Designing a Clock Face
Colleen S. posted this request on the Klic-N-Kut Yahoo group and I jumped on it because, as always, I love new and different design challenges! She’s planning to install a clock directly onto a wall in her home and use vinyl for the numbers on the clock face. Her question was this: Is there an easy technique that will evenly space the numbers around the circle? So, I made a video showing the way I would do it:
But the project has another challenge to it. Because Colleen is designing this clock to be 18″ in diameter AND her KNK Groove-E can only cut up to 13″ wide, there’s the issue of how to get the cut lettering transferred to the wall and be line up just as she designed it in the software. I came up with the method I would use and made this video:
Transferring the Clock Design to the Wall
Now, I also wanted input from the other members and I did receive some great alternative ideas, so I’ll share them here. As usual, there’s more than one way to do just about anything, so it’s nice to have choices and pick the one that works best for you!
Michele’s suggestion (Thanks, Michele!) :
Here is my method. I make 2 circles and center them to the sign blank, then I make a line to bisect the circles. I center this to the sign blank as well. Next, I duplicate the line, center it to the sign blank and rotate it 30 degrees. I repeat this until I have all of the lines on my clock. I then create my numbers and use the center square (when the number is selected) to place it at the intersection of the line and the inner circle. When I’m done, I remove the lines. Then I make a very small circle and center it to the sign blank to identify the location for the hands of the clock.
Sharon’s suggestion (Thanks, Sharon!):
You could turn on your grid, Make a Square 18 x 18 and place your clock image in side, then you could take half and cut that, and cut the other half. And that should work to give you the correct spacing when you place on the wall.
If you have parts connecting in the image, just use the ginsu knife to separated.
Alisa’s Input (Thanks, Alisa!):
I did this recently. I used a circle, of the minimum diameter I needed and marked with a small circle at 12, 3, 6 and 9 as well as the centre. I actually did not even set it out in my software. I just cut my numerals and then using my circle, drew around it, directly on to the wall with a pencil. I then marked 12, 3, 6 & 9 and the centre. Then I adhered those numerals in place. Then using a ruler, I marked with the remaining numbers needed to be, making sure that the opposite number was in line with the middle.
