Is anyone making replacement clear labels for DEC gear?

[Jon Elson]

On 09/29/2016 11:12 AM, Rod Smallwood wrote:
>
>
>
>      I seem to remember that at least some of the markings 
> were not actually labels but  screened onto the  chassis.
>
> White for black metalwork and black on unpainted cad and 
> pass metalwork.
>
> There is a process used for  decals. You peel the back off 
> and press on to whatever. Then peel the front of and there 
> you are.
>
I use some expensive stuff from Vital Presentation 
Concepts.  It has 2 parts.  There is a photosensitive label 
material that has a sheet of dye and a sheet of 
photoactivated superglue.  What you expose to UV gets sticky 
and pulls the dye off the other sheet.  Then, you turn this 
sheet over and stick it down to a double-sticky base layer.  
The image is between the two plastic layers, so it is quite 
durable.  They have many dye colors, and they do have a 
clear base sheet, too.  So, it looks like they have the 
combination of colors to do white lettering on a clear 
base.  This stuff is NOT cheap, it will cost about $200 to 
get the basic stuff (5 sheets of imaging film, 5 base sheets 
and the peeling pad).  You will also need a way to make 
master images (laser printer transparencies should work) and 
a UF exposing frame.

See
https://www.vpcinc.com/Category/Quick-Mark-UV-Photographic-49.cfm

for more details.

I use this stuff for instrument panel labels.  I use blue 
imaging film on a white base.  Then, I use an Xacto knife to 
cut out for around all the switches, etc.  I make the photo 
masters on a laser photoplotter, which assures the lettering 
all comes out right where it is supposed to.  (A laser 
printer will not be as accurate, but would be fine for a 
simple label.)

Here's an example of one of my units that shows the label well :
http://pico-systems.com/switcher.html

I'm not suggesting this is what anybody should do, I'm just 
pointing out that this material does exist, and can be used 
to make some good-looking labels.

(I am also NOT volunteering to make DEC labels for anybody!)

Jon