How do you guys (if you even do) make decals like the ones Ben uses?
If someone knows, that'd be cool. If no one does make them like Ben, that's okay, I have other ways in mind.
Decals
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SpongeBuell
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it's not too commonly done, but some recommendations include tattoo paper and stencils with spraypaint. Another option is laser engraving, though you can't get color with that. Try going to http://www.doomportables.org/cases.html.
Life of Brian wrote:I'll be honest with you - I would have never guessed that.RYW wrote:RYW:
Rare
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Weasel
(From the old site.)
Edit: Bad img tags...
Something else I get asked about are the decals on the Atari.
This thing weighs a ton
This wonderful machine is called the Gerber Edge. It's a thermal transfer printer that is used to create images on vinyl. Special rolls of material called 'foils' (they look like huge typewriter ribbons) are inserted into the machine which uses a heat process to transfer the color from those foils INTO (not on) the vinyl. Therefore, images cannot be washed off or removed. Many colors of foils are available, and you can print full-color pictures by using a set of CMYK foils. (also know as four-color process, like how they print magazines). I used the CMYK set of colors to print the multi-colored stripe that is on the VCSp. After you print something, the vinyl can then be cut out into shapes by an automated plotter and applied to whatever you want. If you see fancy graphics on a business vehicle, chances are they were made with this type of machine or something very similar. You design the text or graphics you want to print using the same program that works with the router, only you spool it to a different place (obviously).
The plot thickens The HS 15 Gerber plotter.
The vinyl comes in many colors. Shown above is white, but for the Atari I used something called Clear Enamel Receptive. Which is basically just clear vinyl. (Think: A roll of Scotch tape, but stronger and a foot wide) Using that, I could print things with a transparent background. (Think: kind of like a GIF image). All the text, colors and logos on the Atari VCSp were done this way. Also, over-laminating the wood grain with the clear enamel receptive made it look nice and shiny, like stained wood. Even the wood grain on the Atari was a vinyl-type material. It was real wood, but pressed flat and with a sticky back. If you look closely at a lot of 'wood grain' things you can see it's usually just printed dots. But not my Atari!
Why print one when you can print 15? A decal, shown for transparency.
My thanks go out to my boss, Jim Greeley, for allowing me to use his machines after hours to complete my project. And he only poked me in the eye once!
Edit: Bad img tags...
Something else I get asked about are the decals on the Atari.
This thing weighs a ton
This wonderful machine is called the Gerber Edge. It's a thermal transfer printer that is used to create images on vinyl. Special rolls of material called 'foils' (they look like huge typewriter ribbons) are inserted into the machine which uses a heat process to transfer the color from those foils INTO (not on) the vinyl. Therefore, images cannot be washed off or removed. Many colors of foils are available, and you can print full-color pictures by using a set of CMYK foils. (also know as four-color process, like how they print magazines). I used the CMYK set of colors to print the multi-colored stripe that is on the VCSp. After you print something, the vinyl can then be cut out into shapes by an automated plotter and applied to whatever you want. If you see fancy graphics on a business vehicle, chances are they were made with this type of machine or something very similar. You design the text or graphics you want to print using the same program that works with the router, only you spool it to a different place (obviously).
The plot thickens The HS 15 Gerber plotter.
The vinyl comes in many colors. Shown above is white, but for the Atari I used something called Clear Enamel Receptive. Which is basically just clear vinyl. (Think: A roll of Scotch tape, but stronger and a foot wide) Using that, I could print things with a transparent background. (Think: kind of like a GIF image). All the text, colors and logos on the Atari VCSp were done this way. Also, over-laminating the wood grain with the clear enamel receptive made it look nice and shiny, like stained wood. Even the wood grain on the Atari was a vinyl-type material. It was real wood, but pressed flat and with a sticky back. If you look closely at a lot of 'wood grain' things you can see it's usually just printed dots. But not my Atari!
Why print one when you can print 15? A decal, shown for transparency.
My thanks go out to my boss, Jim Greeley, for allowing me to use his machines after hours to complete my project. And he only poked me in the eye once!
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JackFrost22
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JackFrost22
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JackFrost22
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