We are wanting to paint a curved border on our son's bedroom wall rather than a straight one. Any ideas on how to get a nice smooth curve? We're quite good following lines freehand but it's just getting the initial guide line in the first place. 
Wavylines
- Thread starter Wavylines
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2scoops0406
How about getting a length of cotton (perhaps string), pinning the cotton/ string at varying lengths on the ceiling / walls (to get curves), shining a strong light against said string. Mark along the shadow cast by the string, paint to this mark?? Just an idea straight off the top of my head, and quite probably there are much better ideas out there. Good luck
You could use an excel spread sheet to calculate offsets from centre for a sine wave. Plot all the dots and then join them up by hand.
If you decide on the length of the half cycle(Distance between centre line crossings) and the height you want each curve to reach (from the centre line to the peak) you could do the following.
In cell A1 you would enter the value of how far apart you want your dots.
In cell A2 enter double that value.
Subtituting the actual values for your Length and height
In cell A2 enter the forumula =SIN(PI()*A1/length)*height
Highlight Cells A1 and A2 and drag them down so that you have enough values for the entire length of the curve.
Drag down the forumula in A2 alongside.
Column A now shows distance from the start of the curve
Column B shows the offset from the centre line.
Draw a central line on your wall, and plot all the points!
God, I really must get a life
If you decide on the length of the half cycle(Distance between centre line crossings) and the height you want each curve to reach (from the centre line to the peak) you could do the following.
In cell A1 you would enter the value of how far apart you want your dots.
In cell A2 enter double that value.
Subtituting the actual values for your Length and height
In cell A2 enter the forumula =SIN(PI()*A1/length)*height
Highlight Cells A1 and A2 and drag them down so that you have enough values for the entire length of the curve.
Drag down the forumula in A2 alongside.
Column A now shows distance from the start of the curve
Column B shows the offset from the centre line.
Draw a central line on your wall, and plot all the points!
God, I really must get a life
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david and julie
Could you make a jig out of plywood/mdf or simlar.
If you got say a piece of wood say 3ftx2ft, then mark the shape you want on the board. Then cut to shape with a jigsaw. If you then went round the room, with the jig on the skirting or floor it will set your heights and also the pattern on the wall.
Obviously you may have to improvise a bit in the corners.
I haven't tried this its just a suggestion.
If you got say a piece of wood say 3ftx2ft, then mark the shape you want on the board. Then cut to shape with a jigsaw. If you then went round the room, with the jig on the skirting or floor it will set your heights and also the pattern on the wall.
Obviously you may have to improvise a bit in the corners.
I haven't tried this its just a suggestion.
2
2scoops0406
TexMex said:You could use an excel spread sheet to calculate offsets from centre for a sine wave. Plot all the dots and then join them up by hand.
If you decide on the length of the half cycle(Distance between centre line crossings) and the height you want each curve to reach (from the centre line to the peak) you could do the following.
In cell A1 you would enter the value of how far apart you want your dots.
In cell A2 enter double that value.
Subtituting the actual values for your Length and height
In cell A2 enter the forumula =SIN(PI()*A1/length)*height
Highlight Cells A1 and A2 and drag them down so that you have enough values for the entire length of the curve.
Drag down the forumula in A2 alongside.
Column A now shows distance from the start of the curve
Column B shows the offset from the centre line.
Draw a central line on your wall, and plot all the points!
God, I really must get a life
Bloody h*ll, I did maths up to first year undergrad level, you're right, you need to get out more
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