How can I get printing put onto a dial?

[Drulee]

I am trying to build a PAM watch for myself. At first, I was geared towards an 088 GMT, but in my hunt for a movement with a functioning GMT hand I ended up with an 089 and discovered T4D/PWC's great deal on his "cartel" killing 088 (same watch, minus enhanced date wheel, for less than half the price). Still having the urge to create something with my own three - I mean two - hands.

Well, originally, I wanted to create a "fantasy" PAM. Basically, it's an 061 with a tobacco sandwich dial and display back. For those unfamiliar with the 061, all the variations that I have seen consist of the tobacco painted/sausage dial with seconds at 9, 6497 movement, titanium case and solid case back. Hmm, I guess it would be easier to describe it as a 177H with a tobacco, instead of black, dial.

As with my 088 project, there is one item holding me back - the tobacco sandwich dial. Actually, I did find a tobacco sandwich dial, but it isn't branded and I want branded, not an "homage". So, I thought, why not get a few dials, a decal sheet and try to do what some modders do to the 6497 movement, to brand it. I decided to give it a try.

Since I have a computer background (we're talking late 80's early 90s here) and some graphic arts knowledge - just enough to know when an employee is padding the time it will take them to do a job - I was confident I could produce something passable. Well, as usual, I underestimated my stupidity. I completely forgot that practically all printers cannot actually print white lettering. So, in order to finish something for once, I hope that someone can tell me how to get a couple of tobacco sandwich dials branded. I mean, it's only 7 small letters and 7 to 11 really tiny letters

Any ideas? Or, even better, can anyone do this for a fee?

 

[lan61t]

I've been asking the same question, how do you actually create a print on the dial?

i've started a similar project, i've painted a black dial into a matt brownish look

I'm getting the base and the hand relume at the moment. I will put it on as a hommage fiddy

 

[greg_r]

The home-brew solution is to print onto white decal paper with a background colour to match your dial. The printer prints the background and leaves the letter area white. Modelers use the technique all the time to produce miniature signs, etc. You then have to trim your decal letters as close to the white letters as possible and use a matt varnish to blend the decal into the dial.

A better solution would be to design your dial in photoshop or illustrator and then get it professionally screen-printed. Much higher quality.

 

[lan61t]

Thanks for the reply greg,

Now i got to find a person to do the screen printing for me

 

[alvinado]

I am interest in this project too... let me know the details

 

[747]

Can we get you to post some "production" pics. IE Before.. during... after. this is going to be very cool project to watch IMO.
cheers
747

 

[Drulee]

The home-brew solution is to print onto white decal paper with a background colour to match your dial.

Now there's an idea. Just have to match the dial color closely enough as to not make the outline stand out. Thanks for the tip.

A better solution would be to design your dial in photoshop or illustrator and then get it professionally screen-printed. Much higher quality.

I'd be using Illustrator anyway to render the correct fonts and sizing. Can't beat vectoring for tiny print

If anybody know of a "friendly" screen-printer who can do this, when provided with the digital file and dial, that would be great.

 

[Time4Direct]

Easiest way is with dry ink letters that rub down simular to letraset
Find a shop that makes them it's a really simple proccess if you have a negative of what you want .
They can transfer them onto accetate. You just cut them out and with magic tape fix them to the dial then rub them with a pencil and it leaves only the letter there.
We used this system for years and the guy we used to have making them for us could get them down small enough for a ladies Rolex so what you are after will be easy for them

 

[no_one]

There's a guy on RWG that sells custom pam dials. I assume he has the ability to print them.

http://www.rwg.cc/members/index.php?showtopic=98739

 

[Neuuubeh]

Any ideas? Or, even better, can anyone do this for a fee?

Just go and ask any decent print shop, tell them what you need - basically a tobacco background with opaque white lettering on it. The guy there will advise you on what pigments they have. Most of the shops I've seen here in Germany can print all of Pantone, even metallic and more exotic things. Was quite surprised by the huge offer actually..
Chances are they will advise you better than anyone not in that field .

 

[ap_offshore]

i had the same question and found this solution: http://www.decalpaper.com
(but it maybe looks a little cheapo)

i was also thinking about buying a CO² Laser Engraving machine and doing individual engraving service for dials and casebacks. But this machines are very expensive (starting at 10.000$). Specially PAM style Sandwich dials could be done with lasercutting by this machine. They are working very precisely (0,003mm tolerance)

Letraset sheets can also be done with individual designs instead of ready-made letters but this is also pretty expensive (about 100$ per A4 sheet)

There must also be dry-ink printers on the market that can print directly to a metal surface but i haven't found any model yet. If someone knows one, please tell me.

 

[Spboudart]

Any ideas? Or, even better, can anyone do this for a fee?

Hello my friend!
Have you seen Francisco's thread:
http://forum.replica-watch.info/phpBB3/viewtopic.php?f=224&t=50850&start=0&st=0&sk=t&sd=a

 

[Drulee]

Yes, I'd forgotten about Francisco, I'll have to send him a PM and ask.

Thx

 

[trailboss99]

A printer should be able to do dry ink on transfer film much like letraset but cleaner, thinner and in any font you want. T4D says it works well. You should be able to get laser engraving done somwhere close by as most larger cities have at least one laser cuting/engraving place. They can cut blank dials too of cause. Once done the engraving can be filled with paint, lume or wax like a Pam dial.

Col.

 

[Time4Direct]

The problem with the way it's done in the tutorial is that it leaves the transfer paper behind Letraset will just leave the letters. The whole set uo for making lettraset is less than $500 all it is is a light box /ink and a few steel rods