3D Sign in the Making.

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 1:42 am

A few days ago our building facade was painted and they had to pull down the old lettering.
I told the painters that they could throw them away, because I thought it was time to give our company a new look.
After a few brainwaves and some computer sketching I came up with this design.

joe cieslowski · Post by **joe cieslowski** » Thu Jul 16, 2009 8:03 am

I like the style.....lotsa options for going dimensional.......from mild to crazy!

I'd like to see it with your name reversed with DEKORATE STUDIO.......isn't that waht you are selling? Also, if what that bottom panel says is important, it probably should be a little bigger.... script is a tough read to begin with. You'd get a little more contrast too, if the panel behind WINKLER was darker......maybe a rich, deep brown or even green.

Just a few of my thoughts....

Joe

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Sat Jul 18, 2009 2:30 pm

Thanks for your comment Joe.
The message we are selling is the name 'Ferry Winkler' the extra'Decoratie Studio' is something we want to get rid of marketing wise, it does not help the client in understanding what we do. As the sign will be 2,5 meters above our door, he sub text ' Reclame & Belettering' will be just and decorative element in two of the things we do.
The main purpose of this sign will be a sample case of some of the techniques I like to use:
1 ) Sandblasting wood.
2 ) Handpainting.
3 ) Epoxy modeling.
4 ) 3d lettering.
5 ) Surface Gilding.
6 ) Laying mother of pearl.
7 ) Glue chipping and watergilding.
8 ) Using facet abrased mirroring.
9 ) Designing.
10 ) Laser cut lettering.
11 ) Two component polyurthane coating.
etc.

And ofcourse show people this is the place to find us: Ferry Winkler

joe cieslowski · Post by **joe cieslowski** » Sun Jul 19, 2009 11:20 pm

O.K.

In this case, I'll keep my 2 cents to myself and just watch what you do to showcase your offerings.
I do like the design.....it could have been overdone, but IMHO it wasn't. Nice.

Joe

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 12:38 am

Here some more photo's of the 3D Sign in the making.

Cutting the contour and filling the gaps with a two component wood filler.

On my way to the next steps.
So far so good.

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 11:01 am

After hours of blasting in the lonely darkness of the night and weekend.

: Cutting and sanding the Glas section.jpg (102.32 KiB) Viewed 28014 times

: Painting the elements.jpg (107.52 KiB) Viewed 28008 times

: Painting the small lettering.jpg (117.84 KiB) Viewed 27997 times

Just a few hundred steps to do, almost there

Doug Bernhardt · Post by **Doug Bernhardt** » Mon Jul 20, 2009 9:22 pm

Eric......a few good shots there but wish you had stepped up to the plate in advance of getting started. Am not sure of how this will hold up in your part of the world but over here there in no way you could use that process and expect results to hold up past 1 winter. Your boards should run from left to right (prevents rotting)and using plywood would only invite disaster(different expansion rates). I admit our climate is much more harsh but I needed to make this comment for folks the in North America.

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 12:22 am

Doug,

Thanks for your advise, but what do you mean with: "the boards should run from left to right"?
And "wish you had stepped up to the plate in advance of getting started"?

The plywood I used is completely waterproof and made for exterior purpose.
The boards are clued with D4 expanding polyurethane glue, which is the best glue for outdoors.
After painting the housepaint, I am planning to coat the wood entirely with 2 component polyurethane.
Hope this will keep out all the moisture. Do not think I can exterminate cracking of the wood due to expanding or shrinking.
Ofcourse HDU would be better, but I thought of trying wood first since we do not have precision board or signfoam available here.

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 1:16 pm

While anxiously awaiting Dougs warnings

Winky continued the 3d Ferry Winkler sign.

: Gilded round letters with selfmade studs.jpg (95.81 KiB) Viewed 27902 times

: Gilding the epoxied ornaments.jpg (97.81 KiB) Viewed 27906 times

: Gilded glue chipped beveled silvered glas.jpg (106.94 KiB) Viewed 27897 times

Allmost there....

