jmb Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 I have spent the day trying to create a credible looking Snowflake dial. I searched the web and found a fairly large and fairly straight shot so I pulled it into Autocad and started tracing and interpolating... I am, however, having some issues printing it, as the small print gets muddied and if I didn't know what it was supposed to say I probably couldn't get past "Tudor" and "SUBMARINER". The nest thing, though, is it finally caused me to get up off my a$$ and figure out how to print white with my Alps printer, but even set to 1200 DPI little stuff is fuzzy. I am going to re-draw this with the little stuff as one single line instead of traced and filled... Here's the first attempt and I think it will be the layout I will stick with.
highoeyazmuhudee Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 what was the dpi of the working file? is autocad vector or raster based? if youre handy with adobe illustrator you could make a vector trace in that and try printing it, i feel it would be crisp... i dont know much about autocad but maybe you can import the eps or ai file? maybe even make a custom font based on the tudor one
jmb Posted July 26, 2011 Author Report Posted July 26, 2011 I just re-drew the "small" script with just "thick" lines instead of filled outlines and I can read everything just fine!!! I have found that although this printer is capable of 2400 DPI (in photo mode) I can only get 600 dpi in regular graphics mode which is what I need to print white. I have pulled the Autocad image into Illustrator, scaled it, and it prints great onto a clear transparency. Once the layout is "approved" by youze guyz then I'll print some decals... These will me white features on a clear background so only one decal will be needed (hopefully) to be applied to a black dial blank.
highoeyazmuhudee Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 i feel like this will turn out well.
Nanuq Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 ....and I just spent HOW much money on a gen dial?!
what2 Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 I'd take a couple of dials off your hands if you have extra to sell
bones Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 Uh... J? Do you do one in blue? Please say yes!
Nanuq Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 Uh... J? Do you do one in blue? Since he's printing white on a clear decal, it's up to you. You could paint a dial blank orange and have a Doxaflake. Or an Irishflake green. Or a Cornflake yellow.
jmb Posted July 26, 2011 Author Report Posted July 26, 2011 Any color is theoretically possible but I still have to decide if this printer will produce good enough quality. The printers are not made any more but are highly sought after by hard-core model builders as being about the best around for doing decals on. But, their stuff is not usually scrutinized under a loupe... Here's a "proof of concept" done with a clear vinyl "peel 'n' stick" type substrate you might make window decals out of. It is highly glossy and I didn't "squeegee" it out for fear of tearing off the printing so it's full of bubbles, etc. I discovered I had no "water slide" decals so I ordered some today but figured I could use these as a test medium. I can see I still need to thin down some features...
TeeJay Posted July 26, 2011 Report Posted July 26, 2011 Since he's printing white on a clear decal, it's up to you. You could paint a dial blank orange and have a Doxaflake. Or an Irishflake green. Or a Cornflake yellow. :thumbsupsmileyanim: :thumbsupsmileyanim: I've wanted a yellow-dialled Rolex/Tudor for quite a while now
turnipz Posted July 27, 2011 Report Posted July 27, 2011 (edited) Count me in to buying a couple if you get them all nice like. I would prefer buying from someone on this forum rather than yuki assuming they look comparable in quality. ed) oh wait, they are no dates >< Edited July 27, 2011 by turnipz
Ephry73 Posted July 27, 2011 Report Posted July 27, 2011 I'm in. Why not print just the black and paint the dial base white or lume white? I think there is something similar being done in a different post. That would simplify the printing process and less room for run-off. I think. Looks great. Maybe make the submariner less bold, or use a slightly different font? E
jmb Posted July 27, 2011 Author Report Posted July 27, 2011 Check final rev thread. I have also lightened up from there as well...nanuq - That thing just hurts my eyes!!!!
highoeyazmuhudee Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 maybe we could get these silk screened ?
jmb Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Posted July 28, 2011 I've spent $500 on this damn printer specifically for this project and I am determined to get something out of it!
jmb Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Posted July 28, 2011 I have created a "negative" of this artwork and printed it at 1200 dpi and the results are encouraging... I have also ordered a new printer to replace my aging HP inkjet printer and it boasts 6000 x 2400 dpi resolution so maybe it can do something...Another neat feature of the Alps is that it can print metallic silver, gold, etc...
wiesn089 Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 I see amazing projects resulting from your setup, maybe one day we will have no one but ourselves to blame when something is wrong with a specific dial font...
Ephry73 Posted July 28, 2011 Report Posted July 28, 2011 Awesome JM. Now, How about the text above the hands hole on the dial? Maybe a mix of prints instead of one print job will be easier on the printer? E
jmb Posted July 28, 2011 Author Report Posted July 28, 2011 Awesome JM. Now, How about the text above the hands hole on the dial? Maybe a mix of prints instead of one print job will be easier on the printer? E I'm not sure I understand...
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