How to Design a Deck Skate

One of the biggest things that skateboarders look for when shopping for a skate deck are the graphics on the underside of the board. Sometimes the artistry is so appealing that they don't even want to actually skateboard with it, and instead hang it up as a decoration. It's easier than ever to have a skateboard with awesome graphics when you can just design a skate deck yourself, either online or with your own two hands.

Things You'll Need

  • Blank skate deck
  • Acrylic paint
  • Paintbrushes
  • Graphite paper
  • Clear coat enamel
  • Sketch pad
  • Pencil
  • Tape
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Instructions

  1. Design a Skate Deck Online

    • 1

      Navigate to a website that allows you to design your own skate deck online.

    • 2

      Select the dimensions for your skateboard by either clicking on the sizes or choosing a type of skateboard such as Old School, Classic or Mini, depending on which website you visit.

    • 3

      Design your skate deck using the colors and patterns provided for you. Experiment with different color schemes and alter the shapes of the patterns with the tools. Upload your own photo or image, if the website allows it, and create a theme around it with your favorite colors and patterns.

    • 4

      Preview your skate deck before making your purchase. Zoom in on the image and make sure everything looks the way you want it. Make the necessary adjustments, and proceed with the checkout.

    Design a Blank Skate Deck

    • 5

      Practice creating designs for your skate deck on a sketch pad. Use different themes and sketch them onto a mockup skate deck to see what it would look like. Take your time to figure out what your favorite design is, and think about what colors to choose.

    • 6

      Take your sketch to a print shop and have it re-sized to the dimensions of your skate deck and reprinted onto a large piece of paper.

    • 7

      Place your blank skate deck on a flat surface with the bottom facing up, and wipe it with a clean cloth to remove any dirt or residue. Secure a large piece of graphite paper to it with tape so it covers the entire deck. Align your design over the graphite paper so it fits evenly on the surface of the deck, and secure it with tape.

    • 8

      Use a pencil to gently trace the outline of your design, effectively transferring it from the graphite paper to the bottom of the blank skate deck.

    • 9

      Place some newspapers on a table and create a work space. Set out the acrylic paint and get your paintbrushes ready, and place your skate deck down with the graphics facing up.

    • 10

      Use a thin paintbrush and trace the outline of your design with acrylic paint. Apply two to three thin layers around the entire outline. Allow the paint to dry.

    • 11

      Fill in the colors of your design with the acrylic paint. Apply three to five thin layers, allowing about 15 minutes of dry time in between each coat. Allow the paint to dry.

    • 12

      Apply two to three thin layers of clear coat enamel over your entire design to protect the graphics, allowing about 30 minutes of dry time in between each coat.