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4.17. How can I price carved signs in EstiMate?

I want to price carved signage, but I don't see a section for this in EstiMate. Can this be done?

Yes, it can, but in order to do it you have to use the vinyl signs section of the software. Create a new estimate and then follow these instructions:

1. Click Add Item->Vinyl Signs
2. From the substrate list, choose the type of material you will be carving. If it is not in the list, you can click the small book icon to the right of the list to add it to your substrate database.
3. Enter the number of signs, number of sides, and height and width of your sign face.*
3. Next, locate the small book icon to the right of the first (red) list of vinyls. Click this icon.
4. From the vinyls list that appears, click the 'new' button.
5. For the description, enter 'Carving'; the rest of the screen needs no adjustment. Click the OK checkmark at the bottom of the screen to return to the vinyls list. Then click the OK checkmark on the vinyls list to return to the vinyl / painted signs screen.**
6. Select 'Carving' from the list of vinyls and adjust the coverage slider which appears until the area you are routing is indicated on the slider (about 85% for an average sign).***
7. Adjust the Artwork complexity slider to indicate the amount of design time you will spend on this job (see the design and production times reflected above the calculate total button).
8. Adjust the General Difficulty Level slider to reflect the proper amount of production time involved.
9. Replace the automatically generated description (in the upper-right-hand corner) with a description of your own, which will more accurately reflect this type of job.
10. Click the Calculate total button to calculate this job, and then click OK (the green checkmark) to return to your estimate with the new carved item on it.

That's it! In the future you can skip steps 3-5 since you have already entered the carving time.

* If you are carving a dimensional letter or letters, set the height and width to the outer dimensions of the cut letters (as if you measured the rectangle they occupy).
** What you just did is enter a 'fake' vinyl called 'Carving' that will allow you to specify the portion of the sign you are carving on without actually adding any material cost.
*** If you are carving a dimensional letter or letters, set the coverage to 100% to account for the complete cutout.

Questions and Answers:

Q: My carving time needed for the job exceeds the production time limits offered in the vinyl signs screen. What do I do now?

A: You will want to list the carving time separately. It is suggested you leave the general difficulty level and contour cut sliders at zero and simply add a new free-form or repeat labor line item that reflects the amount of time needed for the carving.