How do you attach individually cut letters?

[motoguy]

Just finished up this sign for a family member. He's actually giving it as a gift. It's one of the first things I've done with individual positive-space letters. I attached them using VHB, and it took FOREVER to do. I put VHB on the back of the letters, and cut out a paper "template" on my vinyl cutter for letter placement. The whole process took far longer than I expected.

What is your trick to quickly attach (and properly align) individual, positive space/layered letters? I love the look, but I need to find a more efficient method to be cost effective.

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[littlefatbuddy]

Lay the letters on the sign and place them where you want them or measure out where you want them. Then lay out some guidelines with tape. In my opinion, you only need a fraction of that much tape. With the T, for example, I would have put a small piece on the top and a small piece on the bottom just to make sure it stayed straight. The O and U would have probably got a small piece on each side and one on top, similar to the small piece on the R. I personally don't let it go all the way to the edge just because I think it looks better. I try to place the tape so it maintains an even height off the base piece. Also, I usually run my razor knife down the center of the roll to make the more narrow pieces and then pull the tape off the roll.

[hemichargersrt8]

When designing a sign with positive letters, I create and cut basically a template with the letters properly positioned and then use the skeleton to position the individual letters. Sometimes it is necessary to hand trim some of the skeleton letter profiles to make letter positioning easier.

[little blue choo]

Great idea and yet so simple. Thanks Hemi.

Rick