[horvath]

My nephew has a '71 Mustang Mach 1 he's starting to restore and he wants to paint details like the Mach 1 Logo on the car, instead of applying decals, before the final clear coat.

I'm a graphic designer and use a Mac computer ... real familiar with Photoshop, etc. ... but does anyone know what software painters use to create stencils or where I can learn the ropes about the latest techniques of this part of the painter's toolkit?

[horvath]

Anyone???

[lbell101]

Well, I'm not sure where you can learn the techniques.
We use paint instead of decals quite a bit on collectables. I'm not sure if it pays off because it's really labor intensive. We bought a plotter (vinyl cutter) and the software for it. Then learned how to use it from the manual. We create the artwork in the plotting program keeping in mind that the finished product will be masks. Multiple copies are then cut into masking material for each color to be sprayed. It helps to use an indexing mark or two outside the artwork. That way you can lay each mask in exactly the same location so the colors will be in the correct spot. Here's a couple of examples, these are all paint:
http://www.gaspumpcolor.com/paint/1.jpg
http://www.gaspumpcolor.com/paint/2.jpg
http://www.gaspumpcolor.com/paint/3.jpg

Larry

[horvath]

Thanks for your response, Larry.

Those plotters and the software for them are pretty expensive aren't they?

I'm wondering, if I provided artwork in Adobe Illustrator or Adobe Photoshop, would I be able to get a someone to cut us some vinyl stencils?

[adtkart]

You could check your area for someone that does the vinyl lettering on trucks and signs. There used to be a guy around here that did that stuff. I saw his system. He could scan anything in and make it in vinyl. You could use them for stencils.

A few weeks ago, at a local car show, I saw a Ford PU that had the Emblems painted on the hood. I wish I had taken a picture of it, as they were amazing.

Aaron

[Rambo_The_Dog]

Originally Posted by lbell101

Well, I'm not sure where you can learn the techniques.
We use paint instead of decals quite a bit on collectables. I'm not sure if it pays off because it's really labor intensive. We bought a plotter (vinyl cutter) and the software for it. Then learned how to use it from the manual. We create the artwork in the plotting program keeping in mind that the finished product will be masks. Multiple copies are then cut into masking material for each color to be sprayed. It helps to use an indexing mark or two outside the artwork. That way you can lay each mask in exactly the same location so the colors will be in the correct spot. Here's a couple of examples, these are all paint:
http://www.gaspumpcolor.com/paint/1.jpg
http://www.gaspumpcolor.com/paint/2.jpg
http://www.gaspumpcolor.com/paint/3.jpg

Larry

What's the rough cost estimates on a setup like this?

Thanks!

[BondoKing]

Go here and they can tell you where to get the proper stencils... You can buy them and paint them right on the car instead of using decals if you so choose... Just did one the other day on the hood of a Mach 1... Stripes as well as the 351 were al painted.. You can get them for the rear decklid to instead of the decal

http://1970mustangmach1.forumactif.com/index.forum

you can also go here and register your Mach 1.. and they have allot of tips regarding "Factory" things.. placement of emblems, decals, what is factory what is not etc...

http://search.hp.netscape.com/hp/boo...h1%2Fhome.html

[horvath]

Aaron -- That's good to hear. Thanks, Bro'!

Rambo_The_Dog -- I've seen setups anywhere from $600 to $5,000 depending on the sizes ... do a search on Google for plotter vinyl cutter

BondoKing -- Thanks for those links, man! I'll dig in over there and see what's up. If we can just buy the stencils all ready to go for Mach 1 that sure would make life simpler!

[nova72000]

I just thought I would give you a heads up I bought a hobby cutter 12" sticka by roland it has gotten a lot of use but as far as making the stencils you are needing it is limited not only by the 9.8 inches wide maximum but it will not cut any longer than 39.97 inches long. I thought I would be able to make a 4 foot stripe with it if i needed to but sadly it is not capable. I am a bit of a hacker as well so it isn't due to an inability to use the software or hardware the machine is simply not capable of doing it. I bought it on ebay 4 years ago for $450. I have figured out how to make 50 inch windshield strips but it won't make a solid stripe over 39.97".

As far as the file format illustrator & Corel Draw seem to be the norm. .eps .ai .cdr .pdf

mike

[horvath]

Thanks, Mike!

I figured as much regarding sizes ... still, that's a larger size than I thought you'd be able to do with the smaller machines. Not bad at all.

[S10Fan]

Originally Posted by adtkart

A few weeks ago, at a local car show, I saw a Ford PU that had the Emblems painted on the hood. I wish I had taken a picture of it, as they were amazing.

Aaron

Chevy guy to the rescue! Someone else took some pictures.............

[Bob C]

Any sign shop can cut a stencil for you. I have a 24" plotter that we use.
It's not very expensive to do.
This was done with a stencil.

attachmentid=16267&stc=1[/url]
Bob.

[horvath]

Thanks.

Those are great looking examples, too!