SportsTurf provides current, practical and technical content on issues relevant to sports turf managers, including facilities managers. Most readers are athletic field managers from the professional level through parks and recreation, universities.
Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/533607
www.stma.org July 2015 | SportsTurf 23 For a progressive program, I go with a much thicker mil. An outdoor store has a variety of bags that I buy to store the sten- cil. I use luggage tags that contain the laminated logo to attach to the bag. I also include a colored laminated image in the bag to aid in painting. Once the stencil has been carefully cut, the first application will leave the color that corresponds with the cutout. Be careful when using inverted aerosol cans to mark the cutouts on clear visqueen as the propellant will cause the edges to curl, losing your acuteness. Another method I have used is having a sign shop print out the logo on inexpensive paper (usually in 5-foot widths) and then taping the sheets together completing the pattern. After marking the center lines on the tarp, center the paper pattern onto the tarp and tape it to the tarp. Using a sharp box cutter cutting through both the paper and tarp, you will need to rotate and replace your blade a couple of times to get a clean cut. If you have a logo or image already established on turf or floor, take the clear sheet of visqueen and tape and trace it with a sharpie, and repeat the aforementioned process of cutting out the half-moons. It helps to duct tape the corners to allow for a screwdriver to punch through to hold it down. Also, don't leave the sheet down too long or the clear plastic can burn the grass blades. When short on time, it may be necessary to freehand the logo on a predetermined location. I have developed a PowerPoint slide that has a grid for both landscape and por- trait. There is a grid option for the slide but you can't print it. So I draw a vertical line and copy and paste it for each line and repeat the process horizontally. Then group all the lines (they will then be frozen in that slide), import the image and enlarge it so that the top or side aligns with one of the grid lines. Then use the option "send image to back." Now when the page is printed the lines will appear over the image with the grid lines being 1 inch apart. I then use an engineer's ruler and decide what scale to use. You can make the grid into 2 foot or 8 foot squares, whatever fits your requirement. I also like to make the centerlines red for quick reference to measure from. It helps to laminate the page or put it into a clear plastic sheet protector and bring a portable table to measure off of. Usually I string out the centerlines and set one for the top and bottom of the image. Since you will be basically free handing the image onto the grass, you might as well freehand it on a tarp if the logo might be used again. If you have a simple block letter, I usually mark the corners of the letter and box it in with string. This will allow you to make any changes before painting the incorrect line. I also use spray chalk to allow for change in measure-