Cutting or Painting Logo

[joshhughes]

I am working my first computer mod, and it's theme is a Lance Armstong/Tour De France/LiveStrong kinda thing.  I wanted to do a yellow paint job with black trim (LiveStrong colors are Black & Yellow).  I cut a 7 in the side for a window (http://www.joshhughes.com/computers/images/100_1556.JPG).  Now I want to put the Tour De Fance logo (http://www.joshhughes.com/images/tour_de_france.gif) in the lower right of the panel, but I am not sure if I should try to cut this logo into the panel, or just paint it on in black over the yellow.  Any suggestions??

[Rob]

Welcome to the boards.

If you do cut it out, consider what's behind it--it may reveal 'less than interesting' parts of your setup. But it could look good depending on your lighting plan. You could also build up the panel surface by cutting the logo out of say balsa wood and applying it.

Sorry to increase the number of options when you wanted them reduced, but that's how this hobby works.

[doorman444]

looks good so far i hope you show more pics when you are done

[Brundle Fly]

That's a lot of carving to do to get that into the panel, props to you if you do it, it'll be a lot of work.

When it comes to cutting that logo, the "d" and the "e's" will give you problems, there's nothing to hold the centers of the letters in place. Obviously you'll be putting a window in there, so another option would be to cut an oval hole in the lower right, then engrave that area of the plexi with the logo. As Rob said, depending on your lighting, the engraving could be painted, or just backlit.

No matter what you do, keep us up to date, welcome to the forums, and this addiction called "modding" 

[joshhughes]

Brundle Fly, I ran into the "d" and "e's" dilemma when trying to cut a stencil of the logo into some cardboard last night.  So I am going to have that problem with both painting the logo or cutting it.  I am intrigued by the suggestion to engrave plexi with the logo.  This would seem to be the easiest option yet.  (Considering this is my first mod, I like easy.)
How would I paint the engraved part?
Is there a paint or dye for plexi?
Is there more than one color.
Is it going to be dark enough (not transparent) that the back light will not shine through the painted etching?

Thanks for the help, (and feeding the addiction).

[Rob]

Here's one solution:
http://case-mods.linear1.org/dremel-einstein-mod/

Instead of painting, you can edge-light the acrylic sheet. the transparent areas remain transparent, but the etched areas glow. My friend Japala also has a great example of this: http://metku.net/router/index_eng.html

[joshhughes]

I already have two neon yellow cold cathode lights (http://www.joshhughes.com/computers/images/100_1681.JPG) for the inside.  I am guessing these would drowned out any edge-lighting of the logo .  Is this true?  What if the edge light was a different color, say blue?

[justDIY]

kinda OT here, but I had to laugh when I looked at the picture of your CFLs

"Supper Brite" ... you gotta wonder about the 'over seas' marketing departments ... I mean, misspelling bright as brite is one thing, people might thing they are trying to be trendy or cute; but Supper?

ah well 

[Brundle Fly]

Brundle Fly, I ran into the "d" and "e's" dilemma when trying to cut a stencil of the logo into some cardboard last night.  So I am going to have that problem with both painting the logo or cutting it.  I am intrigued by the suggestion to engrave plexi with the logo.  This would seem to be the easiest option yet.  (Considering this is my first mod, I like easy.)
How would I paint the engraved part?
Is there a paint or dye for plexi?
Is there more than one color.
Is it going to be dark enough (not transparent) that the back light will not shine through the painted etching?

Thanks for the help, (and feeding the addiction).

I don't think you'd need to paint it at all, after engraving, it'll be opaque, and the ccfl's should show up very well backlighting it.

I already have two neon yellow cold cathode lights (http://www.joshhughes.com/computers/images/100_1681.JPG) for the inside.  I am guessing these would drowned out any edge-lighting of the logo .  Is this true?  What if the edge light was a different color, say blue?

Yellow+blue=green, not what you want 

kinda OT here, but I had to laugh when I looked at the picture of your CFLs

"Supper Brite" ... you gotta wonder about the 'over seas' marketing departments ... I mean, misspelling bright as brite is one thing, people might thing they are trying to be trendy or cute; but Supper?

ah well 

I have of set of Ultras, spelling mistakes aside, they work very well(I broke one tube, my fault), I scored the set that is sound sensitive, cool light show when the tunes are cranked 

[joshhughes]

I had to take a break from this project for a while during hte colder months because I have no other place to paint except outside.  Then I was given an older PC that I was putting parts into for my dad to have when I got inspiration for another mod for him and this became his father's day gift.  This is my first completed mod and I have to say I had a lot of fun.  I have pics at http://computers.joshhughes.com/mods/ravens/index.html

As for the "Lance" mod I finally found a solution to my problem, I finally found a TDF decal.  This brought about a new problem becuase the TDF logo on the decal was in oragne & white and wouldn't show up too well on a yellow surface.  So I decided to make that panel of the case black.  I think this is going to turn out for the better any since it will provide a greater contrast for the yellow light coming out of the case.

[justDIY]

glad to hear your projects are still alive, after the cold hard winter 

[x99]

Can't say I've heard of the Ravens B4, pitfall of livin in Oz, but i like the mouse. Looks cool.

The tour is not the same without Lance - go Robbie McEwen!!