Brian the Brush UK · Post by **Brian the Brush UK** » Tue Jul 21, 2009 4:54 pm

Hi Erik,
That script on the small lettering that you have painted Red looks very familiar, is it per chance 'Red Sable' from the brain of Arthur Vanson ?? The project is looking good mate, keep us posted,

Brian.
http://www.brianthebrushuk.com

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 12:15 am

Hello Brian,

Yes it is Red Sable, but I changed the '&' character, because I do not like the Red Sable one.
Thanks mate,

Erik

Kelly Thorson · Post by **Kelly Thorson** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:48 am

Looking good Erik. I'm curious as to the polyurethane coating. Could you have done it before painting? Did you use it under the smalts? Is it possible to use a flattening agent in it so it doesn't have as much gloss? Or could it have been lightly sandblasted to break the sheen? Then again, you may have been going for the high gloss look.

I just really liked the soft look of the sandblasting before the coating was applied.

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Wed Jul 22, 2009 9:58 am

To be honoust kelly I also liked the soft look of the sandblasted wood before the coating was applied.
But since I planned to completely coat the sign in polyurethane after it was painted (for safety reasons, in the weather and all) I knew that it would be glossy.
And I thought: "If I will go for the super shiny gold, I also should go for the superduper glossy coating".
Let it shine, let it shine!

I would not recommend painting on top of the coating.
Since the coating is so hard and 'weatherproof' it would repel the paint or at least it would not give a 100% bonding on the urethane, even after sanding with sandpaper.
Maybe Wizzkid Kent Smith could enlighten us on that one.

Maybe the next sign will be more mat in the wooden area's and shinny in the painted ones.
I must admit I would really like to make those contrasts.

There is not urethane under or on top of the smalts...
Not to interfere the bonding or the natural gloss of the smalts.

Erik

Wayne Osborne · Post by **Wayne Osborne** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 1:55 am

Erik..Looking good, lots of showcase skills in there!

Note that this gold looks like a true mirror, because of the special german/dutch size invention I use. You can polish the gold like it is a bole gilding, but this size will stay perfectly for at least 25 years outside.

Spill the beans mate- what's the special size invention ?...

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:23 am

One of the many tricks and techniques I used on this sign is doming Abalone shells.

Erik

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 9:19 am

Well the 3d sign is finished!!!

Here some foto's made from different angles.
Already some skitmarks in front of our building. Funny to see the amazement in peoples eyes when I peek outside.
Fortunatly nobody got hurt... yet, but that is mostly because it is a slow driving zone here.

: Bord 1.JPG (103.96 KiB) Viewed 27674 times

: Bord 2.JPG (100.42 KiB) Viewed 27671 times

: Bord 3.JPG (97.19 KiB) Viewed 27665 times

Of to experimenting glue chipping little details without cutting...

Erik

Kelly Thorson · Post by **Kelly Thorson** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:23 am

Very nice Erik. Let's see a close up of the domed abalone in place.

DAVE SMITH · Post by **DAVE SMITH** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 11:59 am

You done a good job Erik.
Looks very good.
Dave

Kent Smith · Post by **Kent Smith** » Fri Jul 24, 2009 7:11 pm

The overall effect is stunning. You are correct, paints will not adhere to the two component. I would have used a flattening agent to knock the gloss down a bit because the wood tends to look too much like it is plastic if it is too glossy. The shell would look brighter if you sized the backs and then applied aluminum leaf...my favorite for backing shell on glass as well. I think the dome over the shell will yellow under UV so you may have to watch it. Glad you used 23.75K as it will stay brilliant longer. The gold size is intriging since we are not burnishing here.

Catharine C. Kennedy · Sat Jul 25, 2009 6:17 am

Absolutely amazing!! And great step-by as well- thanks!

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:01 am

Well thank you for the compliments.

Kelly, here some more detail photo's of the gilding and epoxied abalone.
As allways the photo's do not give justice to the real effects.

: Gilding 1.JPG (90.92 KiB) Viewed 27509 times

: Gilding 2.JPG (97.8 KiB) Viewed 27511 times

: Gilding & Abalone.JPG (113.48 KiB) Viewed 27780 times

erik winkler · Post by **erik winkler** » Mon Jul 27, 2009 10:03 am

And some more detail shots:

: Abalone.JPG (84.65 KiB) Viewed 27499 times

: Abalone & gilding.JPG (98.12 KiB) Viewed 27502 times

: Ornamental gilding.JPG (109.35 KiB) Viewed 27504 times

Erik

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