Custom Cut Project (Hank Aaron)

[jbhofmann]

A couple years back I bought this PSA/DNA of Aaron just on a whim. It was one of those, "man this thing is ending in a minute and seems cheap, I'll throw a bid on it" type of thing.


Fast forward a couple of weeks and my 150lb Great Dane Remington used it as a chew toy while my wife and I were out of the house. So when I got home it turned into this....



After seeing Mike's (200lbhockeyplayer) customs I really became inspired to try my hand at it. I know I have a long way to get where he is, and quite frankly will never get to that level, but the design aspect of creating a card is so exciting. I've been working here and there on a proper Aaron cut when I can. Here is what I have finished so far. Anyone have any suggestions at all? Any criticism is welcomed. Work on the back will start very soon. Hopefully I can show a finished product in the very near future.

-Joel

 

[A_Pharis]

I think it's a great early attempt! My suggestion is to rethink the purple color with the sepia cutout. I'd go with a color other than purple. Also, Aaron's position over "Career" is a little awkward.

 

[PujolsCollector]

Change the side Aaron is on currently it makes my eyes go off of the card. If you change Hank Aaron with the picture the eyes will follow it around in an oval and it is more visually pleasing I believe.

 

[jbhofmann]

A Pharis- this is one of the few I've tried that I tried a different color scheme lol. I was shooting more for a blue tone but after you mention it, it does look purplish. Placement over "career" was one of my concerns too. Thanks for the eye.

PujolsCollector- yeah I struggled with the placement of the main photo. It started in the middle and eventually drifted all the way right. I think a centered photo and flanking accents might be more visually pleasing as you said.

 

[alifaxwa2]

I'd be careful about putting PSADNA authentic signature since that can no longer be proven.

 

[jbhofmann]

I'd be careful about putting PSADNA authentic signature since that can no longer be proven.

Understandable.

 

[A_Pharis]

Take off the wording under the windows and send it for encasing after you're finished with it. Problem solved.

 

[jbhofmann]

That would probably be a good spot to put name, position, number type of info anyway. That would free up some space above the cut to center the pic.

 

[alifaxwa2]

The size of that signature looks like it might be possible to do the card vertically. If that signatures is 2-1/4 inch or smaller, you should try vertical since that allows more space for design.

 

[jbhofmann]

The size of that signature looks like it might be possible to do the card vertically. If that signatures is 2-1/4 inch or smaller, you should try vertical since that allows more space for design.

Its just a hair under 3" right to left

 

[alifaxwa2]

Its just a hair under 3" right to left

The cut or the actual signature?

 

[jbhofmann]

The cut or the actual signature?

The cut itself is longer than 3"

The sig length +little white space is just shy of 3"

 

[alifaxwa2]

The cut itself is longer than 3"

The sig length +little white space is just shy of 3"

I am sorry to be beating a dead horse about this, but that slab it was in, was that a standard card slab? Or a bigger one?

 

[200lbhockeyplayer]

Very cool, and glad others are realizing how fun it can be to truly make your own hobby out of it all.

In regards to the autograph, vertical or horizontal, etc...unless it's totally desired by someone else, I always shoot for horizontal for a couple reasons. First and foremost, it gives the card better overall structure. A horizontal window sits better on a horizontal card, and if that Aaron signature is what I think it is (IE: on a thicker card stock), it will drastically weaken the card if it runs edge to edge on a vertical card.

Background color, as others have mentioned...try to tie it to the sepia coloring of the Aaron photo. Also, tighten up the "ghosting" around the photo. (If you're in Photoshop, simply add an inner stroke or inner shadow for the easiest solution). The soften the headline, you can tint that font as well so the HANK AARON pops a bit more.

The primary photo itself, while cool because it comes from Aaron's first "card" or sorts, doesn't look like him. I know it is, but it doesn't have that smile and focus he was known for. The background photo has all of the concentration on the crowd at the plate...not Aaron. Grab something where he, his swing, etc. is the focal point.

