What am i doing wrong?

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BR549
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What am i doing wrong?

Post by BR549 »

I am using Oak.
I am cutting it with a 60 degree engraving bit.
I am putting 2 coats of Shellac on the surface.
I am programming the line spacing at 130%
The depth is .048
The angle is 35.
I cut the picture
Then i put a dark stain all over the picture and then wipe it off the top.

My carvings are all coming out really dark and hard to see. Some of them are so dark you can even tell who the people are.

What am i doing wrong?

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Burchtree
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by Burchtree »

Hi
Are you putting the shellac on before or after you cut the picture. You need to seal the cuts before you stain.
Dan
People go though many trials and tribulations. Some of them actually happened.

BR549
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by BR549 »

I am only puting it on before i cut them, not after. I guess that could be what is causeing the pictures to come out so dark. Other than that does everything else look right?

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Rcnewcomb
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by Rcnewcomb »

Then i put a dark stain all over the picture and then wipe it off the top.
My carvings are all coming out really dark and hard to see. Some of them are so dark you can even tell who the people are.
Take a scraper blade and gently start scraping the surface. The image will emerge.

See this link for my method and examples: ->Link
- Randall Newcomb
10 fingers in, 10 fingers out, another good day in the shop

Bob Reda
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by Bob Reda »

just a question along these lines. Has anyone tried the rub and buff used by laser engravers to add some definition to their work? You would use the same steps as mentioned above but use the rub and buff instead of paint. Just a thought.

Bob

CRFultz
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by CRFultz »

BR549 wrote:I am using Oak.
I am cutting it with a 60 degree engraving bit.
I am putting 2 coats of Shellac on the surface.
I am programming the line spacing at 130%
The depth is .048
The angle is 35.
I cut the picture
Then i put a dark stain all over the picture and then wipe it off the top.

My carvings are all coming out really dark and hard to see. Some of them are so dark you can even tell who the people are.

What am i doing wrong?
Have you tried another type of wood?
I use Maple exclusively for PVC wood projects. The contrast between the light and dark is what will give you the image. I'm not sure if oak would be light enough. A close, tight grain will give good results.

Chuck

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Greasetattoo
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by Greasetattoo »

Remember you have to start with a good picture.

Good contrast is what is all about!
Where you lights are lite and your darks are dark!

BR549
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by BR549 »

Thanks for all the input.

My pictures a pretty good quality.
I will get some maple and try it.

Also somebody said that it is better to change the picture to grayscale before bringing it into the PhotoVcarve.

Any opinions?

calgrdnr
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by calgrdnr »

I rarely change pictures to grayscale. PVC does a great job either way.
I mainly do lithos so maybe different for the Vcarve photos

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Burchtree
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Re: What am i doing wrong?

Post by Burchtree »

Hi
I do many PVC’s and I never change them to grayscale. I do bring them into Photoshop to fix, crop, size, etc before I use PVC. If you are going to use the stain method you will want to apply a clear finish before you cut ( 3 coats ) and after you cut ( 1 or 2 coats ) Apply the stain in such a way that the stain sits in the grooves and let it dry well. Sand the face to remove any stain on the face and clear coat. Can you post a picture that you are trying to cut?
Dan
People go though many trials and tribulations. Some of them actually happened.

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