Screen Surround - printing techniques ?

[Marty33]

Hello all

I search to print my Screen Surround.

I have a glass, without printing, and i want to make my design.

Same like this :


What are the techniques ?

Big thanks

[YaYa]

Unless reverse printing on a vinyl sticker amd then cutting it slowly, i have no other solution for you.

BUT, cutting can be very clean with the help of a plotter. You then stick from the back of the glass to prevent scratches and damages.

[VeteranGamer]

Hello all

I search to print my Screen Surround.
I have a glass, without printing, and i want to make my design.
What are the techniques ?
Big thanks

its really coincidental you've rasied this....

i'm currently doing the same thing....

i've got a couple of blank surrounds
one i bought from Gooeys (https://www.gooeys.co.uk/collections/ni ... een-covers)


the other i got from dominator (pretty much the same as he used in his printed ones, but its plexi)




the reason i'm making my own is, i've currently got a build on the make which is gonna have a 3.2" SPI screen i was originally gonna used one of Deadpan Robots (https://www.deadpanrobot.co.uk/game-boy ... -gs-blk3mm) screen surrounds and just add some black insulation tape to fill the gap between the screen and the boarder (decided against it)
so the other option is to have someone else make it or make my own....


i've already done some rough designs based on some of the colour scemes i had in mind for the build...


(white case with snes/famicom buttons)



(teal case with blue buttons)




i'm going to be using this vinyl sticker paper (http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HIGH-DEF-CLEA ... Sw-W5U0Rkk)

now i havent yet printed anything on this vinyl, i'm just waiting for my screen to arrive (should be this week) so i can get the dimensions spot on....
but one problem i already can see is that its gonna be a challenge getting the colours to be solid and not look washed out....
as your printing the designs reversed, the ink is on the other side of the vinyl, which in it self will dull the colours a little




not only that when printing colour, its best done on a solid background instead of clear... as a white will act as a base for the colours to pop....

a fix for this is when you have printed the design on clear vinyl to add a strip of plain white vinyl over it to give it that base..
but even with that, its still gonna be a chalenge to get the colours spot on....

i've decided to go with just black and grey, as slight off tones wont matter at much as it will with colour....




i'll be hopefully receiving my screen this week, and should have a test print done soon (hopefully by the end of the week)
then i'll know for sure if its gonna work.....


.

[YaYa]

Do you have a plotter veteran ? You can make tests but i’m pretty sure the depth and vividness of colors won’t be an issue and your idea of backing it with white with help a lot.
For me, the real issue is cutting the vinyl, without a plotter, it will be hard to have a sharp cut with nice rounds

[VeteranGamer]

Do you have a plotter veteran ? You can make tests but i’m pretty sure the depth and vividness of colors won’t be an issue and your idea of backing it with white with help a lot.
For me, the real issue is cutting the vinyl, without a plotter, it will be hard to have a sharp cut with nice rounds

as the screen surrounds are fairly small.... i gonna have around 6-8 on one sheet (plenty if you mess one up)....

a plotter would be ideal, but no one i know has one, and spending a couple of hundred on one isnt really appealing....
so to cut the vinyl i was going to either use a really sharp razor blade or an xacto knife with ruler, this may work out first go or will be hit or miss
its only really gonna be a pain for the screen cut out, as the edges can be cut even after the vinyl has been applied....

i'll find out soon
.

[YaYa]

Yes, i was thinking about the screen cut out, because you are right, the exterior can be cut after vinyl is applied.
And i think, it is advisable to cut it after appliance, it will be easier and the glass itself can be a guide.

I thought a lot of printing my own bezel but struggling to find someone with a plotter too

I’m afraid of the result if i do it by hand

[VeteranGamer]

Yes, i was thinking about the screen cut out, because you are right, the exterior can be cut after vinyl is applied.
And i think, it is advisable to cut it after appliance, it will be easier and the glass itself can be a guide.

I thought a lot of printing my own bezel but struggling to find someone with a plotter too

I’m afraid of the result if i do it by hand

my concerns with this havent been the cutting aspect (even though, i'm aware thats not gonna be a walk in the park)

a steady hand, ruler and sharp blade should be fine, just extra care at the corners is needed (just theory at the moment)
because this is just vinyl, and really not that heavy grade/gsm cutting it shouldnt be a real big issue, just tape it down so it doesnt slide about...
whats the worst that can happen, you might over cut at a corner or over/under cut at the boarder line....

my concern is still with the colour, its something that dominator had issues with as well (and he was using commercial grade printing)...

everything is academic, until i do a test and then ill see....

but theres no harm in giving it a shot, your only really gonna waste some vinyl if it flops...


.

[VeteranGamer]

just an update no this....

not sure if people are really interested in doing this......

i have no choice as my next build has a 3.2" SPI screen, and the current screen surrounds just aren't the right size

first attempt and the results are not that bad....
for me the issue wasn't the cutting, but actually getting any air bubbles out (still a couple left, but its a first attempt)










any over bleed of the ink is actually a good thing, it gives you a kind of cutting guide


cut and on a clear screen surround






i should after cutting and applying a few more hopefully have better results......


.

[YaYa]

To avoid bubbling, take a glass cleaner spray and make a pschitt form far above the glass so you spread a little cloud of drops on the glass. Then you apply your vinyl and the water film will prevent the vinyl from sticking.

Actually, it’s even very slippery.

When The alignement is good, carefully hold one angle with one hand, and with the other one, using like a clean credit card, press the vinyl on the glass so you chase out the liquid, then put your hand on the oposite side, and push slowly on the other side to finish putting out the liquid.

Clean the excess water with something like a towel and you are good...

This is how i have applied my anti glare film on the whole surface on the screen protector without any bubbles.

Ok actually i have one bubble lol but this a was dust made prisoner between the vinyl and the glass lol

[VeteranGamer]

To avoid bubbling, take a glass cleaner spray and make a pschitt form far above the glass so you spread a little cloud of drops on the glass. Then you apply your vinyl and the water film will prevent the vinyl from sticking.

thanks....

i did actually try that, but with disastrous effects.....
also the credit card technique didn't work out it started to rub the ink off as well

i personally found applying heat gave a better result.....


results are gonna be different for anyone that tries this ....
based on the vinyl you use and the type of ink/printer used


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