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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 1076 matches

by Doug Bernhardt
Fri Jun 17, 2022 4:34 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Letter Drawing and Construction
Replies: 3
Views: 8768

Re: Letter Drawing and Construction

Hi again James....now "LEGEND??" I certainly hope I'm not that but I am a fan of anyone putting their efforts into learning a fantastic craft and one I was impassioned by. A good design library is one of those things all the great designers I know have. Mine (which is small by any comparis...
by Doug Bernhardt
Fri Jun 10, 2022 7:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Letter Drawing and Construction
Replies: 3
Views: 8768

Re: Letter Drawing and Construction

Hi James, You have really opened a box of frogs so I'll try and help as much as I can...I know Dave pretty well and have watched his progress over the years where he went from being a darn good signwriter to a top notch graphics guy. If asking "me" how I would do this I'd be sure that anyo...
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 08, 2022 9:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Danny Barronian's Health
Replies: 3
Views: 8866

Re: Danny Barronian's Health

This is very sad news. I've known him since mid-90's after first going to Glawson and Evans for the first time. I would very much like to send a card off to him and hope you'll send over his mailing address which is among the many things I've misplaced in the past few years. He and Mike did such a g...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 28, 2021 4:27 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Server Rebuild
Replies: 6
Views: 11548

Re: Server Rebuild

Well....I'm glad I checked in before deleting the bookmark. I certainly hope everything works out on this great resource that Mike and Danny have be slaving over...I guess we need to welcome Ron into the fold!
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Oct 05, 2020 3:53 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Material Advice
Replies: 4
Views: 11667

Re: Material Advice

Good solid advice....plywood of some sort is certainly preferred and probably the least expensive. If you intend to use solid wood you should be ready for a large learning curve and the accompanying frustrations. MDF is to be avoided at all cost
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Aug 17, 2020 7:32 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Water gilding woes
Replies: 3
Views: 11247

Re: Water gilding woes

When cleaning the glass (I also think that's the problem) some of the best guys I know also clean and rinse (distilled) about three times. Also be sure to not let anything ahead of you dry once you start the process
by Doug Bernhardt
Tue Aug 04, 2020 4:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Sign Painters
Replies: 2
Views: 13492

Re: Sign Painters

Hi Dan and Mike, I had wanted to see this for quite a while so thanx for the link. I was disappointed at a certain level and as Mr. Oatis eluded to some time ago, that they had almost finished filming when they discovered there is actually an industry full of professionals working at this rather tha...
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:25 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Etching cream vs sandblasting on glass
Replies: 11
Views: 47318

Re: Etching cream vs sandblasting on glass

And just an addition....Rick Glawson mentioned the same process as Pat for getting an even layer and frost. Looks very much like the English Mirrors from a century or so ago which of course beats sandblasting by a mile. An oily fingerprint can ruin a blasted finish
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:19 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Easy Water Gilded Pinstripe Jig
Replies: 2
Views: 13248

Re: Easy Water Gilded Pinstripe Jig

Perfect solution to a problem....I actually own one of Glawson and Evans' scribbers which looks very much like a carpenters scribe with a wood dowel instead of the carpenters sharp metal one. The one I have was used on the PT Copperpots pieces he did for Universal Studios...not bragging but just ack...
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Any books on Mirroring glasss
Replies: 4
Views: 34911

Re: Any books on Mirroring glasss

John...there is an excellent book on this by a _ Bruno Schweig called "Mirrors" It gets into the science and has been used by all our suppliers and mentors for working out the formulae and processes. It can be expensive so you need to decide on your commitment. I've seen it listed from sev...
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 26, 2019 8:04 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gremlins in my 12k white gold?
Replies: 5
Views: 1167294

Re: Gremlins in my 12k white gold?

I should add that depending on experience a good cleaning of your gilders tip and a re-charge might also be in order
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:11 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gremlins in my 12k white gold?
Replies: 5
Views: 1167294

Re: Gremlins in my 12k white gold?

I've only had that problem once with silver leaf....the books were pretty old when I got them and I just abandoned them as white gold is/was my primary choice. Does the rouge look unusual in anyway? I'd be tempted to put them in the fridge overnight and see if that dehumidifies sufficiently.
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:04 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: may switch from pc to mac...
Replies: 2
Views: 13709

Re: may switch from pc to mac...

Vance....I switched to a Mac a few years ago and be aware...there's a learning curve. I'm used to it now but there were a few times I was tempted to use a hammer! :wink:
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jun 26, 2019 5:01 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: first time using LeFrancs and having trouble.
Replies: 2
Views: 13242

Re: first time using LeFrancs and having trouble.

