Where do you get decals/labels for your faceplates printed?

When you're not having a panel/faceplate custom made, what's a good resource for labeling?  Ideally, something on a transparent background that can be overlaid on top of a painted faceplate.
Thanks!

Lazertan decal paper. You basically design on your pc, print with a ink printer. You drown the decal in water and then apply it to your faceplate. Or, I use sometime P-touch printer with wihte lettering on clear background.

http://lazertran.com/us

You can also get sticky backed vinyl paper that you can print directly on. Then cut it out and stick it on your front panel. I use these a lot to make things like 'Danger High Voltage' stickers:

http://www.photopaperdirect.com/products/Creative-Paper/A4-Vinyl-Self-Adhesive-Sticker-Paper-Matt-Glossy-Multipack-Special-Offer.html

Cheers

Ian

Deepdark said:

Lazertan decal paper. You basically design on your pc, print with a ink printer. You drown the decal in water and then apply it to your faceplate. Or, I use sometime P-touch printer with wihte lettering on clear background.

http://lazertran.com/us

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ruffrecords said:

You can also get sticky backed vinyl paper that you can print directly on. Then cut it out and stick it on your front panel. I use these a lot to make things like 'Danger High Voltage' stickers:

http://www.photopaperdirect.com/products/Creative-Paper/A4-Vinyl-Self-Adhesive-Sticker-Paper-Matt-Glossy-Multipack-Special-Offer.html

Cheers

Ian

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Fantastic, thx guys!  I have a P-touch 570 but I don't they they make clear labels for it.  I'm about to replace my dying HP printer and am wondering, is a standard, $100 printer adequate for printing on vinyl and decals?

There's certainly more options if its a LaserJet.

Rocinante said:

There's certainly more options if its a LaserJet.

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Could you elaborate?  I'm about to buy a new printer so I can get a laser jet if it helps.  Any printer recommendations would be appreciated as well.  Thanks.

I have a little HP2540 allin one printer/scanner/copier. Probably costs under $50 in the US. HP are the masters when it somes to cost effective colour ink jet printers like these.

Cheers

Ian

For the best result, buy a printer that is made for photo printing. It's the same printer, but they are sold to be optimum for pictures printing. As ian said, hp made some cheap as f**k printers and they work really good.

Sorry couldn't respond sooner. In the states there are far more options for vinyl adhesive or quality transfer paper if its a laserjet. The results seem to look nicer too. Also for diy silk screens laserjet works better. I wish I had one.

I know you asked about decals but another place that does engraving whom I tried was front panel pros.

http://frontpanelpros.com/front-panel-pros-projects/omnia-audio/

I had them do my 1176 in 1u and thought it was pretty nice.
They also did my dual pm-eqp1as which also came out nice.
They work in mostly with corel draw or svg files and can work from a pdf (if you have the associated files like dxf wiyh it) but they dont really charge per letter like fpd does so if you have a lot of scales and text they are more affordable.  Turn around was quick, like a week.  Hans is also really nice.

dymo label maker for the win if you ask me...

Like this one in the photo

pucho812 said:

dymo label maker for the win if you ask me...

Like this one in the photo

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A la Gate sta-level

I posted a "Thank you" when the site was in transition but it's one of those things that got deleted.  So, thanks again and I bought a laserprinter for the job.

  Now, my next big question is; what application for creating these labels?  I can use MS Paint for things like my avi but hopefully there's something free and simple that will do circular scales (you know, 0-10 behind the gain knob, etc).  Thx in advance.

Corel draw is very popular but its got a learning curve since its a professional application.  Inkscape is easier to use imo yet still offers a plethora of options  and best of all its free.