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Signmaking 101: Making Rubbings

Hand Lettering topics: Sign Making, Design, Fabrication, Letterheads, Sign Books.

Moderators: Ron Percell, Mike Jackson, Danny Baronian

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Mike Jackson
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Joined: Tue Apr 06, 2004 11:02 pm
Location: Jackson Hole, WY
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Signmaking 101: Making Rubbings

Post by Mike Jackson »

Most people probably already know how to make a rubbing, but just in case, here goes:

Over the years, Darla and I have made hundreds of rubbings off existing vinyl lettering AND hand lettering. Normally we use a stick of graphite. You can buy them at almost any good art supply store for around a dollar. Just like pencil lead, they come in a variety of hardness. About any will do the job. They are about 2" to 3" long.

You simply tape a piece of paper over the area you need to rub, and then rub away. The high places on the lettering or graphics will create an image on the paper. Works great.

A down side to using graphite would be if you are going to electro-pounce the pattern. In that case, use a crayon. They are very cheap!

You can also just use the side of a regular 2B pencil in a pinch.

Over the years, we have been called to do some changes to a door sign. Instead of driving out to the job, we have been known to coax the client to make a simple rubbing and fax the image to us. Faxes will reduce the image a tiny bit (I'm told that, but I never checked it out). Most of the time, the letters are 1", 1.5", or 3/4" on doors. Best of all, you can determine the letterstyle.

I don't do it too often, but when we do quite a few trucks for the same company, I will measure and apply the vinyl on one side. When completed, I tape a piece of white butcher paper at a seam line, trim line, window line or similar aid, make the rubbing, and then pounce a quick baseline, plus beginning and ending letters. Instead of having to measure all the horizontal lines each time, the pattern will speed installation of more graphics.
Mike Jackson / co-administrator
Golden Era Studios
Vintage Ornamental Clip art
Jackson Hole, WY

Photography site:
Teton Images
Jackson Hole photography blog:
Best of the Tetons
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