Definitely too much size...just a nice whisper thin coat is what you want.
by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Jan 17, 2019 3:56 pm
Forum: Annoucements
Topic: Danny Baronian in the Hospital
Replies: 8
Views: 19260

Re: Danny Baronian in the Hospital

Good Luck old man....best wishes from the cold white north.
by Doug Bernhardt
Wed Jul 04, 2018 8:24 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Gilded aluminum foil matte effect
Replies: 6
Views: 32224

Re: Gilded aluminum foil matte effect

Just an aside....Damar is a traditional artist's painting medium and is usually mixed with linseed oil while doing oil paintings. It's also used as a finishing varnish BUT it does yellow and will eventually cure to a tough hard yellow film. Years ago while at Fine Gold's Conclave the honourable Mr. ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 18, 2018 10:19 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Craftmaster sign enamels
Replies: 1
Views: 3003

Re: Craftmaster sign enamels

This is such a great topic to introduce and I hope it goes deep. That someone is producing (or even trying) a quality product for our industry gives me hope. There has been guilds and standards organizations for artists colours and paints for many years. If you buy a tube of watercolour or oil paint...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:20 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Bon-Ami types
Replies: 5
Views: 10522

Re: Bon-Ami types

Just a quick addition....the gelatine capsules are probably not the best idea. You can get the diamond wedges from a bakery supplier or if you're in Canada Canadian Signcrafters. In the states Ron and Kristi Purcell are a best guess.
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:15 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: glue chipped reverse paint
Replies: 3
Views: 3818

Re: glue chipped reverse paint

The technical questions this post opens up is huge beyond belief. I've been doing a lot of research the past year into paints and the research into them that's available.I'll do my best in the near future to summarize some of what I've discovered about our "treasured" and sacred cows.
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:09 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: mother of pearl
Replies: 3
Views: 6105

mother of pearl

It's been a while for me but has anyone had trouble ordering Mother of Pearl as of late? A friend of mine thats a luthier informed me there is none available anymore for "green" reasons I think he mentioned. I'd like to hear anything more about this
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:03 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: How's this done?
Replies: 5
Views: 6214

Re: How's this done?

All the advice re; safety is well worth regarding. All that said there are remarkable results available with mixed techniques....for instance acid etching chipped areas etc. This could easily be one of these techniques but the image as mentioned is far to difficult to make out. Good luck at working ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:58 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: My letters scratch away when i try copper glassgilding
Replies: 11
Views: 10170

Re: My letters scratch away when i try copper glassgilding

For what it's worth I concur with Dan and Rich. It "may" be possible to water gild with copper but I'm sure the level of expertise required is considerable and the time much the same. I asked the late great Rick Glawson about this very subject 25 or 30 years ago and is advice was the same ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:47 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Does anyone know what this font is called
Replies: 5
Views: 6026

Re: Does anyone know what this font is called

Is a hand drawn type for sure...so no "font" unless someone has translated one....especially judging by the age. French (probably Paris) late 1900's for a Bakery. Thats the translation. If you have to build this there's certainly enough info there to make a complete typeface if you'd care ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Mon Jun 18, 2018 8:41 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Large Scale Printed Design
Replies: 4
Views: 4825

Re: Large Scale Printed Design

Hi Jacob, I'm not sure if this is the answer you're looking for but if you have access to a projector (there are quite a few on the market) you should be able to trace your design to anything you like as far as size goes. I have an old Artograph from many years ago but they also make them to accept ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Nov 18, 2017 12:28 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Changing Tastes
Replies: 4
Views: 5558

Re: Changing Tastes

Well Vance....thanx for the good words but all to say this "IS" the new way. I guess it settles into..... are we manufacturers of other peoples designs or do we work on our own ideas? I for one wasn't ready to hand my favourite part of my business over to often less than competent craftspe...
by Doug Bernhardt
Fri Nov 10, 2017 11:58 am
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Changing Tastes
Replies: 4
Views: 5558

Changing Tastes

Not sure if others are noticing this but I did see a post on Facebook some time ago and the author was annoyed to find the client was looking for something other than what he was used to doing. I too had seen this and in the last few years had been asked to make a sign with supplied artwork that I d...
by Doug Bernhardt
Fri Aug 18, 2017 10:12 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Beginner brushes for small lettering
Replies: 1
Views: 2490

Re: Beginner brushes for small lettering

Sounds like you have the answer. If you've seen a good video and are "inspired" try it out....although I'd practice a little on something else before taking on the real thing
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Aug 05, 2017 1:04 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: 1 Shot on finished / oiled wood
Replies: 1
Views: 2451

Re: 1 Shot on finished / oiled wood

Hi Ren....this is not a good idea. With 1-shot I expect you will want a hard dry (varnished?) surface. I would definitely take a small sample and try anything you're thinking of using first. I have done exterior wood finishing many hundreds of times and wouldn't dream of doing this. Firstly the wax ...
by Doug Bernhardt
Thu Aug 03, 2017 8:07 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: Tinning (again !)
Replies: 5
Views: 5286

Re: Tinning (again !)

Hi again Stephane....it goes without saying that there's no "mix and matching" the acrylics and your 1 shot right?
by Doug Bernhardt
Sat Jul 22, 2017 10:52 pm
Forum: The Hand Lettering Forum
Topic: surface gilding...
Replies: 2
Views: 3812

Re: surface gilding...

Well Vance...it's time for a photo of that!!