The not so dreaded G word.

[David Arana]

Thanks to all those who have posted on the creek regarding granite and marble.
After alot of reading and alot of practice. I believe I have the results ive been looking for.
I gotta give thanks to the Gold Method.
Also I want to add that I found that working with the contrast levels and
burn and dodge tools on photoshop can help increase image quality big time.
One thing about granite to remember is that it turns white very easily.
So high speed and low power worked best for me. 100speed, 50 power on a 25w laser.

What your essentially trying to do is find the appropriate level of power to singe the granite and get light shades of the grayscale. Because too much power will just turn everything white washed.

TIP - I went on the internet and found a grayscale chart! - Then just set your speed at 100 and practice and slowly bring your power level down until you get most or all of the shades of gray. Then you know settings for images! YAY!)

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/Bardman2007/grayscale_chart.jpg

Also very important reminder to anyone messin with granite.
GARBAGE IN AND GARBAGE OUT! High res images work best.

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/Bardman2007/rpcommando.jpg

http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s39/Bardman2007/washingont.jpg

[Steve Clarkson]

David.....those are very nice....but I still won't engrave the G-word anymore!

[Martin Boekers]

Great idea!

I like how you decided to use the greyscale as the template

If you can' achieve all those levels, you can't in a photograph!

Sort of a "Zone System" for granite!

Thanks for the idea!

Marty

[Dee Gallo]

Very nice work, David. Do you make your own scans/pictures or were those stock images already digitized?

What I like most about your pieces is that you made the most of the space and material, with contrast and composition. Too often I've seen good work made so-so by boring layouts.

cheers, dee

[David Arana]

I found both those files off the internet. Image quality on the Republic commando was very crisp and high res.
George Washington was actually a fairly low res file 300k or so.
Worked out great though.

[Brian J Rogalny]

Home Depot granite, homemade wooden frame.131584

[Steve Clarkson]

Wow! Brian that's awesome!

Can you share how you made the frame? I've always thought about doing a large mural, but never quite knew how to frame it.

[Lee DeRaud]

I've always thought about doing a large mural, but never quite knew how to frame it.The frame isn't really an issue, there's lots of artwork out there larger than this. The artwork holds up the frame, not the other way around. The key is having a stable backing you can attach hanger hardware to.

For an outdoor 2'x2' project (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=63890), I used doubled 1/4" lexan as the backer, silicone sealer to hold everything together. (In restrospect it's gross overkill, but as Norm says, "That's not going anywhere.".) Indoors, baltic birch ply or even MDF would work fine as a backer.

[Brian J Rogalny]

Steve, I just made the frame out of poplar to cover the edges just looks better.It is all set on 3/4" plywood with mastic no grout.This mural is pushed out in front of my store on a major highway everyday just to create a buzz, and it doe's bring people in asking questions.Trying to come up with another image to do, any ideas are welcomed.

[Mark Ross]

Maybe something along these lines?

http://www.wga.hu/tours/sistina/index1.html