Headstone Design
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- Gucci
Sadly, my mom passed away recently.
I'm in the process of designing hers and my fathers' headstone having to use the cemetery's resources. The "design" options are absolutely dreadful clip art and typefaces that are limited to say the least.
It's not lost on me *why* those are the only options available, but given what I do for a living, I'm asking them if they'll allow me to customize it — it's all vector art anyway, right? *fingers crossed*
Have any of you had the displeasure of doing this?
I imagine they would expect a CAD file but then again... I'm not sure. Any pitfalls I should be aware of?
Thank you in advance
- BonSeff0
Eeesh, so sorry you lost your folks. You should ask them to send you a file they use. Then match the dimensions and file type the best you can.
- Thank you. I hope the cemetery plays nice. They're being weird about it already and feel like I'll be out of luck in the end.Gucci
- knowing the standard of engraving these days it's probably done by machine and requires some weird format that they don't understandhans_glib
- they're resisting because it's too much hasslehans_glib
- and bummer about your folkshans_glib
- Yeah. I get the hassle part for sure. They'd rather pull from their asset library and avoid any issuesGucci
- BonSeff0
I assume they are doing an engraving? Dunno why they would be weird about it, other than worrying about your message, or possibly set up, probably expect an upcharge for that.
- Cemetery gets the stone from god-knows-where (6-8 mo. covid-related lead time right now). I *hope* they engrave here, but I'm not sure.Gucci
- dbloc1
Do you have to go through them? If they won't allow custom, maybe another company will and you can just provide it to them for placement.
- yeah, I'd be looking into custom stone masonry options - heck, even companies who specialise in marble cutting etc for interiors and suchNairn
- Yeah. Have to go through them. The cemetery are doing some weird gatekeeping about it to protect their source like I care about thatGucci
- That's really weird that they are forcing you to go through them.dbloc
- It's part of a package they put together. They force you to use their supplier or it'll cost hundreds / thousands more for the plot.Gucci
- zardoz0
A local stone mason is your best bet.
- monNom2
I met a sculptor who did granite headstones as a side business once. I didn't see a computer anywhere near his workshop. Just a wall of grinders. I suspect he did his layout with stencils, and just hogged out the stone with abrasive disks, so that could explain why you have limited 'clipart' options.
Now, that was one small-time guy who did that. There may be bigger outfits that have CNC machines to cut stone, but that's seems like a lot of setup for a one-off piece. Maybe it's quicker to do it by hand?
Very sorry for your loss. I'm sure whatever you decide will honour them with dignity. Maybe it's a small blessing that you can't design the 'perfect' memorial, because that is a lot of pressure to take on so soon after a loss. Remembering them with visits, and flowers, keeping things tidy... that's an easier task that shows the same dedication and love.
- Miesfan6
Sorry for your loss. A big hug. What dbloc and Nairm they say are the best option...
I'vee done this job twice.
20 years ago for my father and the second, today for my little brother. Desolate and speechless.A vector file will do the work...
- BaskerviIle8
So sorry for your loss. I can't imagine how that must feel.
You reminded me of one of the only beautiful modern headstones I've seen – Peter Saville's design for Tony Wilson's headstone.
- monospaced0
Sorry man. But a headstone is a great way to honor someone, a good design project and it’s literally carved in stone. Note to self: start designing headstone templates for the family. Yeah as a designer I think we should really up the headstone design game.
- ayport1
I designed a headstone years ago... All I had to do was present the artwork to scale. So, I saved the file in every format possible and the stone was made. I don't know what file format was accepted, but the process they explained to me was simply laser engraving.
- This is what I figure as well. Thanks for the inputGucci
- toemaas0
There are only 2 different design programs on the market - MonuCAD and some other one that is dinky. Both basically cut out etchings on rubber Mats for sand blasting. But, any of the design stuff everyone is talking about above was more than likely just taken by the monument company then re-traced using the MonuCAD program - or it was etched on beside the general design. Here is a basic show of how the design process works and I tee-d it up so you can get to the point.
- sandblasted? shiny stone? nasty. if i was so minded i'd start saving for a proper piece of stone, and get it hand carved by a proper stone cutter.hans_glib
- Thanks, toemassGucci
- Doesn't need to be hand-carved, but (imho) should be done with a more than surface-level abrasion, by sanding or laser. Get that shit CNC routed. xNairn