aligning logo's and transfers

G0rdyb1ker

New member
aligning logo\'s and transfers

Hi all

has anybody got an easy way of making sure tank logos and decals/transfers are aligned on both sides of the tank I have tended to spend ages measuring and marking out.

Gordy
 

Jim

Member
Re: aligning logo\'s and transfers

There was a guy near me who would spray water with a drop or two of dish soap in it,lay the decal ,line it up,squeegee it and let it dry,he did all the towns stuff,cop cars and such.(It works good for window tinting)I bet it would work good for painting too.
 

rex

New member
Re: aligning logo\'s and transfers

If it's something you don't feel comfortable eyeballing tape one down where you want it and make some tape marks for the bottom ans the edges,usually a short L in front and a short bottom line in the rear is good.Then triangulate measurements from common points from one side to the other,mark it and stick them on.I usually eyeball them and get them close enough you can't tell.
 

Bornhard

New member
Re: aligning logo\'s and transfers

I use some chalk for marking & a sewing measuring tape. I find a main area on the part (filler neck on a gas tank) and measure from there.

Also I went and bought a cheap aluminum bubble level if I want to make sure a long design is leveled if that's what you're wanting.

One tip is to layout carefully & then walk away. Come back and look things over to make sure it all looks right. Walking away usually lets you see things differently when you return. Remember redoing a design, or moving it is always easier than sanding & repainting.

Now if you like a design, but thinks it's not where you want it, I like to take a digital pic of it and then print it out on paper, so I can refer to it if I have to layout the design again freehand.
 
B

big stinkie

Guest
Re: aligning logo\'s and transfers

Kinda off topic, but I discovered a good trick when I was an art student in college. Many times I'd have a portrait or a design that was giving me problems...just didn't look right, but I couldn't pinpoint what was wrong. I'd take it into the bathroom and look at it in a mirror and the problem suddenly became obvious. Looking at it from another viewpoint, I guess. It's helped me out a few times with a tank or fender, too.

I've got a wife that isn't afraid to be honest about my work, either. "Hey, dear. Whatdya think of this tank?" She looks at it a while, then points to a section and says, "This is too big," or "Take that part out." She's helped me out a lot. Took me a while to tell her it's OK to be critical. Don't know why, though...she criticizes everything else I do! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/haha.gif
 

airartist

New member
Re: aligning logo\'s and transfers

The last 2 posts both have excellent suggestions for getting accurate placement. I have used all of those suggestions. A flexible measuring "TAPE" will give you the most accrate measurments. When I do flames or any other mural or design that requires an exact duplicate on both sides of a tank or helmet, I will take a digital picture of the first side I completely layout, then I load it in the computer.
Most programs that are used to view images has a flip/rotate option which will allow you to flip the image horizontally. This gives you the exact visual of what the opposite side is supposed to look like. I use that as a reference to layout the second side along with eyeballing the design and you get EXTREMELY close to perfect on both sides. I'm sure there are easier ways, but for me this has worked out great. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/icon_wave222.gif
 

G0rdyb1ker

New member
Re: aligning logo\'s and transfers

Thanks for all the tips guys I have it sussed now /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cheers.gif
 
R

reckon

Guest
Re: aligning logo\'s and transfers

suprised nobody mentioned this

I find the center line of the tank and tape a piece of paper exactly at the center line, so that it hangs over the side of the tank then make an outline of the decal where it should go on one side, then poke some holes around the area of the outline,
and use a pounce bag, (chalk) patting it over the holes you just made, then flip the paper over to the other side, and use the pounce bag on that side, when you remove the paper, you now have perfect chalk alignment marks, EXACTLY the same on both sides (IF you got the center right)

I use the exact same technique to lay out flame patterns the same on both sides, but I use a pounce wheel (#9 & #12) instead of poking holes

easy as pie,............ actually pie is harder to do than this
have fun /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/fire.gif
 
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