Block Shadow/ Design Help

[AllianceDG]

Not sure if posting in the right thread but technically it is typography so here we go... I'm having to duplicate existing decals & provide new number sets on the city fire trucks, and I'm trying to find out how to get this block shadow effect. I'm using illustrator, but as old as these are I'm assuming it was probably a preset function in an older cut vinyl software. Any ideas or suggestions? Without knowing what certain numbers are supposed to look like with that 3d block effect, it's difficult to get the right perspective. I'm thinking my only way is to guess how it should look and basically pen tool draw the shadow. Please help!

 

[oksigns]

Yes... extremely easy.

Type out your copy and expand/outline it. Make sure to save a copy of the unexpanded type in case you break something.

Duplicate the expanded type and position it to the bottom of the block shadow so you have a start and end of the block shadow. With the two copies selected, us blend and "X" amount of steps to create a near seamless shape.

Effectively this without the gradient, and you want a copy sitting on top of the shadow as the real display type.


The other way is to connect the dots between the two starting and ending block shadow type building the solid shapes by hand.

You want to use a suitable amount of steps to appear smooth, but don't go overboard and risk a crash or errors. Printers wont pick up the jaggies if you find a good amount of steps. Just experiment and make copies so you don't start from scratch

 

[oksigns]

Here's the flow of the process really.. there is a lot of different things you can do along the way like adding outside stroke, insetting, etc..

sorry, the forums dont like transparent pngs

 

[rjssigns]

You can always call Pierce and have them do it.

 

[SellersSign&Design]

You can always call Pierce and have them do it.

As mentioned above, this is some of Pierce's in house graphics work. You say you are duplicating this... this is not Sign Gold or "Real Gold" brand 22 kt. vinyl. This is real 23 kt. hand laid gold encapsulated in vinyl. The shadow was either built from scratch in Omega and printed using a Gerber Edge or hand painted, depending on what the customer specified when the truck was built. What material were you planning on using to make these graphics?

 

[AllianceDG]

As mentioned above, this is some of Pierce's in house graphics work. You say you are duplicating this... this is not Sign Gold or "Real Gold" brand 22 kt. vinyl. This is real 23 kt. hand laid gold encapsulated in vinyl. The shadow was either built from scratch in Omega and printed using a Gerber Edge or hand painted, depending on what the customer specified when the truck was built. What material were you planning on using to make these graphics?

The local dealer wants a quicker turnaround/less expensive option than pierce(factory) as it is basically a 3 week minumum and they have to have the vehicles in and out fairly quick. Also they swap trucks to different locations so certain small areas have to be changed(numbers). They're a diesel repair service/emergency vehicle dealer. I doubt pierce would turn that over to us because I'd assume they'd prefer the dealer sending it back to the factory for that so they can make money off of it.

As for materials, Some of it will be printed(blue shadows), they want the sign gold vinyl overlayed. Then we'll overlay laminate about a 1/4" around the whole thing to seal. Then other areas will just be black vinyl, with gold overlay, and again the extended laminate to seal.

 

[oksigns]

Working on lettering in Illustrator like this can be tedious as you're working letter to letter. It is definitely not a filter job, but when built correctly, you have saved the pain in isolating just the layer you need to cut the gold out and bring it all together again.

 

[SellersSign&Design]

The local dealer wants a quicker turnaround/less expensive option than pierce(factory) as it is basically a 3 week minumum and they have to have the vehicles in and out fairly quick. Also they swap trucks to different locations so certain small areas have to be changed(numbers). They're a diesel repair service/emergency vehicle dealer. I doubt pierce would turn that over to us because I'd assume they'd prefer the dealer sending it back to the factory for that so they can make money off of it.

As for materials, Some of it will be printed(blue shadows), they want the sign gold vinyl overlayed. Then we'll overlay laminate about a 1/4" around the whole thing to seal. Then other areas will just be black vinyl, with gold overlay, and again the extended laminate to seal.

Just a word of caution, make sure the dealer and the customer are both aware that the Sign Gold will not match the rest of the graphics on the truck. It sticks out like a sore thumb when put next to real gold. If they still insist on going that route, then go for it. If not, there are some other companies that do the same type of lettering that Pierce does in house. I use a similar process, however I am backed up right now and couldn't get anything to you any sooner than Pierce could. You can try M. Norris & Sons, RJ Marx or Fire Gold, all do very nice work and can match what is on the truck already.

 

[Billct2]

I do work for a similar company and matching others designs is a total PITA, sometimes the amount of time replicating the look is more expensive than just redoing the whole thing...but if it's a repair and going back to the owner it better comes out right because firemen are very picky about their trucks. And ther are times I see what it is and just take a pass because I'm just not going to ever replicate someones hand work, at least not for a cost theyw ill live with.