Cut out letters on a backgound; how to align?

Everything Else
#1

If you cut out letters in a logo or name - how in the world do you align them on the backing material so that they are not crooked and are in a straight line.

For example, in this random image I found - I can see how the cursive letters are connected, so they are one piece… but the word PAPER or non-cursive letters… how is this done?

4f0a57389494b677ecfae7a971427257.jpg736×490 60.2 KB

I’ve seen a few nice signs on this site but can’t think of any links to include now… but I hope you understand what I am asking!

I would assume people are just supergluing the letters to the background? Is there any special process?

Thanks!

2 Likes
#2

I’ve done one of two things - either engrave a light line on the backing material to use as a glue guide, or just cut a placement template out of some other material, lay it down, and glue the letters in the holes.

6 Likes
#3

I might try engraving the letters where you want them for a ‘seat’ to set them.

4 Likes
#4

In terms of a placement template - couldn’t you just use the piece of PG that the letters came out of? I like this idea.

In terms of a glue line - would this be visible after the letters are on?

The only issue is that I am not sure if the backing material would necessarily be laserable / fit in the GF…

Thanks! :slight_smile:

1 Like
#5

Not sure what you mean - can you elaborate? :slight_smile:

#6

I was thinking use the same file you used to cut the letters and convert to engrave to enable a shallow engrave as a placement guide. It does look like the backing may be too large (long) for the machine, can’t tell scale in the pic.

1 Like
#7

Do it like you would a vinyl sign. Use a piece of tape/transfer paper to pick up the letters out of the gf. Apply glue to the backs of the letters, lay the tape/letter/glue construct on your substrate, let glue dry. Then peel the tape off. Voila, aligned letters.

5 Likes
#8

OK - using transfer tape… this is a great idea. Have you done this?

What type of tape would you recommend?

:slight_smile: :wink: :sunglasses:

Thank you!!!

#9

I like perfectear plus from sign warehouse. Blue painters tape would probably work though. Even plain masking tape if you’re careful.

Basically you want it sticky enough to reliably lift up the pieces but not so sticky that it’s hard to remove.

Giant discussions abound, here’s one:

https://community.glowforge.com/t/masking-material-for-non-proofgrade-items/22442

And another:

https://community.glowforge.com/t/purchased-masking-isnt-tacky-enough/18012

2 Likes
#10

I did just that: used painters tape… For a project I worked on, I had 2 pieces: maple hardwood as the base and some darker veneer - and I needed perfect placing of the veneer…

So I added 2 rectangles to my veneer cut - then put painters tape over my veneer cut before removing it from the GF - removed the backing of the veneer except for the 2 rectangles. This allowed me to align the text horizontally with the side of the maple background and vertically with the engraved text.

24
Screen Shot 2018-06-10 at 18.24.24.png858×609 21.4 KB

Worked as expected…

2 Likes
#11

I do it all the time with just a score outline, no one ever notices the score after something is glued on it.

One thing to remember for this; if it looks right it is right. Maybe the math doesn’t work out or the letters aren’t spaced perfectly down to .010", ect. No one is ever going to notice if when you step back you look at it and go “it looks right”.

to illustrate the point https://youtu.be/CeFJIOWPUd0?t=5m28s

2 Likes
#12

a level?

#13