Idear: New (?) Side Art Application technique

[rampy]

Digression before I start: Do you know anyone that says, "idear" instead of "idea"?

Anyways... I was working on my costume for a costume party (I went as  a Duff Beer can) and I had a small brain fart (the fart was small not the brain)

Has anyone tried to print side art on iron on "paper" and iron it on to the sides of their cabinets?  I think it's crazy enough to maybe just work!

I kinda like the look of "the time machines" space invaders side art, but don't want to hand paint it.  But I was thinking... I could print out a vector image of an invade on 8.5 x 11 (and the base on another, and the ship on another, and the shot on another) and iron them on to my cabinet...  I better try a small test patch first, as the iron on transfer wants cotten or something simliar to adhere to, painted wood might not be porous enough =P

*shrug* it's an idea anyways... if they make plotter rolls of iron on material I could do something really cool (or really really lame, but BIG!)

welp, just thought i'd pass along that idea to see what you guys thought...

Rampy

[hooded_paladin]

Digression before I start: Do you know anyone that says, "idear" instead of "idea"?

I sometimes do... it's part of a joke that goes

What do you call a deer with no eyes?
No idear

so I say that sometimes.
And to add actual information to my reply, I don't think the little iron-on T-Shirt transfers have enough ink on them to apply to wood.  Maybe a thicker coat, something more like vinyl, which is the way that professionals do T Shirts I think.

[eightbit]

Some new iron ons use a white background so no matter what color shirt you put it on your actual ironing a white patch onto the shirt. Those might work.

[Radical]

Although I haven't used it yet, they make clear self-adhesive inkjet film.  That would probably be the easiest.  You could even cut out the design for a clean finish.

Usually runs less than a dollar per 8.5 x 11 sheet.   Often available at CompUSA and other office stores.

Let me know if you try it, I'd like to know what the print quality looks like.

Edit:
Here's some at CompUSA (hope these work)
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50195030
http://www.compusa.com/products/product_info.asp?product_code=50028525

[ErikRuud]

The ink in most ink jets is not opaque enough to work well on anything other than white.  The color of the cabinet will show through.

Look at this thread: http://www.arcadecontrols.org/yabbse/index.php?board=10;action=display;threadid=12801

I printed the CP graphics on matte photo paper then sprayed the back side with spray adhesive and then stuck them to the CP.  After I was sure the adhesive was complete dried, I started applying thin layers of water based polyurethane to the CP.

You could probably do something similar with your side art.  i would reccomend a satin finish polyurethane for the side art.

[Radical]

The ink in most ink jets is not opaque enough to work well on anything other than white.  The color of the cabinet will show through.

The lower link I posted is white adhesive photo type paper (the Epson stuff).

But I think either  way (spraying on or self-adhesive) should work pretty good.  I'll be trying it at some point for sure.

[snekse]

Has anyone tried silk screening a cabinet before?

I have been using clear contact paper.  Just print out  your art work on regular paper and stick it over it leave alittle to over lap the picture.  It is worth a try and does not cost much.  It has been working good for me and has stood up to alot of abuse.