[Angelique Muller]

Aaaaah really? I kinda liked my wings 🙁 .
I really like the top one Jill, but it is kinda girly…. hmmmm am I the girly kind!??
Not sure. 😕
I do think it looks really atractive though I think it could work really well……. Let me sleep on it (and get in touch with my ‘inner’ girl)…

Thanks for feedback

[Angelique Muller]

What about this latest attempt?!?
Is it any good?
Look forward to all the comments 😀

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[Angelique Muller]

What is going on in that top picture?!?!? I can’t make any sense of it…..

(sorry can’t help….)

[Angelique Muller]

this is the SBF nearest equivalent. Hope it’s okay…..

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SBF_D008.TTF

[Angelique Muller]

Thanks Peter,
I checked it out and looks like the one to me!
Does anyone have this font? I am only looking for the word ‘Angelpower’
(I am thinking of using it for my own logo…….)
😀

[Angelique Muller]

quote Peter Normington:

Whatthefont has a similar one (relay comp black)but not quite, it is probably not a font, the logo is on brands of the world though

Peter

I know of brands of the world… that’s were this piccie came from. I am interested in using the font for something else…… I will check Whatthefont though……

[Angelique Muller]

I am going.
I just checked out the timetable for the bus & realized that I will be spending a LOT of time on it….. 😮