Category: Design

Colour

Our brains tend to like matching or contrasting colours.  Some creative individuals can picture this in their head and some up with a design that works. Other creative people do it by trial and error. If you are stuck, find a colour wheel and either look at colours on opposite sides of the circle, or divide the wheel three ways and go for a three way contrast.

 

Colour selection and contrast applied to everything from business suits to architecture and furniture. Use it to design plastic model decals or temporary tattoos. Remember that the surface colour where the decal is applied is also a consideration.

 

Shape

We find certain shapes and ratios pleasing. The ancient Greeks noticed that people found the golden ratio ( 1 to 1.618… ) very appealing, and used in in sculptures, art, vases, building and many other things. The same ratio crops up in many designs today, often unconsciously. People design many things using the golden ratio, even if they don’t actually know about it. They simply came up with something that looked right.

 

Circles, triangles and other neatly proportioned shapes are also pleasing, but they can be plain and obvious on their own. But if they are the underlying template behind other designs they can work to our advantage. Many painters created portraits over simple rectangles and circles. The painted portrait covers up the original geometric shapes, but we get the impression of the geometry when we see the final painting.

 

Coherence

Perhaps the least discussed issue of design, but the one most noticed if it is missing. The pieces of any design must fit together into something coherent. Again, we often do this unconsciously; we think of the art we want to create, and put the pieces together as if they were meant to be a cohesive whole. Then again, some artists occasionally but deliberately pursue incoherence.

 

Guitar Decals might take many forms, from our individual musical inspiration to landscapes, logos or religious affiliation. The only requirement is that they look right on the surface of the guitar. Following the curves of the instrument tend to give a good effect.

Cheap supplies save money

This is the same principle with almost anything- a cheap and nasty alternative causes problems and actually wastes time and probably money. If cheap thread breaks you have to spend time resetting the machine- this is reason enough not to do it. Colourfast issues are another reason.

On the other hand buying in bulk can save you money. This is not a cheap product, just saving money through wiser purchasing. The principle doesn’t apply to some other areas like cooking, where a product has a limited shelf life. But sewing materials last for years. Stock up if you buy in bulk, find a bargain, or are lucky to find the one or two inexpensive alternatives that actually do work well.

Stick with the brands that came with the machine

Well, that is one option. Try the others, the quality will vary. Try to find some tests for your products, like how easily it breaks, does it fade in hot water, or lose colour with bleach or sunlight. Experiment and find the best results. Or Google to find what works for others.

Rayon is never colourfast.

Well, I have had rayon threads that faded with bleach and in hot water, but I’ve had a few brands that didn’t. As some of the garments I embroider aren’t colourfast either it doesn’t always matter. If it’s a dry clean garment, and you want that glossy look of rayon, then embroider with it.

On the other hand we now have trilobal polyester threads which have the sheen of rayon but are also quite strong.

You need to sew in order to do embroidery

Not really. They both use needle and thread, but that’s where the resemblance ends. Then again, people can do both.

Printing and other image systems have replaced embroidery

Not really. Jeans will not replace business suits or tuxedos; one is for formal wear, the other is for casual. It’s the same for embroidery, which is the more classy way to put an emblem or image on a piece of cloth.

If you want that classy look for uniforms or family items look into custom embroidery services with Sydney rainbow Embroidery.