DIY Gauge printing
03-28-2002, 03:29 PM
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DIY Gauge printing
Now I finally decided to buy a digital camera, I can show you what I've done to create a set of dials.
First, was to scan (not photo) the original dial plates in. (I used my girlfriend's Mac BTW).
Next was to of course try to clean up the scan, and separate out the texts into layers (in photoshop)
After that, you can pretty much create what you want, and keep the graduations on the dials as they are supposed to be!
Once you've created how the dial should look, create a different layer, to produce a negative of the bit's you want lit-up (idiot lights mostly)
What you might want to do then, is to create 4 crosshairs somewhere on the paper, so that you can line up later (you'll see what I mean in a minute!)
You can then print off the dials! I used HP glossy photo print paper, the ink will take the shine off it anyway. For the negative, I used HP glossy transparent film.
Then you have you lovely dial set. You can now stick them together!!! I have so far used only 3M spray mount adhesive, but it seems OK!
What you basically create then is this:
That's where I'm at right now, I'ts getting late here, so I'll be dismantling the guages again tomorrow, and fitting them onto the cluster.... stay tuned!
First, was to scan (not photo) the original dial plates in. (I used my girlfriend's Mac BTW).
Next was to of course try to clean up the scan, and separate out the texts into layers (in photoshop)
After that, you can pretty much create what you want, and keep the graduations on the dials as they are supposed to be!
Once you've created how the dial should look, create a different layer, to produce a negative of the bit's you want lit-up (idiot lights mostly)
What you might want to do then, is to create 4 crosshairs somewhere on the paper, so that you can line up later (you'll see what I mean in a minute!)
You can then print off the dials! I used HP glossy photo print paper, the ink will take the shine off it anyway. For the negative, I used HP glossy transparent film.
Then you have you lovely dial set. You can now stick them together!!! I have so far used only 3M spray mount adhesive, but it seems OK!
What you basically create then is this:
That's where I'm at right now, I'ts getting late here, so I'll be dismantling the guages again tomorrow, and fitting them onto the cluster.... stay tuned!
03-28-2002, 05:59 PM
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Excellent looking mod! I like the fact that you've kept it clean looking.
Diffinetly post more pics!!! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
Diffinetly post more pics!!! <img src="graemlins/jumper.gif" border="0" alt="[jumper]" />
03-29-2002, 07:17 PM
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Well, just for the hell of it......
This is the finished item. I wanted to paint the surround silver (to completetly match the Autometer guages on the a-pillar), but I couldn't get the glass off!!!
This is the finished item. I wanted to paint the surround silver (to completetly match the Autometer guages on the a-pillar), but I couldn't get the glass off!!!
03-30-2002, 04:27 AM
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The LED's are going in tonight.... again, I'll follow up.
As to the idiot light, I'm not sure yet, as I havent wired it up, but I was maybe thinking of being a bit drastic and taking the original dial's paint off with white spirits or something IF there's a problem!
My problem is that my gauges are in German, and if I was doing the dials, then I want the idiot lights in English. 99% of you wouldn't need the negative like I did, you already have it!!!
As to the idiot light, I'm not sure yet, as I havent wired it up, but I was maybe thinking of being a bit drastic and taking the original dial's paint off with white spirits or something IF there's a problem!
My problem is that my gauges are in German, and if I was doing the dials, then I want the idiot lights in English. 99% of you wouldn't need the negative like I did, you already have it!!!
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03-30-2002, 08:01 AM
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You want to send the PSD file to me so I can post it to my web site and let everybody who is willing and able do this? I for one may want to do this...let me know.
03-30-2002, 10:34 AM
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You might want to know that a discussion of gauge faces has started at the 968.net forum
<a href="http://63.136.85.109/forum/" target="_blank">http://63.136.85.109/forum/</a>
<a href="http://63.136.85.109/forum/" target="_blank">http://63.136.85.109/forum/</a>
03-30-2002, 10:42 AM
#10
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Awesome looking! In fact now I'm gonna go break out my scanner and hope to achieve teh same! How do they look at night? And does anyone know where we could get replacement bezels for our gauge cluster?
Thanks!
Mike D.
85.5 944NA
Thanks!
Mike D.
85.5 944NA
03-30-2002, 06:03 PM
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Thanks for the comments guys,
It seems as though the negative didn't work... it needs too much light. Guess I'll have to stick with German text afterall
Ribs, The file is 80Mb, nowt for a Mac I know, but it'll take me about 24 hours to send it!!!! If you give me your postal adress, I can mail a cd to you.
I've also made the grey a little darker, so it's a bit more silver. looks much more like the Autometer ones now!
I'm in the middle of pasting them on. If It's not too late, I'll post a piccy later.
BTW, I started to do the LED's aswell. It's such a pain to get those things right!!!
It seems as though the negative didn't work... it needs too much light. Guess I'll have to stick with German text afterall
Ribs, The file is 80Mb, nowt for a Mac I know, but it'll take me about 24 hours to send it!!!! If you give me your postal adress, I can mail a cd to you.
I've also made the grey a little darker, so it's a bit more silver. looks much more like the Autometer ones now!
I'm in the middle of pasting them on. If It's not too late, I'll post a piccy later.
BTW, I started to do the LED's aswell. It's such a pain to get those things right!!!
03-31-2002, 01:11 AM
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EVERYONE (including Pikey)
I've been looking into doing this for a while. If Pikey sends me a CD with the files, I'll put them on my server.
OR
You can tell me the way you want them and I will print them out on my color laser printer (for a small fee so I don't go broke buying paper/toner - hey I'm in college) and send them to you. I'm going to get some of that paper he talked about, and I think the laser printer will/should come out nice. I have an injet as well, but a color laser comes out really pro-looking.
We'll talk later.
-Matt
I've been looking into doing this for a while. If Pikey sends me a CD with the files, I'll put them on my server.
OR
You can tell me the way you want them and I will print them out on my color laser printer (for a small fee so I don't go broke buying paper/toner - hey I'm in college) and send them to you. I'm going to get some of that paper he talked about, and I think the laser printer will/should come out nice. I have an injet as well, but a color laser comes out really pro-looking.
We'll talk later.
-Matt
