Project Overview

Note: This link is for Moderators Only.Thanks!

Rundown

Project overview 

 Our basic goal in this project is to design, cut out and deliver two portraits to the family of those killed in Iraq/Afghansitan. We are looking for scroll saw pattern designers to design patterns from pictures of these soldiers. Once the patterns are approved they are sent to a cutter that will cut out two finished pieces. They will frame one of them and put a backer on the other (or frame both) and then send the portraits out to the family contact address that a moderator has given them. A lot more goes on in between but this is the basic run down of the operation. If this sparks your interest please read through the rest of the project outline below.

 If you can help out in any way we look forward to working with you on such a noble project. Be warned that our current members are some hard working scrollers and it may rub off on you. We are doing a wonderful thing in using our tallents to help honor these fallen heroes and can use your help.

Moderators Portrait Freedom 

Project outline

  An album called the "Family Request" has been created to hold pictures passed on by family members that have contacted us directly for a portrait. This will not be a list but an on going album to try to get the family members with good pictures and a mailing address in the works so they will get them quicker and move the project along.

 We have other routes of information that contain valid family information and flows in to our project. 

 A press release will be made available for all members to download for media announcements. If you would like to notify media outlets of our project to help gain support in contacting family members use the press release for information on our project. This assures that no misinterpretation of our project are made and a uniform account of our mission and goals are laid out before all that wish to hear about what we are doing. Our press release can be found at the bottom of our member page.

 If a family member wishes to sign on to our project site please give them the following link:

http://portraitfreedom.shutterfly.com/familyarea

  As you put forth time and effort in a project like this that will touch so many you will realize that what we are doing is something good. It is some way that we can use the talents we are given to touch the hearts of many and to show the world what is possible when a motivated group of individuals unite under a project meant to honor so many brave individuals. Our deeds and efforts put forth will be noticed and will be seen as a good thing. Our portraits are personalized not only with an image of a great person but with the hard work of a fine craft. Scrolling is here to stay and we will show the world a good example of our art and the type of folks we really are. We have no time for the dust to settle so lets get in there and kick some more up!

Message Boards

Where to post information on Portrait Freedom's message boards.

 Hello scrollers! This area is just a quick run down of what each message board's purpose is and what should be posted on it. Should you have a message or some information that you are not sure where it may go you can always post it in the general album but please make an attempt to read this page completely so you have a good idea of where things need to be headed.

Click on the message board title to be taken to the board. Click on your back arrow button to return to this page.

 We have the  Family Messages  board.

 This board is for the posting of family feedback. Its always great for us all to read of positive feedback from our great work. If you get a letter or email back from the family member please let the rest of us know what they thought by posting that information here. Don't post personal family information. Just give us a quick run down of the content of the message. Family members are also encouraged to post a personal feedback reply to the group as a whole on this board.

The Portrait Status is the area to let us know how your portrait is progressing. You can let us know when it has been sent and more importantly if it has arrived at its destination. This helps us so we know when a portrait is complete.

 We have a General  message board. This is the catch all message board for all statements and messages that do not fit anywhere else. Messages in here are usually general messages from the moderators to the members or subject matter that is general in nature such as, "Hello, new member here. How can I help?".

 The Approved Cutting  board is for moderators only to post new topics. Members can reply to them. Moderators post messages of finished cuttings that have been approved to move ahead in the project.

 The Approved Patterns board lets pattern designers know if their pattern has been selected to move ahead in the process. We edit the discription of the pattern attempt if a pattern is not selected and the member will delete their attempt.

Finally we have the Returned Port.  board. If a finished cutting is returned to you, we need you to post in this board right away to alert the moderators so we may put it in overdrive to find a valid address. The majority of our requests are directly from a family member so this does not happen to often.

 We have albums and lists but as far as relaying important information directly between the moderators and members, these boards are critical and any help you can provide to keep messages in their proper boards will help us out greatly. If you can think of an easier way to work the boards or to add a board to take the load off of another you can email a manager with your ideas.

Cutters Task

Cutters Task

1.  Download the Pattern.  

1. Go to "Member Area" and click on "Approved Patterns" album near the top of the page.
2. Click on the picture of the pattern that you have been assigned to cut out.
3. Click on the text to the right that says, "Download this picture" and save the file to your hard drive. This is done to copy the pattern at full size.
4. Once copied you can then go to that file you copied it to and print the picture out to begin your cutting.

1. Log onto the site
2. Go to the "Member Area"
3. In the "Member Area" click on the "Finished Portraits" album. (near the top of the page)
4. You will see "Add Pictures" on the right. Click on "Add Pictures".
5. Click on the "Upload" tab and then click on "Add Pictures".
6. Find your picture of your cutting that you saved on your computer and open it.
7. Your file name of your picture should be displayed in the white box. If not you did not find and add the picture.
8. Click the button on the bottom left, "Upload Pictures".
9. Your picture shoud now be loaded in the album for us to review. If the box remains open and you see the text, "completed" next to your image file name then its done and you can manually close the box. The box will not close after you load your picture for some reason.

