Welcome to The Hand Lettering Forum!
This is an interactive Bulletin Board on the topics of Sign making, design, fabrication, History, old Books and of coarse Letterheads, Keepers of the craft. The Hand Lettering Forum features links to resources, sign art history, techniques, and artists profiles. Learn more about Letterheads at https://theletterheads.com. Below you'll see Mchat has been added as a live communication portal for trial, and the Main forum Links are listed below.

Search found 1684 matches

by Mike Jackson
Wed Jan 08, 2014 6:50 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Photoshop Plugins for Free
Replies: 0
Views: 2758

Photoshop Plugins for Free

If you are interested, you can get Perfect Effects 4 Free at OnOne's site. It has 70 effects which are part of their Perfect Effects package.

Here's the link:
http://www.ononesoftware.com/products/p ... ects-free/

Mike Jackson
by Mike Jackson
Fri Dec 13, 2013 11:10 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: A Christmas Gift
Replies: 2
Views: 2692

Re: A Christmas Gift

Bob, They did a nice job on it, too!

We had a customer staple twinkle lights to the letters on a sandblasted sign one time. I guess they never considered it would put holes in the face of the letters to let water inside and affect the life of the sign.

cheers,
Mike Jackson
by Mike Jackson
Sun Dec 01, 2013 11:12 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Welcome to all the new members!
Replies: 2
Views: 2729

Welcome to all the new members!

Just a quick note to all of the new members! It appears we have been getting more and more new, young members lately. This site was originally started by Sarah Schwartz. I am sure she'd be proud of the growth of the site and the quality of the posts and responses. The site has attracted an outstandi...
by Mike Jackson
Wed Nov 27, 2013 10:37 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Camoflauge Letters
Replies: 9
Views: 7839

Camoflauge Letters

I was looking at the Cabelas web site for a camo tarp and found over 2000 camo items, including these camo letters: http://www.cabelas.com/product/Camo-Letters-Wall-Art/1316395.uts?Ntk=AllProducts&searchPath=%2Fcatalog%2Fsearch%2F%3FN%3D%26No%3D400%26Ntk%3DAllProducts%26Ntt%3Dcamoflauge%26Ntx%3D...
by Mike Jackson
Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:55 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: The latest SignCraft
Replies: 0
Views: 2574

The latest SignCraft

My copy of SignCraft arrived a couple of days ago. If you like dimensional signage, this issue is a big winner!
by Mike Jackson
Tue Nov 19, 2013 7:53 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Check out this web site: Lots of inspiration
Replies: 1
Views: 2272

Check out this web site: Lots of inspiration

http://www.behance.net/

If you have a moment, check out this site. It is jam packed with incredible talent of all kinds.

Mike Jackson
by Mike Jackson
Mon Oct 28, 2013 3:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: A Cloudy Forcast For All You Cloud Users.
Replies: 4
Views: 4687

Re: A Cloudy Forcast For All You Cloud Users.

I'm fine with it. They took a proactive step by offering to let me subscribe to a credit auditing service.

I'd do it again in a heartbeat.

Mike Jackson
by Mike Jackson
Tue Aug 13, 2013 8:50 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Help finding a custom exterior hand painted sign co in SoCal
Replies: 2
Views: 2635

Re: Help finding a custom exterior hand painted sign co in SoCal

Wendy, I am sure someone here can help you. To post the photo, open your PDF document in Photoshop, then check the size. Resize it to 700 pixels and save it as a JPG. It should load fine to this site. You can EDIT your first post and add the image there. Afterwards I can delete this part of my reply...
by Mike Jackson
Sun Aug 11, 2013 10:22 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Drop Box
Replies: 4
Views: 3892

Re: Drop Box

Hi William, Hmmmm. That's a great idea. I won't be able to use the USB option for uploading. I don't have a smart phone yet. Everyone else in the family does however. The other issue would be file size and data usage. Each of my D4 images are 19 megs and the D800 images are 75 megs, so it'd take for...
by Mike Jackson
Fri Aug 09, 2013 9:22 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Drop Box
Replies: 4
Views: 3892

