White Tiger Hanko

We have recently completed a Hanko for Byakko Shotokan Karate Association and thought you might like to see how the graphics for the Hanko were built up into the final design prior to manufacture.

If you have a project in mind do not hesitate to drop us a mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com, below is a table of our standard range, but we are always happy to accommodate custom requests.

Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan section shop page

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Tensho font Hanko

*** Update - From May 2022 We now have access to a seal font ***

Unfortunately we do not have Tensho font which is sometimes called seal script. I have searched the internet for a few years and always drawn a blank. As far as I am aware it is only available in Japan and can only be purchased via a Japanese bank account.
A few years ago we produced a couple of Hanko where the client had sourced the images from a third party, we transpose the image into a format that we could produce a Hanko from.
Unfortunately our client had lost one of them but we managed to reproduce it from our records and attach a 25% discount because there was not so much work for us to do.

Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan section shop page

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If you are accessing this site on your phone you may wish to view the "Web version" and access the menu in the side-bar to navigate. Just scroll down for the link.

Jpeg to Vector Image

We recently worked with Senjokai Karate Academyt to re-work their logo into a vector image. Below is the end result.

Our finished vector image

The original was a low resolution jpeg image which if enlarger pixelates, even at full size the image is not crisp and does not represent the club in the best light.

Jpeg Original

You can see from the close up of the vector image that there is no loss of quality when an image is increased. Even if increased to the size of a building no quality would be lost.

Vector close up

The original image was traced and within our software the cure / shapes are saved as curves not pixels like in a camera image. We took the original kanji and replaced it with our stock block font, again as a vector image.

If you are interested in commissioning a vector image logo just drop us a E Mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com

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Free MCN for Okami Shotokan Karate

We have been working with Sensei Dean Acreman and Okami Shotokan Karate over the last week or so, since he won the £200 MCN voucher in our free prize draw.

Dean was able to supply us with the club kanji and a logo as a starting point and requested a non-traditional layout for the Nafudakake.

The club is run by Dean, but a while ago Dean's old instructor returned to karate and joined Dean's club. Working together Kelvin went on to grade Godan and the MCN is a fitting celebration of their karate journey.

Dean also supplied us with the katakana from his belt so we could use the same translation on the Nafuda.

The original logo was low resolution and had a white background and was not suitable for importing into our graphics package. Dean was able to get the logo designer to send an image to our specification for inclusion that saved considerable time on reproducing it from scratch in our software. We selected the kanji for the clubs name in our standard "block" font, but others are available, see our link in the sidebar to "Fonts".

Dean also wanted to incorporate the shotokan tiger so we used our stock Shotokan tiger but made a few alterations. It was re-sized to match the Okami logo and the red from the logo was colour sampled and the background of the Shotokan tiger was adjusted to match.

Dean did not have a translation for Kelvin so we provided one, a fairly straight forward translation into katakana. Name translation is provided free of charge, but we like to use existing translations where available for uniformity.

Dean also asked he we could incorporate our hanging system in addition to the holes provide behind the end nafuda for direct fitting to the wall. 2mm stainless steel wire rope is used and a small swr grip within the profile of the frame which is not seen. The cable can be made longer, shorter or removed by removing the end caps and adjusting the grip.

The breakdown of the retail cost would be as follows
Frame - 1 rows of 7 Nafuda = 7 spaces @ £13.00 = £91.00
Nafuda - 7 nafuda @ £13.00 = £91.00
Suspension System - 7 units @ £0.75 = £5.25
Total = £187.25
There is free postage to non premium UK post codes
and Europe or Worldwide Postage is only £32.00

Whether you are looking for a quality presentation piece or a Nafudakake for your dojo the MCN range may be just what you are looking for.

Modular Curved Nafudakake - MCN
	Frame Cost		Nafuda Cost
Number	Unit Cost	Total	Unit Cost	Total
3	£15	£45	£15	£45
4	£15	£60	£15	£60
5	£13	£65	£13	£65
6	£13	£78	£13	£78
7	£13	£91	£13	£91
8	£12	£96	£11.50	£92
9	£12	£108	£11.50	£103.50
10	£12	£120	£11.50	£115
11 to 20	£10	£various	£10	£various
21 to 50	£9	£various	£7	£various
51 to 100	£8	£various	£7	£various
100+	£7	£various	£7	£various
Available in "Block" or "Brush" font
Spare blanks available @ £1.50
Backing and Suspension System @ £0.75 per Nafuda
Free Postage to all UK non-premium Post codes
3 to 20 units - Europe / Worldwide Postage - £32
21 to 50 units - Europe / Worldwide Postage - £40
51 to 100 units - Europe / Worldwide Postage - £46
100+ units - Europe / Worldwide Postage - £50
Payments in GBP by BACS or Pay Pal at 5% Premium

