One of the things I like to do for each Sign Magic Workshop is to create custom name plaques for each attendee. Although it is challenging at times I try my best to create a name plate that is suited to each person.
One of our students this time is finishing her Art Masters degree at university. I know she loves to inject thoughtful fun into each piece she does. For her name plaque an image of brain came to mind. I would wrap her name over it for her panel. It started with a sketch of course to test the idea. I didn't have to do more than a little sketching to know it would work.
Then it was on to creating the vectors I nee
ded to build the files in EnRoute. The brain was a simple domed oval shape. I then added to this relief with the two halves of the brain. A bitmap texture file from my collections called 'WORMS' formed the brain in an instant. The lettering outline was made into a relief, then modified with an oval of the same size as the brain and domed a similar amount. Using the side view of the reliefs I adjusted everything until it looked right. The base for the panel was created separately with a chamfer, then everything was Merged to create one relief. The domed lettering was added to the relief as a last step.
Creating the tool pathing was easy and instant using EnRoute software. I used a 3/8" ball nose bit for the rough pass with a 50 % overlap and 0.1" offset. The final pass was with a tapered 1/8" ball nose bit and a 80% overlap. Both tools were run at 300 inches per minute. The rough pass was accomplished in less than 10 minutes. The final pass came in at a little less than an hour to finish.
While the file was running I was doing my best to get the next file ready in between phone calls and other interruptions. Stay tuned for the next idea...
-dan