Re: Drop Box

Roderick, I have been using DropBox for several years. Love it! You can create a folder on your DropBox site, which will duplicate it on your computer, then set that folder as a shared folder. But you can also limit who can access the folder and invite them to go to DropBox to get photos and files. ...
by Mike Jackson
Tue Jul 16, 2013 12:22 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Back-lit Sign
Replies: 6
Views: 4873

Re: Back-lit Sign

Aaron,
I'd take the two panels down to the client, or have them come by. Show them the yellowing issue and let them decide if they want you to proceed with lettering over their yellowed backgrounds, or let them pay for new materials if they don't want the old panels reused.
by Mike Jackson
Thu Jun 27, 2013 12:13 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Wall Dog / Sign Painter needed in the Denver area
Replies: 12
Views: 9917

Re: Wall Dog / Sign Painter needed in the Denver area

Kristin,
You will be in good hands with Dan. Please drop back in and post a few photos of the completed project, or at least give him permission to post them here.

Cheers,
Mike Jackson
by Mike Jackson
Thu Jun 27, 2013 9:59 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Creative Cloud
Replies: 7
Views: 4494

Re: Creative Cloud

Like I said in the original post, it "is not for everyone". I made the post for anyone considering going that route. For me, it made a lot of sense and I'd do it again in a heartbeat. There is special pricing for people with legacy PS until the end of the month, making it an even easier de...
by Mike Jackson
Mon Jun 24, 2013 1:01 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: illustrator question
Replies: 16
Views: 11303

Re: illustrator question

filet1.JPG Here's a screen grab of the tools in Omega. Convert text to curves. Select it. Select the letters you want to round, with the detail editor tool and select Fillet Corners from the menu. Turn on the appropriate corner types and enter a desired radius. Click continue and it does all of the...
by Mike Jackson
Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:06 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: illustrator question
Replies: 16
Views: 11303

Re: illustrator question

Erik,
Maybe you can find some time and find the commands and report back with the specifics?
by Mike Jackson
Mon Jun 24, 2013 9:03 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Creative Cloud
Replies: 7
Views: 4494

Re: Creative Cloud

Doug, there is a lot of good logic in what you say. On the flip side, the new Adobe Camera Raw they included in version 6 and the Content-Aware features they added in versions 5 and 6 make it a worthwhile expense and effort for me. I'd absolutely hate to go back to version 4, so there must be someth...
by Mike Jackson
Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:59 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Creative Cloud
Replies: 7
Views: 4494

Re: Creative Cloud

Erik, You've never really OWNED software. You buy a license to use it. Once you understand that concept, there isn't much of a difference except the delivery method. With this model, I get the ENTIRE suite for an up front grand total of $19.99. With the old model, I'd be putting close to $800 on my ...
by Mike Jackson
Sun Jun 23, 2013 5:48 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: illustrator question
Replies: 16
Views: 11303

Re: illustrator question

I haven't used the features in Omega for a while, but it definitely does this task. You have the option of letting it automatically round or filet outside corners, regardless of the angle, or inside corners, or both. You set the radius and just hit one button. There is also an option to do it manual...
by Mike Jackson
Sat Jun 22, 2013 7:07 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Creative Cloud
Replies: 7
Views: 4494

Creative Cloud

I paid my $19.95 Thursday night and bought the entire Adobe CC Suite for a year at $19.95 per month. I had to reinstall my Adobe Application Manager, but after that, it went well. I was ready to sign up, just to get Lightroom 5, but then found everything is ready. I ended up having to pay $99 for an...
by Mike Jackson
Thu Jun 20, 2013 9:05 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New in Signs and questioning !
Replies: 8
Views: 6014

Re: New in Signs and questioning !

