First Attempt at engraving..

[T Inslay]

G'day all. I recently made the plunge to start engraving & bought a palm controll. I just started my first practice plate & i guess im looking for some feedback and/or suggestions as to what i can do to shorten my learning curve.

I know i had trouble with keeping up with the tool, made my scrolls look like i have parkinsons. I dont think ill add resistance to the palm, just try to have softer hands.

The plate is 2"x2.2"

The first photo of the outlines was done @ 40psi with a mid range stroke length. (universal point {clear template})


the second with some shading..done with 15psi @ a short stroke range. (detailing point {red template})


And one more question with reguards to background removal. Do i have to remove the background to the depth of the outlines? Or is it ok to just take it below the surface and then once you 'ink it up' for lack of a better phrase you cant notice?

thanks in advance.
Tom.

[tomlittle]

Looks pretty darn good for a first try. Practice, Practice, Practice.
If you really want to know how to shorten the learning curve, take some lessons from someone who knows what he/she is doing. It is worth every cent you pay. I just had a weeks training from Ray Cover and it was great.

[Daniel Houwer]

Thats great work Tom!
Next to some normal starting errors in design its a really great firts.
The background you should not do to deep but as deep as your lines sounds like a plan. If you go much deeper (as I learned the hard way) youll get yourself a lot of extra work wich is very hard to keep smooth.
I am curious too what the proffs have to say about this.

[Kevin]

Tom, your first try looks pretty good.
As far as speeding up the learning curve, the best way is a class or private instruction. But maybe not doable for you.
Also, helpful to have in your hands and examine quality engraving.
Constantly check point of graver for damage. Easy to damage when starting out, and hard to tell for a new person that it is damaged.
Try to keep depth to a minimum. Less point damage, easier to control graver.
Good luck, Kevin Scott

[KeithPedersen]

Instead of cutting designs get some circle templates and cut a whole plate of just circles inside circles. Or ovals.....Cut in one direction and then cut another circle inside that and go in the other direction. Then cut lines and then make a ladder out of the lines. If you can cut lines and circles well you can cut the lines and arcs needed for any design well. This is how I got started and it helped alot. (Thanks Barry)
Best of luck in your engraving.
Keith

[T Inslay]

Thanks guys. Some good ideas noted.

i finished the plate. now i think ill go back to the basics and get my ovals and lines down pat as suggested.



Tom

[Gemsetterchris]

Looks like you have potential Tom

The design is not quite correct but like anything else you don`t know that till you start studying scroll designing

Get Ron smiths book from the FEGA site to learn the rules of how it should go or study some pics of the pro`s work.

I would start with abit simpler designs till you get the hang of the designing bit & concentrate on getting your scrolls nice & smoothly curved first..

Otherwise

Can`t believe i`m advising when i`m no better , it`s a case of knowing the theory but lacking the practice.