How to paint a perfect circle

[slayer202]

Ok, I am trying to paint a basketball court on a table I am making. The design is a detroit pistons court: http://www.flickr.com/photos/strangered/2381235242/

I can do the outer baselines in red pretty easily. I am printing out the logo for the center. The inner paint/key rectangle isn't bad, but I am having trouble figuring out how to create a stencil for the red circle near the foul line. same thing with the 3 point line. I have plenty of painters tape but I don't know how I can line everything up right or make a stencil that is perfectly straight or round.

Any suggestions are helpful

 

[shocksyde]

Use a protractor with a paint brush fixed to one end?

 

[BoberFett]

Ummmm, find the center of the circle, use a finishing nail, a pencil, and a piece of string?

 

[blurredvision]

Use a protractor to draw a circle on a rigid material, then carefully cut out by hand.

EDIT: Guess I should add that you should use this rigid material as a template.

 

[antyler]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Ummmm, find the center of the circle, use a finishing nail, a pencil, and a piece of string?

 

[funkymatt]

you should use a COMPASS to draw a circle. a protractor is used to calculate angles.

and the method boberfett said will give you a perfect circle if done correctly.

 

[0roo0roo]

build a robot.

 

[slayer202]

Originally posted by: BoberFett
Ummmm, find the center of the circle, use a finishing nail, a pencil, and a piece of string?

right, but if thats on a piece of paper, I feel like its going to be hard to make it perfectly round. and if it's directly on the table, I guess I would have to paint it very carefully around the edges. that might work

 

[DrVos]

Do it freehand: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YZqDAVSGuTQ

 

[Ns1]

nm

 

[mugs]

Compass

 

[hanoverphist]

or just go to an art supply store and buy a template that includes different sized circles...

personally id use the compass idea or the template out of heavy tag board with a nail and string. trace it onto the table and freehand it. or, make the template so you can airbrush right over it and youre golden.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: DrVos
Do it freehand: http://youtube.com/watch?v=YZqDAVSGuTQ

Damn!

 

[Chiropteran]

Originally posted by: funkymatt
a protractor is used to calculate angles.

No way.

A protractor is what the pro farmers use to do work on the farm.

 

[her209]

1. Get a 10 gallon aquarium
2. Fill it half way with water.
3. ...
4. Perfect circle!

 

[DrPizza]

I'm not sure how large you want your circle, but you could always create a perfect circle of the perfect size and thickness in Paint or some other program, then print it out. You could print out several until you have the perfect size. Then, cut out the circle and use the remaining paper as a stencil.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Chiropteran

Originally posted by: funkymatt
a protractor is used to calculate angles.

No way.

A protractor is what the pro farmers use to do work on the farm.

That does it. I'm pillaging you. I don't care if my entire army dies.

 

[Pepsi90919]

ask billy