Pretty easy stuff, I made a set for myself!
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Create an .EPS or an illustrator file that has cutlines and a bleed for the desired labels. (If you don’t do a bleed the label’s color may not extend to the edge when cutting)
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Print the labels using a UV printer onto a sheet of aluminum of desired thickness.
- Use a CNC or Router to follow your cutlines, this is probably the hardest part, making sure your production files and cutlines match up… try it a few times and you’ll get it!
- When it’s all done, use sandpaper, a screwdriver, whatever you want to rough it up and make it look worn, it looks great and is very very durable. If you use tape and do quick pulls, you can also get some of the printing to lift. I roughed mine up considerable and sanded off the edges… I like it, but I’ll probably redo it. The bumper labels look fantastic especially if you decide to wear it down at the bend.
Interesting, though that’s not so much a label as a plate at that thickness.
the set in the photos getting cut was a test, it’s kind of thick, the mass produced ones are much. much thinner
Are you going to sell these?
I would think if you try to simply CNC route the correct thickness, they would tear and warp unless you do extra work securing them. And is there a reason the ink isn’t very vibrant?
It was my first time printing on aluminum… we fixed the vibrance issue in the second run (the first run was destroyed while being cut). Tearing and warping is prevented by securing the aluminum down with a special tape. My personal set was a first draft, I like the way they turned out, the ink is permenant and difficult to scratch off (but looks great when you do), I like the worn and used look.
To me, it doesn’t look worn, though. It looks like a misprint, like there wasn’t enough ink applied or the material wasn’t prepped enough.
They look that way in VideoBob’s auctions, too. Like crap.