Comments on: I'm looking for free-standing letters

Question: I'm looking for free-standing letters

Cranialtorque — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 15:30:28 -0800

I'm looking for 3-dimensional letters that can stand freely and be photographed. I remember seeing some that were sold to aspiring film makers during the super-8 era for creating titles. Does anybody know anything about these, or where I can get something like them?

I cannot remember the exact era when these were available, or a manufacturer, but I do think they were an American product. I remember them being a condensed sans-serif, similar to Univers condensed, in white. (But my memory is hazy.) eBay searches are unsuccessful, and I'm having no luck with Google either. (A Blondie album entitled Plastic Letters is throwing me off.)

My goal is to take text-based photographs, with the type standing freely in different environments. Think Jenny Holtzer meets Andy Goldsworthy. Small, say 1" - 3" tall, is ideal. Most plastic type I have found is designed to stick to one surface or another - these need enough depth to stand freely.

I'm hoping someone knows the exact product I'm thinking of, but any helpful ideas are welcome. Thanks in advance.

By: Mitheral

Mitheral — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:01:11 -0800

You can buy foam letters about 3" tall for kids to use in the bath tub. They are about 3/8th of an inch thick and will stand on there edges though you might need to modify some of the more rounded shapes.

If you can't find anything letters would be pretty easy to laser cut out of either plywood, acrylic or aluminum. Lots of CNC places spread around now or if you can't find anything locally you could try an online CNC service like EMachine.

By: jschu

jschu — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:12:03 -0800

Anthropologie has some letters. The fabric-covered letters are free-standing, although a bit larger than you want.

By: bradbane

bradbane — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:21:17 -0800

You could get metal letterpress type and reverse the image after the fact.

By: Ostara

Ostara — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 16:48:46 -0800

What about letters made from foam core? These come in different fonts and colors - including Univers condensed and white.

By: blue_wardrobe

blue_wardrobe — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 17:39:57 -0800

Craft shops usually sell wooden letters about 3" high and about 0.75" deep. They stand on their own.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 18:43:40 -0800

My Dad had a home movie kit that had the letters you speak of. They were white, sans serif letters. Maybe 1" tall, at most. I recall, though, that they weren't meant to stand on their own. They were meant to be used on a felt (or soft cloth) faced board. The letters stuck to the felt somehow.

How about those plastic refrigerator magnet letters you see everywhere? They would have enough depth to stand freely.

By: pseudostrabismus

pseudostrabismus — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:00:28 -0800

You could take fridge magnet letters from the dollar store and spraypaint them white, if you decide to go that route.

By: ellenaim

ellenaim — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:15:56 -0800

You can make your own pop-up 3-D words and messages.

By: Cranialtorque

Cranialtorque — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 19:57:09 -0800

Thanks, all good ideas and very helpful. Yer da best, hivemind!

By: bink

bink — Sat, 19 Jul 2008 20:19:14 -0800

My grandfather used to use a board like this to do his animated titles, back in the day.