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From: Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid>
Newsgroups: sci.electronics.design
Subject: Re: poor man's decal
Date: Wed, 2 Apr 2025 07:03:59 -0700
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On 4/2/2025 4:23 AM, Liz Tuddenham wrote:
> Don Y <blockedofcourse@foo.invalid> wrote:
> 
>> I need a full-color, durable decal to label a front panel.
>> The panel is ~8x17".  I'm only looking for prototype quantities
>> (someone else can deal with production quantities and "revised
>> artwork").
>>
>> I think I can just color print the image, 1:1, laminate it
>> and use a spray adhesive to affix it to the actual panel.
> 
> For prototypes or one-offs, I print in mirror-image on an overhead
> projector acetate sheet using a laser printer.  The print side is then
> spray-painted white (several very thin coats, allowed to dry between
> coats, so as not to dissolve the printing) and stuck to the panel with
> double-sided sticky tape.

Do you cover the entire surface with tape?  Or, just the edges?
Most of the double-sided tape I've used would have too much tack
if used to completely cover it; removing the decal would be tedious.

[I just want the decal to stick to the surface, now cling for dear life!]

> The unprinted acetate surface is fairly durable and the print side is
> towards the panel, so it can't be scuffed off.

Yes, I took that approach with a digitizer overlay.  But, that's a pretty
gentle environment; you're never poking at it with anything that may
have an edge.

> If you need to change it, the sticky residue from the tape can be
> removed with white spirit or petrol.

I was hoping to eliminate the use of solvents.

Many products, here, bear "printed labels".  Historically, these have
been paper; removing them is a chore as the label needs to absorb a
solvent to facilitate its removal (I use water, alcohol, mineral
spirits and, rarely, acetone -- as it often attacks the surface to
which the label is adhered).

But, there are also similar labels printed on a plastic/nylon
sheet.  These can be removed "intact" -- with patience -- just
by getting a corner "started".  The adhesive used is weak enough
(and the label material strong enough) that it doesn't tear the
label as it is removed.  And, the printed content is well-bonded
to the substrate such that it doesn't require any additional
coating (or, that coating is applied in the process of making
the label).

So, I'll either print on paper and use a laminating *pouch* (so
both sides of the paper are coated in plastic instead of having
paper on one side) OR try mylar (or acetate) and hope the printed
material doesn't "linger" after the adhesive is released.

As I said in my post, it's just to get through prototypes so it
looks "professional" to VCs and is as *functional* as the real
decal would be ("How do you service this?  It seems awfully
costly to adopt a replace-as-FRU policy")