Q: How do I change a Fireplace Mantle design using your CD Line Art?

A: This is central to how useful this CD can be as a design tool. For example lets say you have selected photo 8 from the columns section of the fireplace line art catalog. As shown below.Lets assume the client prefers another style of column. First print out the line art for column fireplace 8.

Then explore the 230 line art columns in the column index. On page two of the columns line art index is a column you or your client choose: Lets say, line art image 146 as below.

Print this image out and shrink it or enlarge on a photocopier and cut and paste it into the fireplace design. This will give you a clear idea of what it will look like. Then your client may like the idea of carving a bas-relief medallion in the center of the faceplate. So after visiting the medallion line art section, medallion 51 is selected out of the 190 designs available. (Not including the 743 designs also available in the bas-relief tile section that could have been used for the same location.)

Lineart Medallion 51

Next you may like to go to the mantle tops page and select another shape mantle top. Bearing in mind that you have columns line art, image 9 is selected.

Then you decide to go with line art image mantle 13 profile and print this out also.Looking at what has been designed it becomes apparent that the hearthstone needs to be changed and so we recommend that the hearth stone be one huge slab of stone that has been appropriately bordered. We do this a lot because the lines in the stone traveling across the six feet or so of span really look stunningly attractive. Then after including these changes to the original design you’ll have easily created a very different fireplace. This can be changed as many times as you need to until you are completely happy with your new design. Here is the altered version. Please not how we decided to change the shape of the inner fire-surround border.

In this case we make the hearthstone have some symmetry with the mantle piece.Along with this design the client or designer could have also selected a frieze panel design from the frieze section, any design can be cut and pasted, or have parts of it erased or added to or placed into a different shape. We tend to promote using a photocopier, pencil and eraser for design modifications, but if the professional chooses to insert the designs into photo workshop, AutoCAD or other designs then this is another way of enhancing existing designs by creating your own using the thousands of motifs available on this cd.

Please understand when we review the design we also check that the design makes sense structurally and can be carved according to your intentions and offer the free advisory service to enhance your design. Measurements sometimes have to be checked and the important thing is to write in the most critical measurements and then scale in the rest. The most critical measurements for fireplaces are the firebox height and width measurements. The rest can be factored in.

Of course in America where the culture of individual expression for the perfect design is not as prevalent as in less modularized building industries of Europe you may decide to go for a cement molded kit fire mantle in which case this satisfying creative process would not be applicable to your level of service to your clients who may not want something unique and non generic. But if they do we are happy to help you work on it!! Or for a reasonable fee can follow your directions and finish a design concept for you.

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