The HOF logo is truly just floating there. Either tie it in better or remove it. As it sits right now, it's just off of center, so either center it, or put it further away from center.

The "Hank Aaron" text is flush left...the only thing on the card that is flush left...and therefore a design faux pas. Divide the card in design quadrants, and make the quadrants make sense. IE: if lower right is centered within itself, lower left should follow if possible. Basically, it weighs the card evenly off of all of the elements. As for the font itself, I'm of the belief that Copperplate fonts (like this for the HANK AARON) shouldn't contain 'caps' and lower case in the same sentence. All characters are capitalized so the 'caps' are just slightly larger and don't weigh correctly from left-right.

Again...opinions only, and I love to see others working on customs.

 

[jbhofmann]

My comments in blue.

Very cool, and glad others are realizing how fun it can be to truly make your own hobby out of it all.

In regards to the autograph, vertical or horizontal, etc...unless it's totally desired by someone else, I always shoot for horizontal for a couple reasons. First and foremost, it gives the card better overall structure. A horizontal window sits better on a horizontal card, and if that Aaron signature is what I think it is (IE: on a thicker card stock), it will drastically weaken the card if it runs edge to edge on a vertical card. I like the horizontal much more anyway. Yes it is on thicker stock.

Background color, as others have mentioned...try to tie it to the sepia coloring of the Aaron photo. Also, tighten up the "ghosting" around the photo. (If you're in Photoshop, simply add an inner stroke or inner shadow for the easiest solution). The soften the headline, you can tint that font as well so the HANK AARON pops a bit more. Agree with all this.

The primary photo itself, while cool because it comes from Aaron's first "card" or sorts, doesn't look like him. I know it is, but it doesn't have that smile and focus he was known for. The background photo has all of the concentration on the crowd at the plate...not Aaron. Grab something where he, his swing, etc. is the focal point. I was trying to go for the 1st Aaron to his most famous moment type of thing but the Atlanta picture doesn't really grab the moment very well.

The HOF logo is truly just floating there. Either tie it in better or remove it. As it sits right now, it's just off of center, so either center it, or put it further away from center. After you mentioned it does blow. It really was filler for space. Maybe less is more.

The "Hank Aaron" text is flush left...the only thing on the card that is flush left...and therefore a design faux pas. Divide the card in design quadrants, and make the quadrants make sense. IE: if lower right is centered within itself, lower left should follow if possible. Basically, it weighs the card evenly off of all of the elements. As for the font itself, I'm of the belief that Copperplate fonts (like this for the HANK AARON) shouldn't contain 'caps' and lower case in the same sentence. All characters are capitalized so the 'caps' are just slightly larger and don't weigh correctly from left-right. I see. I spend way too much time looking up fonts to use but Copper is my crutch that I go back to.


Again...opinions only, and I love to see others working on customs. Great stuff from the master.

 

[sneekc]

Did you keep the flip? If so, I could and would create a card that has the cut sig on front and flip on back. Not to hard with a simple die cut. Then you could keep the card PSA/DNA authentic

 

[jbhofmann]

Worked on the cut this morning and decided to basically scrap everything and start fresh. Mike's idea to break the card into quadrants was a huge help and made me think about placement of everything. Here's the rough idea I have now.




....still struggling with what I could/should put beside the main pic????

 

[PujolsCollector]

Im guessing the outter brownish color is not part of the card. If it is get rid of it. That in the middle there is a good looking card. Simple, informative, and I like it.

 

[jbhofmann]

Im guessing the outter brownish color is not part of the card. If it is get rid of it. That in the middle there is a good looking card. Simple, informative, and I like it.

nope...just cutting guides for when its printed out. thanks

 

[sneekc]

You need to extend the artwork 1/8" past the cut lines. It makes it easier to cut accurately and helps avoid cutting the text.