N.E.R.D. Racing design ideas
fine... i'll help. 
Registered User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,268
Likes: 0
From: Rockville
Hey Skip,
I know we talked breifly over PM about doing the vinyl for this. I drew this up *really* quick this morning as a proof of concept for one of the mascot character icons I had in mind(I'll take a look at doing a full logo and integrating text this weekend when I have a chance to really sit down and focus). Note: Think of the black as your "color" whatever color vinyl you go with. You could then do another color outline or something along those lines. This is just a PNG export of the actual paths I drew.
A couple things to keep in mind when looking at potential vinyl designs:
1. Full color is neat, but VERY expensive. You can achieve some cell-shaded effects without going into the digital print arena, but even that is expensive because of the number of colors used. I usually suggest sticking to a single color design. Then if you want to make it pop more, use a second color as an outline to the first. I also find this is helpful in making an impact on a fast moving car or trailer
You'd be surprised how much impact you can make with one color (especially if you vary outlines and solid fills).
2. Make sure that the artwork boils down to simple lines and shapes. That way the graphic can scale up or down to almost any size and still maintain its impact.
3. Make sure that any logo or graphic you want to use is pretty easy to render in a vector-based format (as this is what the plotter uses). This also goes back to the simple shapes thing. Without using a printed "skin", you can't do gradients or anything like that. Every path in the graphic is a cut and wherever you place a path the plotter will cut.
Just things to think about when you guys are putting together design ideas / or picking graphics.
Lemme know what ya think
-Jeff
I know we talked breifly over PM about doing the vinyl for this. I drew this up *really* quick this morning as a proof of concept for one of the mascot character icons I had in mind(I'll take a look at doing a full logo and integrating text this weekend when I have a chance to really sit down and focus). Note: Think of the black as your "color" whatever color vinyl you go with. You could then do another color outline or something along those lines. This is just a PNG export of the actual paths I drew.
A couple things to keep in mind when looking at potential vinyl designs:
1. Full color is neat, but VERY expensive. You can achieve some cell-shaded effects without going into the digital print arena, but even that is expensive because of the number of colors used. I usually suggest sticking to a single color design. Then if you want to make it pop more, use a second color as an outline to the first. I also find this is helpful in making an impact on a fast moving car or trailer
You'd be surprised how much impact you can make with one color (especially if you vary outlines and solid fills).2. Make sure that the artwork boils down to simple lines and shapes. That way the graphic can scale up or down to almost any size and still maintain its impact.
3. Make sure that any logo or graphic you want to use is pretty easy to render in a vector-based format (as this is what the plotter uses). This also goes back to the simple shapes thing. Without using a printed "skin", you can't do gradients or anything like that. Every path in the graphic is a cut and wherever you place a path the plotter will cut.
Just things to think about when you guys are putting together design ideas / or picking graphics.
Lemme know what ya think
-Jeff
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 48,203
Likes: 10
From: Lewisville, TX
Thanks for the input, Jeff. 
One thing though, the "nerd" can't look like the kid who's about to get his a$$ whooped for lunch money. 
Ain't happenin'! Make him smile or something. 
One thing though, the "nerd" can't look like the kid who's about to get his a$$ whooped for lunch money. Ain't happenin'! Make him smile or something.
Thread Starter
Registered User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 48,203
Likes: 10
From: Lewisville, TX
Originally Posted by 1AP12NV,Apr 6 2007, 02:12 PM
Meaner NERD commin up... 
.... and that ain't happenin' either!!!
