Step 1 : Method Overview

I was looking for a quick way to display to the public that my lights weren't random and music could be heard.

Given the amount of time I put into building this show, making the sign painfully obvious is the best thing I can do to ensure my message gets across. Everything about these computer Christmas light shows is about being over the top. I don't want to go to all the work of building a great show and then short myself on the advertising?? A little "XXX.X FM" sign might be good enough, but why not go all the way?

My biggest mistake was thinking that people would come to the show in the start of the songs, stay for both and want more. However most of the time people watch parts of each and moved on either because of traffic or because of the other houses to see. To be most effective include painfully obvious details and keep it lit at all times. Make sure it is not hidden from view by car or foot. Don't assume people know what is going on, most don't get it at first because they have never seen such a house display.

I created a wood frame to hold my sign and cut stencil from a fancy font printed at 500pt size. Some of last year Christmas lights provided the back lighting. Using a free channel in the show, the sign up lite. Before I was even off the roof I heard someone blasting my radio station out of their car. It worked!

Step 2 : Create the Stencil


I decided to create my own stencil because I didn't like plain block fronts, plus I couldn't find one big enough and I didn't want to have an end product that looked like something anyone could have made. I wanted a quality printed sign. Remember over the top!

Using OpenOffice Writer I picked a stylish font that would later be cut out to create a stencil.

Not sure how people would interrupt the sign, I put as much information that I could fit in a 2x4 ft space. The font 'SF Ironside Extended' at 500 pt left enough room for 3 rows. When printing the font would yield 1 to 3 letters per page. Depending on the font you can print in outline or draft mode to save ink.

Card stock the thickness of a file folder was used for its easy ability to be cut with break-away blade knife and its willingness to lay flat.

I search for fonts at the following websites:
www.1001fonts.com
www.serachfreefonts.com

Step 3 : Cutting and layout


I used a cheap disposable break away cutting knife. What you cut the paper on will determine how many cuts out get before having to break the blade off for a fresh knife edge.

Where ever possible I left the letters on the same sheet to keep the original font spacing, and to ensure I didn't make a mistake when mirroring the letters.

At first I had planned on only creating a cut out for 1 of each letter needed, but I discovered it was a lot easier to lay it out, tape it down and leave it. Besides the cutting got faster the more I did it.

The plastic shown in the picture is a 4x6 ft sheet of economy ceiling light diffuser. This one came from OSH for $5. It was a lot cheaper then a sheet of clear plastic and it had a shimmer effect on the light. I choose to face the rough side out and the marked flat side in. This meant flipping the letter overs to be reversed and mirrored.

Everything looks good right side up, but watch out when you flip it over...

1-3-2007 EDIT:
Since posting this HowTo there has been several discussions about fast / easier ways to create the LETTERS from computer fonts. Check out this forum post:
Spray Adhesive use with Stencil

1-5-2007 EDIT:
Another even faster way to get the Computer Sign. Check out this forum post:
Clear Label Printing

Step 4 : Double check the stencil before inking


After mirroring the letters, adjusting the spacing and taping everything down. I forgot the most important step:

"Measure twice, cut once"

Using several professional Sharpe black markers I filled in the stencil several times. I was not until I had completely finished that I noticed the HUGE mistake. Do you see what I mean? Tears came to my eyes... from the fumes.

Always make sure to have plenty of fresh air with these markers and or spray plant.

Step 5 : Spray Painting the Stencil

Luckily I carefully removed the stencil from the previous screw up. I could reused the already cut out letters. This time I opted for spray plant. After spray painting the stencil was shot. Plan on getting only 1 shot when using spray paint on the card stock stencil.

I was concerned about getting over spray under the letters like "F" where there wasn't a bit of paper to hold it all down. I had to add some extra tape to get everything to be flat.

Had I not already used the stencil with the markers, it would have worked out cleanly. In the end the spray paint did have over spray and the letters did not turn out as sharp and crisp as the markers... but no one noticed and from a far in the dark through the diffusion layer of the plastics sheet it just didn't really matter!

Double check that all parts of the plastic are covered that you do not want paint on.