On Mon, 12 Aug 2002 llile@SALTONUSA.COM wrote:

>I have seen really good looking custom decals on people's elesctonics
>cases/enclosures.  Even one-off's can look pretty professional with these.
> Where are they obtained?  Can any corner printing shop do these, or do
>you ahve to special order them?  Is there an outfit that can do custom
>silkscreens for this purpose?

You can order custom decals in ones assuming you have the artwork. Most
better print shops will do them. For 'cool' graphic artists etc try your
nearest tattoo saloon etc. They usually know where to find talented
people. The prices for ones are steep but in quantity they are very cheap
(for decals).

>Obviously PC board mfrs do silkscreens for PC board art, which us one-off
>labs never mess around with.  I wonder how they get them made?

There are several methods. One involves offset printing the design in
negative onto fine mesh screen stretched in a frame. The ink will cure (in
an oven) and you have a silk screen ready to use. Another uses
photographical methods as we know them, I have never seen it used. The
coated material is the screen itself and after exposure the developer
removes exposed parts leaving bare screen where the traces are to be. Then
the thing is cured (by heat I presume) and used. The curing makes the
opaque parts of the screen oblivious to solvents in the masking ink.

There are also large opening screens (called stencils I think), which are
made by laser cutting or etching (FeCl3 works fine with Al). Those are the
kind you use with an airbrush.

Peter

--
http://www.piclist.com#nomail Going offline? Don't AutoReply us!
email listserv@mitvma.mit.edu with SET PICList DIGEST in the body