3.  Prepare Portrait for Shipping.  Go to the bottom of the Member Area page to get the portrait backings, which are titled Portrait Freedom Memorial.PDF.  It is best to print them on white card stock.  Put your name and the designer’s name on the card, and place them in envelopes.  Then tape the envelopes to the back of the portraits

4.  Shipping the Portraits.  A lot of cutters have experience shipping portraits, but if you haven’t shipped any, it is recommended that you wrap the portraits in bubble wrap or protect them in some similar manner.  Use a delivery service that confirms delivery.  Post on the site in the Project Board when you have shipped your portraits and again when you have confirmation they have been received. This helps us to track the number of completed portraits for the project.

5.  Recommendations.  We suggest that you ask for direct feedback from the family.  Include a short note asking them to send you a post card or email to let you know the portraits arrived in good shape.  Some cutters even enclose an addressed postcard with the portraits.   It might also help to include your phone number.

Quality Control

 The quality of the portraits, patterns and cuttings will be monitored and approved by the moderators.We should expect to give the family members of these soldiers that paid the ultimate price for their country some of our best and most labored work.Dont let this discourage you from trying a design pattern but please do not be discouraged if your pattern is not selected to be used in the project.More than one pattern attempt can be made by any member.A number of patterns based on any one picture may be posted.The moderators will edit the title of the pattern that they feel best represents the character and detail of the subject.They will mark the pattern as, "Pattern approved" and move the pattern to the pattern approved album.Cutters make sure you get on Bill Coons list before you are able to cut the pattern out.Once finished pieces are made we ask that you post them in the Finished Portraits album for review and display.A moderator will contact you or edit the picture title as, "Approved to send".When this is done you may send in the portrait along with a presentation letter to the current list address.

Quality Standards

• All portraits are to be made in 1/4 inch or 1/8 inch birch or oak ply.First choice should be birch as the oak grains may distract from the detail of the portrait.
• Wood grain is not manditory.I personally like the wood grain to go horizontal to make the portrait stand out more but use your own judgement.
• Frame and picture size is 8by10 inches.To be framed behind glass with a hanger on the back. Frame size may go up to 11 by 14 if a portrait has family members present or if the portrait warrents a larger size.
• You may inital the front and put a full signature on the back cardboard backer. Please make sure inital's are very small and do not distract from the portrait. If their is no room on the bottom right or left of the portrait (away from the subject) then initial or sign only the back.
• Frame should be dark in color.If 8/10 a dark frame will look the best.If 11/14 inch frame with a black matte a light colored frame will look best.An 11/14 inch piece with no matte would look best in a solid black frame.
• Finish on portraits should include a light sanding of the front,burrs sanded off the back and a clear coat on the front to protect the wood.Deft lacquer or any clear coat that will not yellow the wood to much.
• Portrait backing shall be black in color.Black felt is a standard.Foam boards and dark material will also be allowed.If in question email a moderator.
• After presentation letter is downloaded from this site place in envelope and tape it to the back of the portrait.
• Pack all portraits with great care.Glass can break easily so use cushioning to prevent any movement of the portrait.SSP is not responsible for any damage to portraits sent.If you feel that you did not pack the portrait good enough you are advised to take out shipping insurance on the piece.Custom portraits are valued at $45.00 on average.

This list subject to change if new issues are brought to light.

Member Guidelines

General Guidelines 

It is required by the moderators for you to follow the standards and general guidelines for the key personell on the project.Some basic guidelines are outlined but not limited to the following:

Designers: You are expected to be profficient and accurate with pattern detail.The patterns need to be ready to place on wood and cut.Small details can be fixed by the cutters but maximum effort should be put into assuring that a pattern has no, "floaters" and is in useable order. Try your best to get as much detail in the face as possible.Do not incorporate a background.The head or bust study of a subject is the focus and art of the project. Background distractions will take away from the beauty of the subject if not properly executed.Post first attempts of your patterns in the Pattern Attempt Album . If a moderator approves your pattern by editing your pattern title with, "Approved Pattern" they will move the pattern to the Pattern Approved  album. We are not looking for perfect patterns but we are looking for the best that you can offer.

Cutters: Please review the information in the message thread, Quality Control and Standards. Information on pattern and framing standards are listed for uniformity of work.If patterns have jagged or pixulated lines on bends or corners please use your judgement to smooth these out while cutting.Do not cut a pattern out exactly unless the lines of the pattern is very smooth, crisp and straight.Not every minute detail is needed to hold a character and a small mistake may not loose all visual appeal of a portrait.If you make a mistake try to fix it by smoothing the break out and take a look at the overall portrait.As stated above we are not looking for perfect cuts but we are asking for your best.Please go over the pattern you are cutting to insure that it is useable and no details are overlooked.If you find a mistake in the pattern make attempts to fix them to make them work.You are responsible for the cutting,finishing,framing and delivering of the portrait upon completion.You also need to download the Presentation Letter. to put in an envelope taped to the back of the portrait. A destination address will be provided to you by a post or personal email toward the end. You play a big and critical final role in each portrait.I have faith and trust that you will do your best to hold up your end of this large project.We only ask that you carry through with your project at your own pace and do the best you can.Any questions,conserns or guidance you may need is just a message post away.

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