Thread: Tombstone templates suggestions?

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Hi all,
was wondering where everyone gets their templates for their tombstones and how they transfer from a picture on the PC to something actual size? How do you do the tiling effect that you would have to tape the pieces together reassembled? I would really love to know some of your methods since my free hand is very "off" I need more specifics to get sizes and shapes down properly. Ive found a few sites that have the template but no way to transfer to actual size Any help would be great!

Well, its not exactly templates but I did come across a site that has some cool tombstone props on it. www.halloweentombstoneprops.com
If I could carve better (or at all) I'd like to do the gothic tombstone with the winged demon on it.
Good luck with your tombstones!

Many of the how tos on HauntProject.com have templates. I always design my tombstone lettering in Photoshop using a document the same size as my tombstone, and then arrange each page of the tiling using the print options.

What i have done in the past is take a full sheet of 2" thick foam and cut it into 2 ft long sections. Each section being 2'x4'x2". From there i draw out my design. to make sure your tomstone is even use a yard stick and plot points to show peaks in arcs or dips. after you have all of your points plotted it is basically a game of connect the dots. From there you can then cut out your tombstone shape. For actual designs on the tombstone try searching google images for stencils. For decorative work that will stand out from your tombstone, you can fill decorative jello molds with air dry clay or use special wood trim pieces to accent your tombstone. Most how-to sites can help you a lot better than i can with pictures and better step by step instructions. Try Monsterlist.

I saw someone that had like a dozen or so layed out so you would use the most of the 2 Pink foam boards. Sorry I don't have the name or site right now, but I'll start looking. If I found it I'm sure someone else might of seen it.

Personally, I'm a big fan of Keeba's site:

http://hedstorm.net/HAUNT/instructions/index.html

I've heard of people printing templates or using projectors to transfer templates....Mine aren't usually that detailed. I usually freehand and use objects for different shapes - bowls, buckets, etc for rounded tops, etc etc I would check all the links on the monsterlist under tombstones as well. You'll see that everyone has different ideas on how to assemble theirs, it all depends on what look you're going for and how much time/money you want to spend.

Originally Posted by baboomgirl

Hi all,
was wondering where everyone gets their templates for their tombstones and how they transfer from a picture on the PC to something actual size? How do you do the tiling effect that you would have to tape the pieces together reassembled? I would really love to know some of your methods since my free hand is very "off" I need more specifics to get sizes and shapes down properly. Ive found a few sites that have the template but no way to transfer to actual size Any help would be great!

Maybe I wasn't clear on what I was looking for lol... I know how to make them and where to get the images and ideas for new ones but I may just need some "geek squad" help just to tell me how to get the images in actual size then tape them together like someone mentioned. You said photoshop? I don't think we have that...is there a way to do it thru Word or Paint(microsoft basic crap comes with the pc)? We don't have a projector either and in trying free hand it just doesn't look even.

Are you talking about lettering or the actual shape of the stones themselves?
For lettering I just make mine in a word document and make the font as big as I need it. If they are too big to print on one line I just cut them out and arrange on the stone to be carved. If needed, I use a long ruler to get them even. My methods are very low-tech.

Originally Posted by Madame Leota

Are you talking about lettering or the actual shape of the stones themselves?
For lettering I just make mine in a word document and make the font as big as I need it. If they are too big to print on one line I just cut them out and arrange on the stone to be carved. If needed, I use a long ruler to get them even. My methods are very low-tech.

Nah, not the lettering...thats they easy part since it fits on printer paper...its the shapes of the tombstones in "actual size"...I don't know how to do that(make them life sized) on my PC and we don't have a projector to use. I have plenty of tombstone shapes and templates that I can print but just not able to get them into different sections of actual size to take together and reassemble to trace on the foam

Ah, well, there are different methods to use based on the specific design you're going for.

You can do a grid over a scale drawing of your 'stones like this: http://www.hauntedyards.com/tombstones1.html
then grid out your foam the same way, and copy the pattern by hand.

For curved shapes, you can do the old pen-on-a-string trick to draw large circles.

I believe you can draw basic shapes in Word, and you might be able to use those as templates, too. Just break down your design into its basic shapes. However, if you have access to Photoshop, it's worlds better (and easier).

I like to make a cardboard template of my shape and use that as a guide while cutting the foam with a hotwire.