Getting started in sign making

[ScaleHobbies]

Thinking about making some signs as holiday gifts and not sure where to start.

So for some signs, its obvious 2D cutouts, stacked on top of each other to give a 3D dimensional look.
These could be done with just about any software, 2D or 3D. Some examples:

But then there are more elaborate ones like these that definitely are 3D carved.

So a couple questions to start:

1. What software(s) are they typically using since alot of the details are 3D organic shapes and not simple vector cutouts?
2. The signs are typically large and thick. Are they getting thick boards and edge gluing them together to make big slabs?

[fenrus (Arjan van de Ven)]

carbide create is free and can do all of these things. there’s more advanced software for “fancy” that cost $$. You can get a pro license for carbide create for a year for free that can do these 3D shapes just fine (there’s tutorials around here quite a bit)

I don’t know how they do their boards; upto 1" or maybe 1.5" you can get at lumber yards… but they must be glueing stuff for sure to get them this size.

[themillertree (James H. Miller)]

A lot of the thick professional signs are made out of HDU (High Density Urethane). There are some examples on this seller’s site.
https://www.dunagroup.com/usa/products/foams/corafoam-high-density

[ScaleHobbies]

So I have Vcarve, Cut3D and Fusion along with Carbide Create that came with the Shapeoko. I’ve been a SolidWorks user for 20+ years so i can definitely model in 3D. However, i can’t imagine folks that do the intricate 3D carved signs are drawing things like trees, animals, etc. from scratch. Are they finding 3D bodies in some format and then piecing the model together in a software?

Also, i notice alot of them at textures to the recessed areas or backgrounds of the sign, how are they doing that?

[ScaleHobbies]

Finally found a youtube video that helped me understand a little better. Looks like Vcarve might be my ticket…just need to learn how to use it.

Looks like bitmaps are somehow 3D and that’s how they get alot of those features. I assume those are readily found online.

[WillAdams (William Adams (Carbide 3D))]

As an alternative there’s the optional 3D modeling in Carbide Create Pro which is like to that in Vectric Aspire — we are offering a free 1 yr. license:

Carbide Create Pro - Free For a Year

The title says it all. We’re trying to find extra value we can provide to the Carbide 3D community, who might have a lot of extra time on its collective hands, and we thought this might a good distraction for people stuck at home and it might give users who sell products a way to level-up their offerings. Go to https://launch.carbide3d.com/promo and claim your free one year license for CC Pro. If you’re not logged in you’ll need to do so and then visit the link again. UPDATE: Due to the larg…

and here are some links on modeling with it which may be helpful:

Carbide Create Pro Brings 3D Modeling and CAM to Create

Machining a Topographic Model in Carbide Create Pro

Starting with 2.5 d carving

Hi all. I would like try to make something like this tray. Is this possible to do on Carbide Create? I have a file for it, but it is for vectric software and I won’t be shelling out for that anytime soon. Or if anyone has a link to a simple 2.5 d file that I can mess around with that would be awesome. I have fusion 360 but am only just starting to figure that one out. Thanks! [44%20PM]

Trial Ver 432 3D carving Not finding much info other than a Star

Needing a little help with what Carbide Create can do and what it can’t do. Seems any videos I find and even in this site are all done with Vcarve software or fusion360. Can Carbide Create carve from an image like “Mikes” lighthouse? or a horse. Also I am using a Mac. Thanks for any insight

Vcarve pro wide flutes

Does anyone know of it is possible to create wide flutes similar to what are in the photograph with vcarve pro? [image]

Carbide Create Pro 3D tutorial --- small game board piece

A replacement for a lost board game part — first draw up the part, measure it, select an appropriate piece of stock and set up Carbide Create to match: [image]

3D Model - Creating a Ramp object

I either need some guidance, or I am requesting a new 3D modeling feature for Carbide Create. Built into Carbide Create is the ability to model Flat, Round, and Angle. In the screen shot below the top object is the classic “Angle” which produces a pyramid shape. What I want is (what I am calling) a “Ramp” shape, like the 2nd and 3rd objects below. Ramps angled horizontally or vertically. A “Ramp” is almost the same thing as an “Angle” object, but the height just varies on two sides instead …

Carbide Create Pro wavy flag

Arriving at: [image]

[fenrus (Arjan van de Ven)]

with Carbide Create Pro it’s very easy for example to do letters/fonts like this:

happy to walk you through the steps in CCPro if this is of interest

[stutaylo (Stu)]

Carbide Create Pro will do the majority of these things, especially with some time taken to learn it properly, it’s very powerful and improving all the time

You will find that most people that make money creating signs like these use Vectric software, Aspire in particular. It’s functionality really lends itself to fast design of jobs exactly like this. The price is steep but in my opinion the time saved during design and efficiency of toolpaths will pay for itself very quickly

I bought a used copy of Aspire 9 fairly cheaply, and could pretty confidently design any of those signs. That being said I would have no idea how to paint/finish them!

Carveco is another good option for this stuff, they use a subscription model which means much less outlay to start with, and if it doesn’t suit you it can be cancelled. I haven’t tried it, but have heard it’s quite popular amongst signmakers