Images for Marquees & Bezels

[BritInVA]

I must say I've been amazed at the work some of you have done on your Marquees & Bezels. Where do you get the images for them from as I'd like to try my hand at one - or I'll just have to use one of yours

[Draco1962]

To be honest, I have not created much in original images. Just creative cropping, copying & pasting with a little filter wizardry thrown in for good measure.

[Adultery]

I do some of both, creative filter usage and layering/slicing/cropping of existing graphics. I can draw but paper doesn't translate well through the scanner and I'm a sucker for clean lines. I also use the lasso tool a lot. Photoshop and I get along pretty well.

That's me anyways.

I'd be willing to help you design either if you want it, just let me know what kind of theme you're planning to use. I'm sure Draco would say the same.

[Draco1962]

Always willing to lend a hand!

[BritInVA]

Going to try my hand at GIMP - guess Bing & Google images will be my first stop. Let me know if any other places worth checking out.

[bkenobi]

Depending on what you want in your artwork, you might check out NASA. They have posted some extremely high resolution pictures of space stuff (nebulas, planets, etc). It's very cool, but of course it only works if that's the kind of thing you want in your artwork.

[BritInVA]

How is this for a first try

Thought I'd make it to blend with the Carbon & Steel theme.

[Adultery]

...and just like that, an artist is born!

A few suggestions if I may... Keep in mind when going to have this printed you may run into problems with "copyrighted materials" on your marquee (Staples pissed me off for this reason. Tell me you won't print it and you won't sell me the photo paper and try to ask me a bunch of questions about my machine? Pshaw!). Your best bet is to find a local sign shop or a "mom and pop" print shop to do this for you. The marquee shouldn't be expensive as they charge by square foot. There are places on the net that do it too, but who wants to wait that long?

Anyways, it looks sharp! Pretty smooth for a first attempt!

[Draco1962]

Not too shabby at all! Great first attempt for certain! Kinda makes me a little misty..

[BritInVA]

Thanks Guy's - going to tinker a little more. Think might just go online for printing - need to investigate that!

[BritInVA]

OK - this is what I settled on - and sent to printers

[Draco1962]

I definitely like this one better than the first. While the Simpsons are a game title or two, they didn't quite fit as well. Good job!

[BritInVA]

Oh - crap!

Heard back from printer. Image is 6.77" x 1.85" at 300 dpi. I thought looked good but they say will likely notice pixelation of the enlarged image

Any ideas?

[EDIT] Draco - do you have higher res image of the C&S background?

[Adultery]

I use only hi rez art for my marquees unless I want it to be pixeled. Don't know about gimp but photoshop does a good job of scaling and I make my psd canvas actual size and go from there. I also prefer 600 DPI over 300.

[Draco1962]

Oh - crap!

Heard back from printer. Image is 6.77" x 1.85" at 300 dpi. I thought looked good but they say will likely notice pixelation of the enlarged image

Any ideas?

[EDIT] Draco - do you have higher res image of the C&S background?

I checked and the DPI for the ones I have are 300x300. tried googling carbon fiber for a higher res but was not able to find anything easily.

[BritInVA]

I checked and the DPI for the ones I have are 300x300. tried googling carbon fiber for a higher res but was not able to find anything easily.

Can you post a link to your back ground? 300x300 DPI is what I need - I think you used a blur on the C&S background in the theme so I can't just 'patch' the background.

[Edit] - dont worry found one without blur

[Draco1962]

Had a thought, albeit a bit delayed - How about using real carbon fiber?

[BritInVA]

OK, so I managed to create a 300 dpi image (if anyone wants it PM me).

Heres what it looks like now with Marquee Lights off and on.

I need to reduce the transparency - just too much other LIFE getting in way (read Yard work and HDL's) And also you might notice the measure twice cut once mishap

[Draco1962]

Why not just dim your florescent strips? You can probably find at one of the "depots" sleeves that fit over the florescent tube that will cut the output enough to your liking. The tube sleeves are used to help cut down on glare. Also, you could put a piece of smoke tinted plastic or plexiglass behind the bezel to cut down on the amount of light shining through.

[celly]

Looks real nice, great job!

And also you might notice the measure twice cut once mishap

If your talking about the marquee holder parts, Home Depot/Lowes has some cheap angle iron that can easily be sliced with a hack saw. I did that for mine and gave it a flat black rattle can coating. Looks like the real deal.

[BritInVA]

Looks real nice, great job!

If your talking about the marquee holder parts, Home Depot/Lowes has some cheap angle iron that can easily be sliced with a hack saw. I did that for mine and gave it a flat black rattle can coating. Looks like the real deal.

Yeah - thats what I used..... just had a brain fart when I cut them

[celly]

Oh, well, there you go being human I guess.