The Design Process.

I knew I wanted to utilize all the tools I had at hand. I have worked in the sign industry for almost a decade now and have knowledge of materials the likes most case modders would never have dreamed. I thought of things that seem to just stay cool for some dumb reason. Like Las Vegas and "The Rat Pack" and Sean Connery as James Bond having it served "Shaken, not stirred." I began to hone in on an Idea. Looking at Sign magazine on break one day I noticed a company was revitalizing old Neon signs in Las Vegas. I noticed one sign in particular for a Place from the 1960's called the Red Barn. It was Neon in the shape of a Martini glass. Suddenly the light went on.

I figured I wanted the size of my case to be around 36 Inches in height. This was after all going to be my new multi-media PC for the Living Room. I wanted something that would fit in with my swank décor and also spruce up the place. A stylized depiction of a martini was just too cartoonish. I then set up an actual martini for photographing and I imported it into Corel. I didn't like just a plain old photo because it looked to much like a poster for a liquor store so I tweaked it out a little with some special effects.

From there I vectorized the artwork and sent the Jpeg down to our south store to have it "Edged" on the Gerber Edge. I chose for my design to be done on clear because I wanted to be able to see through the artwork and also to have the light behind shine brightly through the artwork.

The case itself would be made of .040 aluminum. A router table would cut out to the shape of my vector. Another machine would break down my vector into lengths and curves and automatically bend and notch in just the right places creating the sides. Rivets would then hold the back piece to the sides or the "Return" and there you have a case. The front piece is cut out of the same vector only in 3/16" Plexiglas. It is given a black jewelite edge that is has a 1" lip on it to slide onto the aluminum case. The fit is exact and snug and holds itself on.

see last page for image gallery