I remember seeing presensitised panels like you describe. The panels were
Matt Black Anodised and coated with UV resist. After exposure to the artwork
the anodising was etched away revealing the silver aluminium underneath.
There were also bottles of some kind of organic dye in Red, Yellow, Blue and
White which could be used to permanently stain the etched aluminium. Like
you, I havent seen anything similar for years but I am now considering a
quick search to see if I can find it.

If I remember correctly the name of the product I saw was "GEDAKOP" or
something similar. Sounds as if it could be of German origin or some other
European country. Languages never were my strong point :-))

Keith Doxey
http://www.btinternet.com/~krazy.keith
Krazy Keith's World of DIY HomeAutomation


> -----Original Message-----
> From: pic microcontroller discussion list
> [mailto:PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU]On Behalf Of PJH
> Sent: 25 August 1999 21:30
> To: PICLIST@MITVMA.MIT.EDU
> Subject: "Neat" Panels?
>
>
> PICers,
>
> Following on from that thread about
> stick-on PCB patterns, has anyone
> got ideas about producing "neat"
> looking front panels for project
> boxes. You used to be able to get a
> sort of photosensitized aluminium
> sheet. Can't remember the name.
>
> The idea was you made a
> photographic (-) & put it over the
> panel, gave it a blast under a UV
> lamp, developed it somehow and  the
> exposed bits stayed on. It allowed
> you to produce a reasonably
> professional looking panel with
> printed labels for switches,
> buttons, logo etc.
>
> Haven't seen anything like that in
> the electronics shops for years. Is
> there anything on the market that
> might do the trick?
>
> Cheers - PJH
>