none Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 hally--the fact that DW wants vector graphics is very interesting. Do you happen to know what technology he uses to make his dials. I'd bet 100 bucks it's laser engraving--which BTW isn't engraving the way we think of it but rather ultra-shallow and inked engraving that is designed to look like printing, not literal engraving (The "laser engraving" on our metal watch parts we all hate is actually laser etching, a different process) If he does make his dials using laser engraving, it will be possible to have them made even if he doesn't take on this project--I've been told that laser engraving is fast becoming a common service offered by full service printers. The problem, of course, would be finding a shop willing to print a branded item. I just heard about yet another development in the cool world of printing media that might make it possible to produce dials literally "in house"--a medium that makes it possible to use any inkjet printer to simulate laser engraving. I'll post more when I investigate further... - > Archibald DW does not ask for vector data formats. However it's better to have this format for all kind of purposes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Highflyingclive Posted July 22, 2006 Report Share Posted July 22, 2006 Fascinating projest! I don't care for the Santos. Just personal taste. But I wish you guys every success in your endeavours. I'll be fowllowing this thread with interest. To think that I nearly passed it by because the watch does not interest me... that would have been my loss. Best of luck! Clive Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
deltatahoe Posted July 28, 2006 Report Share Posted July 28, 2006 any new developments? did the hi-res pics of quarks' genuine dial turn out to be of use? if so, anybody send the pics to pugwash to see if he could make out the font? it seems i have more questions than answers, but figured i would give the topic a bump... dt Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
manuel Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 Is Dw still active? I heard we has missing.. Can anybody PM his contact details? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halley Posted July 31, 2006 Author Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 I have not heard back from anyone here, how's the project going any improvement on the dial size, font etc...so I can update DW? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
none Posted July 31, 2006 Report Share Posted July 31, 2006 I have not heard back from anyone here, how's the project going any improvement on the dial size, font etc...so I can update DW? Sorry for not giving any updates. I will look at it tomorrow Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
none Posted August 1, 2006 Report Share Posted August 1, 2006 (edited) Sorry for not giving any updates. I will look at it tomorrow Ok guys, I just sent Quarks a PM. I will see if his pics are appropriate. Edited August 1, 2006 by none Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halley Posted August 2, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Keep us updated Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
none Posted August 2, 2006 Report Share Posted August 2, 2006 Keep us updated I will be on top of it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Linder Posted August 13, 2006 Report Share Posted August 13, 2006 Please don't let this project die. I want in Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halley Posted August 20, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 So any news? I'd like to see this project go on even if I don't have a santos for now! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cwai02 Posted August 20, 2006 Report Share Posted August 20, 2006 I just bought a Santos 100. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Defender110 Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 i am still in as a purchaser of the proper dial. =) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rocket754 Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 anybody? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archibald Posted August 21, 2006 Report Share Posted August 21, 2006 Anyone who wants to take up this project please feel free to PM me--I've got way too much on my plate to persue a new project, but in the course of another project I've had a crash course in a few types of digital printing technologies, graphics issues, etc. and there are at least two I can think of that may work for this one. I'd can probably save whoever ends up taking this on some trial and error legwork. A quick general question: I assume it's not to hard to erase the printing off of a dial, but is there a way to just remove the black printing and not the white underneath? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
halley Posted August 27, 2006 Author Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 I belive so just like the white printing on the sub dials can be removed without damaging the black dial? I'd really like to see this project go on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ehtolcad Posted August 27, 2006 Report Share Posted August 27, 2006 as would i halley... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
none Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 I received some pics from Quarks, unfortunately they are not good enough to replicate the right dial. I will contact him soon about this issue. I am afraid it won't work unless someone can provide me with very good high res pics... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingkitesurf Posted August 30, 2006 Report Share Posted August 30, 2006 OK here is my estimate for this project... I have done some DTP over the past years (but am rusty in that sense). IMHO we could take the following steps. - Take the desktop image from somewere in this thread - Adjust contrast in Photoshop - Skew image to be 100% front facing - Convert to BlackWhite and Trace the image in Illustrator to make it vectorbased like None said - Go over al the details and remove 'nudges' to acquire straight lines (very timeconsuming) - Proportionalize and downsize (SAVE!!!) - Since you are making it tiny it will be very crisp for sure - Print on the magnificent white sticker stuff mentioned in this thread on a minimal 1200dpi resolution - Open your Santos rep and sticker away... OR get it laseretches based on the vector graphic.... It will always be better then the dial in there I guess... I wish I was not rusty and had spare time.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archibald Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 OK here is my estimate for this project... I have done some DTP over the past years (but am rusty in that sense). IMHO we could take the following steps. - Take the desktop image from somewere in this thread - Adjust contrast in Photoshop - Skew image to be 100% front facing - Convert to BlackWhite and Trace the image in Illustrator to make it vectorbased like None said - Go over al the details and remove 'nudges' to acquire straight lines (very timeconsuming) - Proportionalize and downsize (SAVE!!!) - Since you are making it tiny it will be very crisp for sure - Print on the magnificent white sticker stuff mentioned in this thread on a minimal 1200dpi resolution - Open your Santos rep and sticker away... OR get it laseretches based on the vector graphic.... It will always be better then the dial in there I guess... I wish I was not rusty and had spare time.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
archibald Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 The Illustrator tracing gives me an idea---would you be able to use any straight on shot of an oem dial--once traced and filled in Illustrator it could theoretically be printed @any resolution, right? The exact size of the rep dial, cannon pinion hole, etc would also ave to be known to the 1/10 mm for the die cutting of the sticker. Knowing what font(s) cartier uses for the text--if not their own in house designed font) would save a lot of time---then you'd just be tracing the markers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kingkitesurf Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 (edited) I assume they have an 'own font' developed. So don't count on finding it. You can always try... you might be lucky. In that case you just put the font in an overlay (layer in Illustrator) to go on top... You skew and rotate it to be exactly on top... Do that for everything and you hide the base layer. Now you have a vectorbased dial that indeed can be printed on any resolution. It really is not difficult but it is time consuming. My biggest fear is the printing on a sticker sounds cheap and not gen like... But he I don't know these Edge units... Printing has come from far! The Cartier font is closest to: Eutheric Expanded Bold Of course they did some moding themeselves on the font but you will be able to get it very close. Edited August 31, 2006 by kingkitesurf Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dadog13 Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 (edited) maybe this pics have been posted before, but i haven't checked all the post about the correct Santos 100 dial.... BTW...I love the watch! enjoy! Edited August 31, 2006 by dadog13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Quarks Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 I have done my best, I am no photographer.... Good luck all. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lnoblesus Posted August 31, 2006 Report Share Posted August 31, 2006 Just wanted to chime in. But wouldn't a dial refinishing company, like the one that refinishes rolex dials; have the correct cartier font? I don't know of any specific companies, but maybe the experts do. Just my 2 cents Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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