Kent Smith might have more details on this subject when he signs on. You can also read the products specs and features on the One Shot site. There are times when us consumers question whether there is really much of a difference in the products or whether they are just marketing tools for selling mo...
by Mike Jackson
Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:44 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: A letter to Mike Jackson.
Replies: 5
Views: 5107

Re: A letter to Mike Jackson.

Hi Bill, Welcome back! And, thanks for the comments. The forum is mostly self sufficient now, so about all Danny and I have to do is help with lost usernames and passwords and culling out the registrations from people only wanting to spam the place. So, thanks back to everyone making posts and respo...
by Mike Jackson
Wed Jun 19, 2013 12:41 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: New in Signs and questioning !
Replies: 8
Views: 6014

Re: New in Signs and questioning !

Olivier,
You'd be fine just using regular black and white for tinting and shading. I am not sure I ever owned a can of either of the Tinting Whites or Shading Blacks.
by Mike Jackson
Fri Jun 14, 2013 4:35 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Wall Dog / Sign Painter needed in the Denver area
Replies: 12
Views: 9917

Wall Dog / Sign Painter needed in the Denver area

shoes.png John Fluevog Shoes is opening a new store in the Larimer Square district in Denver — and our new retail space has a long brick wall on the right-hand side that stretches over 40' down the length of the store. Due to the history of the space and our company with a long history of hand-made...
by Mike Jackson
Sun Jun 09, 2013 11:18 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Grad Images Super Graphics
Replies: 8
Views: 7041

Re: Grad Images Super Graphics

Nice Job! Looks like they came to the right craftsman!
Mike Jackson
by Mike Jackson
Thu May 23, 2013 8:56 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Problem With Water Gilding
Replies: 28
Views: 30628

Re: Problem With Water Gilding

Andrey, There is a delicate balance required in amount of gelatin you need in your water size. Too little and it will not stick well enough to the glass to allow you to burnish it down with cotton and remove the excess leaf. Too much gelatin, and it becomes very difficult to remove excess gold outsi...
by Mike Jackson
Wed May 22, 2013 12:27 pm
Forum: Annoucements
Topic: Tornado through Moore, OK
Replies: 14
Views: 17722

Re: Tornado through Moore, OK

No damage at all. She said he raked the yard, but that is it.
by Mike Jackson
Wed May 22, 2013 8:35 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Problem With Water Gilding
Replies: 28
Views: 30628

Re: Problem With Water Gilding

Andrew, I'll throw out a few points of discussion. It will be difficult to pinpoint the problem initially. 1: It is difficult to tell by looking at the photo how large the sheets of gold are. If they are around 3" square and if you pait around $2 per leaf, it is probably real gold. The last pac...
by Mike Jackson
Tue May 21, 2013 9:01 pm
Forum: Annoucements
Topic: Tornado through Moore, OK
Replies: 14
Views: 17722

Re: Tornado through Moore, OK

Finally got to talk to my Mom today. She's fine! She went to the storm cellar not long after I called and after the sirens started screaming. A few of the neighbors were in the cellar with her. After they felt the storm had passed, they came out and saw normal blue skies, but the phones were down an...
by Mike Jackson
Tue May 21, 2013 5:37 pm
Forum: Annoucements
Topic: Tornado through Moore, OK
Replies: 14
Views: 17722

Re: Tornado through Moore, OK

I grew up in Moore from first grade to graduation and throuh part of my college time. There are tornado sirens scattered all over town and when they go off, you certainly know to be ready to get underground. My grandma and grandpa had a concrete cellar right outside the back door. If heard of threat...
by Mike Jackson
Tue May 21, 2013 8:39 am
Forum: Annoucements
Topic: Tornado through Moore, OK
Replies: 14
Views: 17722

Re: Tornado through Moore, OK

Hi again, I got news this morning that my Mom is safe and sound after the storm. It passed a few blocks south of her. She was in the storm cellar with a few of the neighbors as the tornado rumbled through. From the report we got, she doesn't have power, phone, or water, but that is a minor inconveni...