Mike, I am also grateful for Mike Stevens and his classic. I had been at this for about a decade with constant improvement in my control and dexterity yet some thing was lacking. Grasping his formula on natural layout and other concepts literally rocked my world, changing my career forever. It is on...

Mike, I wanted to tell you that I really enjoyed your up coming article in SignCraft. For those of us who have learned sign-making in almost isolation. Learning things is not always intuitive. The ignorant (in the true sense) do not know what they do not know. Some of the basics and I emphasize very...

Will someone help me find my jaw? I am quite sure it's on the floor around here, somewhere.

Any soft cloth will do. I like to use charcoal dust in the bag I have placed a piece of steel wool in it to act as a bit of a buffer and weight.
happy pouncing.

It is always nice to see a pro take a panel with too much copy (by neccessity) and make it work. Getting the client where he's in a better position than would otherwise be with a lesser layout man. KUDOS to a sign-man in Realville.

you might like to try ClearShield by ClearStar it is a very clear uv coating for diggy prints. It is Water-based and it will also bond to oilbased hand lettered signs. A year ago I carved some large fish hooks for a sign. I used gold mica powders on 1Shot fast size. Although I had been told that the...

Yes sir, SW stands for Sherwin Williams. Their SuperPaint is a good one but you can only get white and black in quarts. For quarts go with their Resilience line in is available in quarts, any color, it actually is the better paint of the two. Be sure to ask your SW salesman if the color you pick is ...

Havana is a small town 20 Minutes north of Tallahassee, Fl. It was a agricultural Community mainly Tobacco in it's glory days. As that died away, like many small towns it has reinvented itself. It now promotes quaint little boutiques and antiques to draw in some tourism. I was excited to get this on...

That guy was so outta his league. He doesn't know what he doesn't know. Mr. Smith, I showed my daughter (who was feeling down last night) your site and video after telling her about the album cover. She is a John Mayer fan. You brightened her disposition at 1:30am. Heres a critique...your work bring...

I was very impressed with your design work in this current issue of SignCraft. Was the sketch that was featured your own or was it one of the exceptional conceptuals that were provided to you, Sir? I would be curious to know how many hours you spent on "Phase I". Do you feel as though you ...

I am looking for a source to provide. Exterior, Etched or engraved bronze plaques or x1/8"thick plate, size 1.5"x 4" . They will require letters that are approximately 1/4" tall. I have already contacted Gemini and ARK Ramos. Waiting on a bid from Matthews bronze. Any suggestions...

Sean Starr of Starr Studios ask that I post a link to his new e-magazine endeavor. I did write the first piece, I was proud to be asked to participate with him on this. He is looking for input and contributors for its pages from a variety of folks. This e-magazine just went live today. http://tradit...

I have been on flexisign pro8.6 for two years now. I love it it has always done whatever I have asked of it. I only use it for vector based operations designing and cutting in conjunction with Illustrator. I write now on a topic that I have only experiential knowledge. As I understand it flexi is un...

Mr. Mike
I thank you for your article in SC. It was concise and easily understood. I have a basic, working knowledge of PSD. I am really looking forward to your second half on Layer Masks and Adjustment Layers.
Thanks again for being open to sharing your knowledge.

That is better than grits and gravy. I'll be sure to show this to my daughter who is already intimidated by photoshop.

Aaron it looks spectacular from my house.

That is a very nice design. I am particularly drawn to the script (especially the caps). You've gone right up to the line but did not cross it.
A lil script goes along way, I my book.
Thank you for posting it.

Paul you are doing well. I never just practiced the strokes but should have. We are proud of you. learning to control the brush can also be learned by painting full bodied letters too not just the one stroke. Twist those hairs up into the corners and sort of sneak up to your edges. You will get the ...

Paul I would love to talk to you or E-mail back and forth. My website is www.saulssigns.com
there should be enough contact info within it if you are interested. I have visited your site and it is filled with superior work you can be proud.

Mike, You are right on target with the reverse lettering for businesses, that's the same arguement I present whenever the subject is brought up. It almost makes some sense in the case of an ambulance but then you have to wonder if the blaring sirens and the retina searing LCD flashers are not adequa...

Jay, that was a very pure insight to and about your Dad. Mine Died 17 years ago and there is not a day that I do not recall some word of wisdom he conveyed or whipped into me. Yes, very few wish that they had spent more time at the office when facing that great veil. It really is amazing how complic...

Well, my mistake I just thought I was in the presence of greatness, and felt overwhelmed by being invited in for an audience. Some of the names I see participating in this forum I have only read about in the pages of SignCraft. I have met so few of you. For me, anyone who was SignCraft worthy was th...

Jay then, I will be sure to ask around when I arrive at Danville. I will attend unless hindered by events beyond my control. It is my hope to travel with Aaron Taylor of Pensacola and Mark Fair of Montgomery. Mark is planning to be a project leader, I'll probably paint with him on his project. I am ...

Mr. Allen,
I have been watching from afar for some time now. Kudos!
Will you be taking part in the Wall dog event in Danville this summer?
I am making plans to attend this. It will be my first Meeting of any type?

Wow Doug,
Now I am really developing the big head. I am so happy that the article is being received so well.
Depth? These are the kind of things all sign-painters think about while working over many years I am sure.

I guess I should just use the hardener and for go the F.J. then if it will not last any longer than the paint underneath?
Do you suppose it would be advantageous the go back after a year or so wash and re-coat with F.J.?

Thanks Kent, but what about the life of the F.J. itself will it last 3-5 years exposed you think, With out cracking, yellowing, etc.?
My question has too many variables I suppose.

I guess I am a slow learner as it has only reached my notice within the last year and a half that 1 shot lettering enamels are not what they used to be. It really yanks my chain that I now have to mix in a hardener to get a longer lasting finish with it. I have had good results having some signs pro...

This has been a test of the Emergency Joke Taking System. In the event of an actual joke taking failure you would have been advised to move to "Textterville".

Mr. Jackson, I must chuckle now. My name is Bob. I did have a first cousin named Paul Sauls, I always thought it sounded a bit comical when you said his name fast. Of coarse I think those of us familiar with the New Testiment's Damascus Road Saul who changed his handle to Paul after bout with poor e...