White Lettering/engraving

[Geremy Britton]

Hi all

Making My own panels can be teedious at times. How do people create the lettering on their panels, engraving, stickers etc.

I want to use white stickers for the lettering but for the life of me i cant find a single place to buy them. Been to dozens of stationers and hardware stores but no joy.

Suggestions welcome! - i'm stuck.

[Trevor Hale]

Hi all

Making My own panels can be teedious at times. How do people create the lettering on their panels, engraving, stickers etc.

I want to use white stickers for the lettering but for the life of me i cant find a single place to buy them. Been to dozens of stationers and hardware stores but no joy.

Suggestions welcome! - i'm stuck.

Draw the picture in Paint with black text. then Print the inverse image. Works for me, then use a spray adhesive to attach it to the plexi.

[Seahawk]

Draw the picture in Paint with black text. then Print the inverse image. Works for me, then use a spray adhesive to attach it to the plexi.

at the risk of seeming slightly ignorant .....
what font do you use for the letters and how does one print an inverse image? is there a button in Paint that prints inverse ? also onto what paper do you run through the printer as white letters on white paper obviously doesn't work
thanks
SeaHawk

[Trevor Hale]

My printer has a setting on it to print a negative image in the printer setup. I am sure in any graphics program you can invert the colors. (black on white becomes white on black)

I Pick a font that resembles the aircraft text I am using. There are many free fonts on the net, just find one you want to use.

As for the Paper. I use a special paper made for inkjets that is backlightable. Used to be called EPSON Backlight paper, I can't remember who makes it now.

It is almost a plastic.

Hope that helps.

Trev

[Tomlin]

I wondered this too. So, you print on the material the full size of the panel you have created, then print it in white, spray adhesive on, and Voila! ? Nice, I cant believe that for everything I use spray adhesive that I wouldnt have thought of this! Nice...

[ivar hestnes]

I dont know the english word but I give it a try

Companyes that make printed advertisements and other kind of commercial stuff have a kind of white plastic which is self adhesive. And in all the colors you can think of.

3M Scotchcal Marking Film, is the name of the product.

It is absolutely backlightable. It is used for backlighted signs

Could be worth a try to print on this film.

[Trevor Hale]

I wondered this too. So, you print on the material the full size of the panel you have created, then print it in white, spray adhesive on, and Voila! ? Nice, I cant believe that for everything I use spray adhesive that I wouldnt have thought of this! Nice...

Yes but I spray an even coat of adhesive onto the plexi and attach the shiny side of the paper to the plexi. Works like a charm for me. Then when you drill it, you just have to be careful, but I get the results I wanted. It took quite some time to achieve the look, you will just have to play with it.

[Tomlin]

Thanks Trevor, I will give it a go very soon.

[phil744]

I am making my own panels aswell, so i know how tedious and boring it can be, basically what i do is take machined plexi backer, spray it white, then matt black and then brown/grey depending on what colour you require, then put it on my laser scriber,i can tune the machine to etch away layers of paint depending on ther colour this always give's me the best results. however i am stuck with a max panel size of 280X280mm.

For larger panels I get my artwork cut in vinyl, then apply this to my allready painted white plaxi backer, then paint over the top of the vinyl with brown/grey and when the paint cures carefully remove the vinyl, its very tricky to do but it gives excellent results, however it can be a little expensive.

[Tomlin]

I wonder if this can be done by a sign shop? I think I may visit a local sign shop this week now...