OUR PROCESS

The superhero The Thing from Marvel Comics, with orange rocky skin, wearing blue shorts with a black belt and the number 4, is bursting through the sky, with debris flying around, against a bright blue sky with clouds.

Your Photo, Our Starting Line
It all starts with your photo. Send us your best shot—vector files are gold—but we can transform just about anything into a powerful design. Whatever you’ve got, we’ll bring it to life.

A silver MacBook Air with a colorful rainbow keyboard cover, displaying digital images of a comic book character on its screen, on a beige surface against a beige wall.

Design Magic
Stacey brings every project to life in-house. She digs into ideas, colors, and inspiration—then adds her own creative flair to craft a design that’s one-of-a-kind.

A laptop screen displaying a coloring page of a muscular the Thinkg with the speech bubble 'IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!' and an open keyboard.

From File to Firepower
Stacey transforms the design into a vector file and loads it into our laser software. She breaks it into layers, building the depth and dimension that make every sign stand out.

A blue Omtech laser engraving machine is in operation, engraving or cutting a large white sheet of material with a focused laser beam.

Built on a Strong Foundation
Every sign starts with high-quality MDF. For the backer, we use ½" ultralight MDF—a solid, stable base to build on. Layer by layer, with ½" and ¼" MDF, we create the structure that gives each sign its strength and style.

Laser cutting machine cutting out a design of The Thing on a sheet of MDF, with the words 'IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!' engraved at the top.

Laser-Perfect Precision
We program the laser to score exact guidelines into the MDF, ensuring flawless alignment. Then it slices the backer design with pinpoint accuracy—every cut sharp, every edge perfect.

A large piece of MDF with a rough outline of a map of The Thing, with the words "IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!" written in the upper right corner inside a CO2 laser.

Backer Locked & Loaded
The ½" backer is cut with precision and scored with placement guides for the next layer. Every edge is sanded smooth, top to bottom, side to side—then it’s primed and ready for action.

Line drawing of The Thing, the comic book superhero, with muscular arms raised, the word 'CLOBBERIN' above him, and The Thing's iconic pants with the Fantastic 4 on the belt.

Layer by Layer, Built to Stand Out
After the backer is cut, we move to building the sign layers. A ¼" MDF base holds every component piece, giving us the depth and dimension that make the design pop. With custom techniques, we shape a look that’s uniquely bold.

Wooden cutout of The Thing with the text "It's Clobberin' Time!" above him.

Bridging the Build
Most of our detail work comes from ¼" MDF. Here, we cut a ¼" backer that bridges the base and the finished piece—adding depth, strength, and a sharp 3D impact to the sign.

Layout of MDF pieces of a muscular, comic-style Hulk with the text "It's Clobberin' Time!" above him, on a workshop table.

The Vision Takes Shape
With the rough cut complete and every piece in place, the sign’s depth and dimension start to come alive. This is where Stacey’s artistic eye kicks in—spotting where extra layers will elevate the design and transform it into a true standout piece.

A person sitting on the floor, working on a mosaic art project outdoors on a blue mat. They are wearing a respirator and gloves, with tools and tiles arranged nearby. The scene is sunny with grass and concrete visible.

Shaping the Details
Each piece is shaped until it’s just right. Using a mix of tools, we cut, carve, and refine—sometimes even removing material to create bold effects. For this design, flat MDF transforms into rugged, 3D rocks that bring the artwork to life.

MDF pieces that have been shaped with tools to provide depth and dimension prior to being primed for paint.

Tools of the Trade
We put every tool to work in the shaping stage—because this step makes all the difference. It’s the fine details here that separate a good piece from a truly great one.

Laser cut action figure of a muscular superhero with giant arms, flexing, and a fierce face, with the words 'IT'S CLOBBERIN' TIME!' at the top.

Dialing In the Fit
After shaping and sanding, every piece goes through a dry fit. This is the test run—making sure every detail lines up flawlessly. Once it’s locked in, we gear up for primer and the next stage of the build.

MDF pieces that have been placed on boards and have been sprayed with primer to prepare for paint.

Primed for Perfection
After we are happy with the dry fit, each piece is locked onto a painting board and coated with two to three layers of primer. This step sets the stage for flawless color and a finish that lasts.

Person sitting on the floor working on a textured white surface with small objects attached, wearing a red shirt, black pants, with a purple cloth underneath, and an electric cord extending across the ground.

Smooth, Sharp, Flawless
Once the primer base coat is down, every piece gets sanded again. This step erases imperfections, sharpens details, and ensures each layer has the clean, crisp look needed for the perfect finish.

MDF sculpture in progress depicting The Thing with variously shaped pieces on a flat base.

Paint That Pops
Our painting process is what sets us apart. We mix custom colors, blend, and shade with precision—turning vision into bold, eye-catching results every time.

A woman working on a large 3D MDF art piece of The Thing, with a blue sky background. She is kneeling on a blue padded mat, assembling the MDF pieces.

Piece by Piece, Built to Last
Each element is glued into place with care and precision. Some designs take hours—this one over 13—to lock every piece in perfectly and bring the artwork to life.

A large custom 3D wall art puzzle with orange and blue pieces in progress on a blue quilted surface, with tools and supplies around it.

Fuel for the Fight
Let’s be real—this process is a challenge. That’s why snacks are mission-critical. Quick, easy, and mess-free fuel keeps the creativity (and focus) going strong.

A woman in black athletic clothing crouches on the grass and takes a photo of a cartoon drawing of The Thing character from the Fantastic Four, which is attached to a tree with the sign 'It's GLOBBERIN TIME!'

Showtime
Capturing the final sign is one of our favorite steps. We use the same spot, same tree, same vibe—just like our work, consistent and recognizable. Every shot shows off the craftsmanship and detail that makes our signs stand out.

A colorful outdoor sign featuring a cartoon rock monster with muscular arms, clenched fists, and wearing blue shorts, with the text 'It's Clobberin Time!'. The sign is set in a natural environment with trees and grass.

Crafted to Last
Stacey turns every photo into meaningful, lasting art that customers are proud to display. Each piece is unique, but our care and attention to detail never waver. We set the gold standard in custom 3D artwork—and we’ll never settle for less.

  • A colorful outdoor sign featuring a muscular rock character with the text "It's Clobberin' Time!" placed against a tree in a green park area.
  • A colorful cartoon sign depicts a muscular, rock-like figure with a fierce expression, holding a large object. The sign reads 'It's Clobberin' Time!' and is placed outdoors against a wooded background, supported by wooden blocks.
  • A colorful sign featuring the rocky superhero the Thing from the Fantastic Four, with the text "It's Clobberin' Time!" in a comic book style, placed near trees and grass in an outdoor area.
  • A colorful sign with the text "IT'S GLOBOBLOBBIN' TIME!" in bold 3D letters, featuring a detailed depiction of a claymation-style character's face emerging from brown, rock-like formations. The background is a light blue, with a tree trunk and green foliage visible behind the sign.
  • Close-up of the detail on The Thing with blue shorts that have been shaped to show distinct features.
  • Close-up of a 3D clay or foam mosaic sculpture of a fierce character's face with intense eyes, white teeth, and a blue background.
  • Colorful outdoor sculpture of The Thing, with muscular arms raised and fists clenched, wearing blue shorts and a black belt, set against a blue background in the background.
  • Close-up of a textured wall art sculpture of The Thing's face, made with various brown geometric shapes and a blue background.
  • Colorful sign with the text "It's Clobberin' Time!" in bold 3D letters, featuring a character made of small brown pieces with an angry expression, set against a light blue background.