How to order your MCN
Step 1. To make an inquiry E-mail sotosabisu@btinternet.com with the following details:
1. Rough idea of what you want, club logo / dojo name, we can assist with design and translation
2. Current translations if you have them, photo of logo with Kanji on etc.
3. Select the font for the Nafuda.
4. Deliver address – it will be sent as a “signed for” parcel.
Step 2 Soto Sabisu will complete the graphic design and send you an image for approval along with a pro-forma invoice.
This usually takes a number of E Mails back and forth while we develop your commission with you.
Step 3 Approve the image and make a payment either by BACS or via PayPal with a 5% surcharge Step 4 Soto Sabisu will dispatch your Nafudakake approx 4 to 6 weeks after step 3. 100% satisfaction guaranteed or your money back.

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Hanko for Ensokan sogo bujutsu renmei

We were recently contacted by an organisation and asked if we could produce a large certificate hanko using a mix of kanji that they had and a monogram.

I thought I would share with you the process from inquiry to delivery.

Above is the main kanji that they wanted to use and add on the kanji below for renmei.

The first thing we need to do is identify the actual kanji that are used by the client. This is not always straight forward as images are regularly low definition or copies of copies, some may be hand written or a difficult to identify font.

The client originally requested a 50 x 50mm stamp and we had to advise that the largest image we could incorporate in our range of self inking stamps was 38 x 38mm, but we would look into other options if required.

The client also provided an image of a monogram that they wanted made into a stamp also.

In our graphics design package we produced a draft hanko and mongram along with the organisations name in a block or brush font. The proof is sent to the customer and once approved a pro-forma invoice is sent to the client for payment. It takes approx 7 days for manufacture and delivery to the UK and approx 10 days worldwide.

Our client asked if the brush style font could be used for the hanko and that the border for the monogram be removed.

Above are the final images that were used and we also provided the organisation with their kanji in both block and brush scripts in pdf and jpeg files so they can be used in stationary, websites, etc. The images are provided as "added value" - no charge.

Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

"Click" to go to - Hanko and Inkan section shop page

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If you are accessing this site on your phone you may wish to view the "Web version" and access the menu in the side-bar to navigate. Just scroll down for the link.

Martial Arts - Facebook banners

We are pleased to announce that we are expanding our graphic design services to include the production of Facebook banners.
The banners will be produced to the exact size to drop into your Facebook page.

Above are the images for Selby Shotokan Karate Club, used on their "closed group" and "public page". They incorporate a logo we previously designed and kana that we held on file from working with them previously.

Our specialty is being able to offer a translation and selection of kanji to incorporate into your design. If you have an old Jpeg file we can look at converting to a vector image and re-sizing. Once completed you will receive your image as a  jpeg file.

The service is only £40.00 and there is a 50% for returning customers  £20.00 where we are designing the banner around a previous logo or kana that we hold on file for you.

If you are interested in commissioning a Facebook banner just drop us a E Mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com

Top Tip
If you are accessing this site on your phone you may wish to view the "Web version" and access the menu in the side-bar to navigate. Just scroll down for the link.

Logo for Samurai Shotokan Karate School

We were recently approached by Samurai Shotokan Karate School to see if we could update their old logo. They wanted to shorten the name but keep the reference to Shotokan so we incorporated the Shotokan kanji in the middle of the logo.

 

Our specialty is being able to offer a translation and selection of kanji to incorporate into your design.
Although not our core business we do offer Logo design and support to our customers.
Our services are restricted to offering "added value" to our martial art customers.

If you have an old Jpeg file we can look at converting to a vector image.
If the quality is too poor or you don't have an existing image we will work with you to produce a brand new design.

Once completed you will receive your image in jpeg. and pdf. file, we can also send it in a cdr. which will allow your sign manufacturer to produce it in any size with no loss of resolution, even the size of a tower block if you want.

If you are interested in commissioning a vector image logo just drop us a E Mail to sotosabisu@btinternet.com. Current costings can be found in the relevant shop page please click on the button below to view.

"Click" to go to - Design section shop page

Top Tip
If you are accessing this site on your phone you may wish to view the "Web version" and access the menu in the side-bar to navigate. Just scroll down for the link.