egobuster1 9 Posted January 18, 2014 Im looking for some direction on how to go about getting the exact size for a decal. My buddy has a GTO and wants to have vinyl inlays inserted into the GTO emblem on the rear bumper but im not sure how i would go about getting the exact size so they fit. i will attach some images so you can see what im talking about. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted January 18, 2014 Take a good picture with some kind of size reference in the same picture. Say a one inch block or a ruler something that you can use to set the scale correctly. Lets say you used a ruler, now in your program open the picture and then make a box that is one inch long. And then scale your picture up or down until the one inch box fits into a one inch segment on the ruler. Now your picture is scaled correctly. Now just manually trace the GTO and cut it out. Easy Peasy. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
signyouup 178 Posted January 18, 2014 Take a good picture with some kind of size reference in the same picture. Say a one inch block or a ruler something that you can use to set the scale correctly. Lets say you used a ruler, now in your program open the picture and then make a box that is one inch long. And then scale your picture up or down until the one inch box fits into a one inch segment on the ruler. Now your picture is scaled correctly. Now just manually trace the GTO and cut it out. Easy Peasy. +1, make sure the picture you take is not at an angle at all or it will affect dimensions. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egobuster1 9 Posted January 18, 2014 Alright makes sense. I've just never done anything like that before so I'll have to mess around with it Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Cal 393 Posted January 18, 2014 Be sure to post a pic of the completed project! Cal Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted January 19, 2014 Its really not hard. Once you get the hang of it, youll be able to do something that simple in 15 mins. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darcshadow 1,626 Posted January 20, 2014 Alright makes sense. I've just never done anything like that before so I'll have to mess around with it Best way to learn. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egobuster1 9 Posted January 23, 2014 Alright i got a picture of it but i can't get this to work. was wondering if someone can help me here. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
FrznFire07 217 Posted January 23, 2014 your picture is not straight on, see the ruler hanging away from the bumper because it angles inward? Your camera needs to be low and angled slightly upwards. If you have photoshop you can "distort" the angle of your shot but the vinyl doesn't always come out exact. Knifeless tape would work here too. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Coaster36 327 Posted January 23, 2014 Like frznfire said, try and get a better picture, You can probably get away if you just lower the camera a little. Then make a box in your program, and go in the manual size boxes(where you can automatically size it.) Make it 1 inch wide by 1/2 high. Then change the size of your picture until that box fits into a 1 inch segment on the ruler. Make sure your sizing your picture proportionally. So it enlarges or shrinks your picture in both directions at the same time. Then either get the correct font or manually trace the letters. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Jay2703 704 Posted January 23, 2014 I made a video of what I do in SignBlazer. Not a car but you will get the idea. I know the size of the paper is 11" wide and I want to scale it in my software to that. http://screencast.com/t/9rDgt0Ug Measure the picture Divide the actual dimension by the measured dimension of the picture to get the scaling factor Multiply the length of the picture by the scaling factor. Change the size of the picture to that size Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
egobuster1 9 Posted January 24, 2014 yeah this is a tough one thats for sure and that rear valence piece is sloped inwards already to. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
skarekrow 1,842 Posted January 24, 2014 Get a good, square-on, high resolution picture of the Lettering. (Look that the inner-edge bevel, making sure it's relatively even, left and right, top and bottom.) Now measure on the car the exact width and exact height. Note where you are taking these measurments from. (ie. outer radius of the "G" and "O"... Top and bottom edge of "T".) Bring the image into your vector program (I like Inkscape for this) and Draw around the letters and fill with color. You may have to use the Trace feature but the Pen tool is the much preferred option. using the ruler/ guides/ size boxes, make the letters the exact size you measured on the car. Height & width from those same points you noted earlier.. Save as a vector. It may take minor tweaking... depending upon any distortion in the picture and high enough resolution for accurate detail. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
darcshadow 1,626 Posted January 24, 2014 For something like this you might be better off just painting or using that plasti dip stuff. Or just get the vinyl letters close and then manually trim on the car. Bit riskier but if you have a steady hand that's about the only way to get the size perfect. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Monkey 252 Posted January 24, 2014 I have a GTO as well.....his best bet is to just paint the letters. Your going to spend way to much time trying to get it right size and font and then its a PITA to install in the recess. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
jaybyrd 3,770 Posted January 24, 2014 Reminds me of doing Mustang rear bumpers. I ended up making a pattern with cardstock and scanning it in then doing a ton of node editing and test fitting. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites