Techniques for adding text/ graphics to enclosures...

Frequent question about boxes and accessories: painting, etching, clearcoating, lettering, glueing, and so on.
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gtar player
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Post by gtar player »

While I have found articles on etching and silkscreening project enclosures, are there any other techniques that board members are using to add text and graphics to their projects?

I am most interested in learning how this is being done on the powder coated boxes like those available from pedalpartsplus.

I appreciate any help you guys can provide to this project noob...

Regards

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R.G.
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Post by R.G. »

gtar player wrote:While I have found articles on etching and silkscreening project enclosures, are there any other techniques that board members are using to add text and graphics to their projects?

I am most interested in learning how this is being done on the powder coated boxes like those available from pedalpartsplus.

I appreciate any help you guys can provide to this project noob...

Regards
As I said, read Geofex. Have you tried printing either laser or inkjet decals on decal paper?

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Brian M
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Post by Brian M »

You can screen print on powder coated boxes... You just have to use some good ink. Not really convenient to do at home for a single box though. It's and utter mess actually.

water slide decals, covered with some clear coat.
Iron on Dark T-shirt transfers.
Rub on letters from an art supply store.
Metal stamps, and a hammer.
A sharpy, and a steady hand.

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Post by Guest »

I use full faced graphics printed on a shiny sticker-paper.
Then I apply some clear coat.

example:
https://i235.photobucket.com/albums/ee2 ... 2_out1.jpg

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sevinisthenumber
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Post by sevinisthenumber »

I see a lot of you guys making great professional looking pedals with graphics and great looking designs on your enclosures. How do you guys do it?
"The man who says he knows everything will never know the truth"
C.S. Lewis

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briggs
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Post by briggs »

There are lots of ways. Waterslide decals, etching, screen printing. It depends on what resources you have available to you.

I used to use this before I hand painted all my builds - http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/Pr ... 2&CatID=16

These look nice though: http://www.craftycomputerpaper.co.uk/Pr ... 6&CatID=17
Image

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soulsonic
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Post by soulsonic »

I've been using some laser waterslide decal paper I bought from here:
http://www.decalpaper.com/
Works great! It takes a little bit of practice to work with larger labels just because they can be a little difficult to handle (they want to wrinkle, fold up, and stretch), but it's worth practicing to get it right because you can get some great looking results.
"Analog electronics in music is dead. Analog effects pedal design is a dead art." - Fran

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nooneknows
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Post by nooneknows »

soulsonic wrote:I've been using some laser waterslide decal paper I bought from here:
http://www.decalpaper.com/
Works great!
..... :evil: .... I hate them : "We Do Not Ship Products Outside The Continental US".... :)

does anybody know any other european source?

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alteredsounds
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nooneknows
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Post by nooneknows »

Thank you Alteredsounds!

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Post by LudfisterSound »

I usually do a printout of my graphics and text on colored construction paper, glue it to the bare enclosure, and finish with clear spray enamel. I'm working on some effects now that I'd like to look screen printed without going to the trouble of multiple screens for different colors and I ran across this, Grafix Rub-onz by DickBlick. It's inkjet rub on transfer material. Looks to be ideal for detailed effects graphics, and solves the problem of lining up letters and limited font/size of regular rub on transfers. Now I just need to find the stuff in a local store. I'll post a pic if it works well.

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