Check it out...........
 

This is just a "Proof of Concept" prototype :), I just did it on regular copy paper and it needs some color adjustment (blue red-line?), plus my digi camera is a cheapo (heck, I'm a "Cheapo", that's why I tried this in the first place!), but with a little tweaking and some good quality peel-back label paper it'll look perfect and didn't cost squat. What do you think?

Hope the pic shows up, I'm not real good at attaching files.

If they can use those things to make $20 bills, why not instrument backing?

Make sure you have archival paper and ink or it will fade!

Karl

Hmm...Didn't think of it fading. What's this 'archival paper' stuff. I wonder if there's something at a craft store that you could spray over it (like a laquer) that won't make the ink run and still protect it from UV. More research required for sure. Thanks for the input!

Some of the companies that sell printing paper for inkjets have special coated paper that is supposed to hold the image for 20 to 100 years (depending on what you buy). I want to know how they tested it!

Some special ink cartridges are available with inks that don't fade.

You can get the paper in matte and gloss finishes.

You'd be better off getting this high quality paper and spraying the back of it with adhesive and sticking it to your gauge rather than finding a way to use a label.

Several years ago, I made seatbelt PUSH HERE inserts. They faded within months. Of course, red and orange are the first colors to fade on the spectrum... that's why your needles and RPM limit indicators are always faded and red cars fade poorly.

Good idea. "stick" with it and you should do fine. Just make sure you do your homework first or you will end up redoing your gauges over and over again.

Regards,

Take your proof to a Kinko's or a place like that and have then run the archival stuff for you. By the time you buy everything you need you could just buy the faces in white from a supplier.