Signs

There isn't a rigid style for DoES, but the ethos is generally "looks good, works with the surrounding area, and is made using the facilities we have here at DoES Liverpool".

Please store the design of each sign in github and link to it from here so people can easily hack and repurpose it in the future.

Some rules of thumb for signs around the space to notify people of things

• Do not use just a print out on a sheet of A4 paper
• Check the "DoES-Laser/DoES-related" folder in Dropbox for examples and inspiration
• Save signs you make to the "DoES-Laser/DoES-related" folder for others to use, remix, etc.
• For laser-cut stencil parts of signs, use the ag_stencil font (in "DoES-Laser/DoES-related/fonts")
• For general text, we agree with the Government, and use their Transport font (well, the raoul_transport_britannique, also in "DoES-Laser/DoES-related/fonts")
• Mountboard and spray-mount adhesive are great for improving the look of signs, with or without use of the laser-cutter

Standard Bordered Sign

Steps taken to make black-and-white bordered signs used to show the WiFi details and warn about switching WiFi networks, like this one

1. Design the sign in Inkscape, according to the rules of thumb above
2. Create the outline of the border as a rectangle or polygon (for diamond signs, etc.) with no fill, and an 8mm thick stroke with rounded mitres
3. Print out a copy on paper
4. Save the SVG to the "DoES-Laser/DoES-related" dropbox folder, for future re-use
5. Delete everything apart from the border
6. Convert the border to paths for the inside/outside edges - select the border; choose {{{Path -> Stroke to Path}}}; for each of the resultant paths, choose no fill, and a 0.02mm thick stroke
7. Save as a DXF and import into the laser-cutter software
8. From a sheet of mountboard (available from the art supplies shop on the ground floor of Gostins) cut out the border on the laser-cutter
9. Delete the inner path from the border, and cut out the backing sheet from mountboard
10. Cut out the paper version with a Stanley knife or scalpel. Don't worry too much about the rounded corners, you can cut the corner off (as long as the cut stays within the border area) as it won't be visible in the finished sign
11. Stick the paper version onto the mountboard backing with spray-mount adhesive
12. Spray-mount the back of the laser-cut border and then stick that on top of the paper to produce the finished sign.
13. Take a photo of it and post to the #weeknotes