Rotary Jig newbie - Several Questions

[want2b]

I make a plaque that gets good reviews from recipients using layers of different woods for the contrast. Attached a pic of one.

[Mugsowner]

Great work Want2be, I have never done one liket, but I really like them and they do draw attention. Not sure, but it also sounds like Underdog is looking for, not sure, but that's what I got out of his post.

[oscarl48]

Nice!

The part I always forget and have to play with each time is setting up the textured background. I use clip inclusive after grouping the texture separately from the rest of the elements.

[want2b]

That is an awesome layout, definitely a complex design. My plaque is very basic using several carves and wood inlays. Wasn't sure if it works for what Underdog needs. If anyone is interested I will post the steps and some MPC's showing how it works.

[Underdog]

Yep. That's the one.
Seems like there was a post somewhere on the forum.

Nice job on the signs guys.

I want to make one something like this:

[Mugsowner]

Great work guys, and I think that Underdog is looking for just what you guys are doing.

[want2b]

First I decide on the size needed to fit the names. Last name length, number of letters impacts, along with the first names impact what the final carve will look like. This creates the final carve length and height of the carve region they will fit inside.. I then make a separate carve with just a carve region 1/4 in deep that is slightly smaller or the same size as the carve region in the final carve.
I select the different woods to create the contrast desired. Example oak main board, mahogany last name and poplar first names.
Run the carve of the carve region only on the oak board. I plane the mahogany and poplar to 1/8 inch thick, they have to be larger than the carve region in the oak board. I cut them to fit snuggly in the carve region and glue them in as laminates, mahogany on the oak, poplar on top. Then I run the final carve which cuts the laminates out using the depths set and the final carve region to eliminate most of the laminates.
Basically 2 carves with the woodworking in between to create the contrast. Your choices of contrast are wide open, been thinking about some purple heart in the mix.
Not the best at writing procedures, let me know if anything needs clarification

[Underdog]

That made sense. I never thought of doing that.
I've seen the V-Carve way of doing it, but never tried it.

Hey where do you get the backgrounds or similar that the wedding sign guy had in his tutorial?

[oscarl48]

If you are talking about the texture background, Designer has a few built in but they are just another pattern so you can use anything. I have shared a bunch on here.

As to where I get them, I make my own. There are some in the store as well.

[Underdog]

you know what?
I don't think I've ever used the pattern editor...
Is that the one where you take a black and white image and create patterns just from the values?