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Name plates: my way

Discussion in 'Post Your Own Articles & SBS' started by Tarracus, Sep 9, 2016.

  1. Tarracus A Fixture

    Hi There!

    I's been some time since my last post , but I've been asked to share how I do my name plates, so here it is:

    First of all I make the design in photoshop with the appropiate dimensions and at least a resolution of 300 dpi. Here is the original at print size:
    bombardier.jpg

    Print it on a glossy Epson/ HP paper, and the cut it to size: IMG_5596.JPG
    The name plate will look more aesthetic if it has certain thickness, so I also cut a piece of cardbox/plasticard with the same dimensions and glue it to printed plate: IMG_5598.JPG
    Looks better now, will look even better if we paint the sides on black: IMG_5599.JPG

    That's it, we must take care during all the process not to damage the photographic paper.
    We take now a sheet off transparent plastic , the thicker the better, and cut it also to size:
    IMG_5601.JPG
    Leave the plastic pice aside for a while, and glue the nameplate on the base using carpenter's glue or any slow drying glue in order to having time to adjust the position before drying....Let it dry completely.
    IMG_5602.JPG

    Now we nail the the transparent cover to the plate using naval modelling nails..
    IMG_5603.JPG Obviously we can't do this directly, so let's make some preparation holes first with a dremmel tool
    IMG_5605.JPG
    Once drilled, we remove the plastic cover to clean any wood shaving. and place it again then insert the nails. As can be seen the previuos drilled holes are almost deep as the nail lenght, so just a very subtle hammer blow will be needed: IMG_5606.JPG

    Et voilà!
    IMG_5608.JPG

    Here there are some other examples sone on round bases using this same method:
    IMG_5610.JPG

    That's all. I hope this will we usefull

    Cheers to all

    Gerard
    balder, KuK_Grenadier, Tommi and 15 others like this.
  2. John Bowery A Fixture

    Country:
    United-States
    Thanks for posting.
    Cheers
    John
    Tarracus likes this.
  3. DaddyO A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Certainly is useful Gerard :p

    Thanks very much
    Paul
    Tarracus likes this.
  4. Trex Well-Known Member

    Thank you for sharing this.
    Tarracus likes this.
  5. Dewi Evans Member

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Thanks very much for sharing your method.
    Tarracus likes this.
  6. valiant A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Hi Gerard, Ive used a similar method myself, minus the transparent sheet, but have found that in time, the nameplates fade badly. Does the transparent sheet prevent this?

    Steve(y)
    Tarracus likes this.
  7. DEL A Fixture

    Country:
    Scotland
    I've used the same and similar techniques and this looks great.
    There's always a fading problem particularly if the finished piece is exposed to strong light.
    But it's very easy to renew.
    Smashing SBS (y)
    Tarracus likes this.
  8. Alex A Fixture

    Country:
    Canada
    very cool sbs. thanks for that !

    well guys, if your nametes are fading like that, I am sorry to say but the paint of your figures is also doing the same !
    Even if pigments have lightfastness 3 plus, figures should never be exposed to strong lights and UVs
    Not only is the paint fading, but the paint film is weaken by UVs.
    Avoid sun light at all cost !
    stoffy01 and Tarracus like this.
  9. Tarracus A Fixture

    Hi Steve, The cover is to protect the plate from dust, fingerprints ,etc. I've never had a fading problem, some of them are more than 4 o 5 years old and they look jsut as new. Probably because of , like Del and Alex commented, never been exposed to direct sunlight or near to heat of bulblights

    Gerard
    valiant likes this.
  10. smudger1960 PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Brilliant Gerrard
  11. Chrisr PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    Australia
    Thank you. An excellent description and a neat way of making them.
    Chris
  12. F Troop Active Member

    Country:
    United-States
    Excellent method that I will try as soon as I get back to m y work bench. Thanks Gerard
  13. megroot A Fixture

    Country:
    Netherlands
    Thanks Gerard,
    Apreciate it, but I mis the explanation from the Photoshop Programm to create the nameplate.

    Marc
    smudger1960 and chailey like this.
  14. chailey Active Member

    Country:
    England
    I second marc's request for a little info on producing the nameplates....computer graphics really aren't my forte!
    Very neat and professional looking, thanks' Gerard.

    Steve
    smudger1960 likes this.
  15. thegoodsgt Active Member

    Country:
    United-States
  16. Mirofsoft A Fixture

    Country:
    Belgium
    Great
    Thanks a lot
  17. Tecumsea PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    England
    It is not essential to buy Photoshop. You can create nameplates in word.

    Keith
    tomifune, DEL and valiant like this.
  18. samson Well-Known Member

    Country:
    United-States
    just seeing this now great sbs . how would i do this on a iMac ?
  19. stoffy01 PlanetFigure Supporter

    Country:
    Australia
    Nice little tutorial on this Gerard, thank you.
    Regards
    Chris.
    Dewi Evans likes this.
  20. Ron Tamburrini A Fixture

    Country:
    United-Kingdom
    Some damed fine painting there too Gerard

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