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A step by step graphic design for the "regular guy"

So I am not a painter, but I am a graphic designer, so I planned my design out on paper and with the help of great painters like the guys on here, I did it myself.

Here is what my plan started out as. changed a few things as I went along, but ended up close. BTW, I have a electronic file of the side of a batwing if anyone wants it to "color pencil sketch" you own ideas.

army bike by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

I had a local paint shop prep the body parts for me and paint the base color (paint I bought, horsetraded the work for graphics on other projects they had going on) I did most of the test fitting and cutting.

CB1 by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

Went by my layout and started taping out my design in 1/8th and 1/4 inch blue tape. Preplanning is essential for your design. I decided to tape off all the base that wasnt getting the graphics. Then proceeded to spray the yellow/gold outline, then cover that and did the camo.

CB2 by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

CB3 by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

CB4 by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

I sprayed the yellow. I also took some time to give it a knife edge by backtaping using 1/8" tape, spraying a dark side and a lite side, I also streaked the yellow with some orange just to give it some texture.

CB5 by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

I wanted the stripe to be .25", so I used .25" blue tape and taped overtop of the yellow I just did. This allowed me to keep my yellow graphic safe and would also allow me the opportunity to add kool drop shadows etc to the camo area. Here it is with the yellow covered and the base lite green sprayed. I bought milar templates from Airsick Stencils. it became a whole lot of spray, rotate, spray some more. Switch colors, spray, rotate... you get the picture.

CB6 by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

While everything was taped, I laid in some shadows to make the graphic look recessed behind the OD green.

CB7 by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

I sprayed everything with intercoat clear (clear as thin as base coat) so my body shop guys could scuff the design before they started clearing it. They sprayed a few coats of clear for me, handed it back, then I wet sanded all the parts to get rid of the dreaded "graphic bumpline", Took it back to them for final clear. When I got it back all I had to do was buff a few nibbs and viola! Even had some help from my 9yo.... handed hiom the air buffer and compound, now thats trust!

daddy helper by lickmstickmman, on Flickr

And this is what we ended up with. There was a lot of prepping to even get to paint! I spent hours with a razor scraping all the old parts getting the 10 layers of candies/paint/base and clear off from the old paint job I had on it. But I feel I did a pretty good job for working out of a shed! It wasnt my first project, I have been helping local painters for years do some graphics, and this is the second time doing my bike (see other pic in my profile), But this is the one I am the most proud of!

CB8 by lickmstickmman, on Flickr
 

slothy

Balls
thanks! neat to see! and yes trust in having your kid wheel out your stuff, hell my painter wont let me near the wheel lol
 
thanks! neat to see! and yes trust in having your kid wheel out your stuff, hell my painter wont let me near the wheel lol
I have such a laid back outlook on all of it... if I have to repaint, so be it... scraped the bags on the tailgate cable rolling out of the trailer the other day... oh well, the buddy helping was freaking the F out... man, there are way more things in life to be upset over, and scraping paint aint one of them.... but I did sweat it a little when he was hi-RPMing it and not moving the buffer around... Have a few spots to touch up and reclear on the front fender after bottoming out on RR tracks... now THAT pissed me off!
 

Jumpinjer

Well-Known Member
Hey, Lickm! Bike looks great! I'd love to get the templates that you used on your bike. I have a SG too and need to come up with some retro graphics and those bike and fairing shapes would help alot. If you need an email I will pm it to you. Thanks!
Jerry
 
Jerry, it's on my desktop at work. I will send it to ya, it's a PDF that will open and print B/W... just print 10 copies, grab some of the kids colored pencils (or crayons, yuck) and have at it... PM me ur email and I will get it to ya.


Benji

Hey, Lickm! Bike looks great! I'd love to get the templates that you used on your bike. I have a SG too and need to come up with some retro graphics and those bike and fairing shapes would help alot. If you need an email I will pm it to you. Thanks!
Jerry
 

CHAINSAW

Site Supporter Until The World Stops Spinning!
Nice write up!! Its cool to see regular guys doing kick ass custom work in their own garages.
 
Nice write up!! Its cool to see regular guys doing kick ass custom work in their own garages.

Thanx Mr. Saw! The 12x24 shed is nice now that I finished it... now if i could get some equipment to fit in there to do more myself... lathes, welders, etc.... MAN, I need a bigger mancave!

Benji
 

CHAINSAW

Site Supporter Until The World Stops Spinning!
Thanx Mr. Saw! The 12x24 shed is nice now that I finished it... now if i could get some equipment to fit in there to do more myself... lathes, welders, etc.... MAN, I need a bigger mancave!

Benji

Im with you there. Im on the verge of pulling the trigger on a planishing hammer, english wheel, brake/shear/roller combo and a mini metal lathe so I can pretty much fab up anything on a bike. By then however, the garage will be cramped but plans are to build a shop in 8 to 10 years down the road.
 

toosons

Well-Known Member
Hey Lickm, I tried to send a pm but it's full. I'm getting ready for paint and would love to get some help. I have a 2012 RG, you can pm me for whatever info you need. Thanks.

Rudy
 

Mike7Legacy

Well-Known Member
Not only a great friend, But a very talented man! I've seen his brain work magic before and he is great at what he does! Beautiful bike dude...and NO I will still not wear the Army Fan Club T shirt!!!
 
WHAT? I already have my Army Fan Club tshirts made... Have sitting here just for you?!
Not only a great friend, But a very talented man! I've seen his brain work magic before and he is great at what he does! Beautiful bike dude...and NO I will still not wear the Army Fan Club T shirt!!!
 
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