I am putting the finishing touches on my Alternator Prowl, based on the Meister/Shockblast mold...and I need help.

 

I need labels...and I was wondering if some kind soul out there would be willing to make me a few labels for my custom...of course for a price...

 

I would need a large white "POLICE" sticker/decal for each door, as well as a smaller black "HIGHWAY PATROL" to fit above the "POLICE" on the door.

 

I would also need another "HIGHWAY PATROL" in black to fit on the spoiler from Shockblast...

 

and another white sticker that says "POLICE" for the front bumper...

 

Can anybody make these for me...I am also going to check if the local import performance shop could custom cut some vinyl stickers forme...but I don't know how small their machines can cut...

 

Help!!

(and of course I will post pics as soon as he's done...)

you know if you find the right sized picture off the internet, you can buy  sticker paper and do it yourself. much cheaper in my opinion and you dont have to wait for shipping.

you know if you find the right sized picture off the internet, you can buy  sticker paper and do it yourself. much cheaper in my opinion and you dont have to wait for shipping.

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I plan on making an Impreze Prowl this summer along with labels.  I hope to have these available to fans that want em.  For my own custom, I am making mine to match the Japanese counterpart.  However, I am making a custom for a friend who wants a G1 accurate Prowl, so I'll be creating a set for that custom.  The only problem is the quality of paper.  I use the packaging label paper for my labels.  It looks great IMO (check out my custom pics of Hot Pursuit and Meister). but they are not glossy.  I've not had any problems in the past with them though.  PM me if interested! :tfgrin

I thought about making my own labels, but could never find the right quality image...

 

The other thing is that I am real picky about what I am doing...

 

Here's an example of what I don't want:

I do not want the word "POLICE" in white letters, but with a black background...

I just want the white letters "POLICE"...and I don't think the kits were you can make your own do that, and my girlfriend, who works in the printing industry offered to cut them out for me, but I don't want the hand cut look...I want it to look real professional...

I thought about making my own labels, but could never find the right quality image...

 

The other thing is that I am real picky about what I am doing...

 

Here's an example of what I don't want:

I do not want the word "POLICE" in white letters, but with a black background...

I just want the white letters "POLICE"...and I don't think the kits were you can make your own do that, and my girlfriend, who works in the printing industry offered to cut them out for me, but I don't want the hand cut look...I want it to look real professional...

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Then I guess you have more money to spend on such a project than I do.  Although I am still learning tons all of the time, I am not an amature myself.  My vocation is youth ministry now, but before I was called into vocational youth minstry, I was a professional graphic designer/studio artist.  I have been self-employed for a number of years with my art.  I say this not to be egotical, but just to say that most of what we customizers do or would do is what is done on the conceptual level at companies such as Hasbro. 

 

If Hasbro had a board meeting and addressed the idea of making say a police Alternator, they would turn to their conceptual artists first.  They would then take an idea and make a prototype for presentation for their next board meeting.  If the prototype was say just a repaint of an existing mold, they may just use Adobe Photoshop for creating an image for a presentation or they might go the whole way in making a 3-D prototype to show.  Artist will use anything we can get our hands on.  This type of artist is not going to go straight to the production to make a prototype; they are going to get what is readily available to them.  This would include types of labels that I make. 

 

Once everything is approved, production starts.  Production for a toy is fairly expensive, but the cost is regained through the bulk produced and eventually the bulk sold for a hight profit. 

 

I say all of this to make a few points.  Personally, I would like to be able to just create ideas and have the production run to be able to make myself one.  Also, (and I think this is where you will agree with me mostly) when we make customs for ourselves, we want to emulate final production as much as possible.  But conceptual artists do too most of the times.  When I have had to create prototypes for different clients, they basically want to see the end result before they invest in the idea (which makes a graphic designer's job harder).  Nevertheless, as customizers, usually we are only making one (for ourselves) and we don't want the "prototype feel"; we want the real deal. 

 

Personally, I am still experimenting with my proceses.  I am continually looking for new ways to get my labels to feel like those that are produced by Hasbro.  However, I acknowledge my own limitations, not necessarily as an artist (because I have used and use the same programs professionally as artists currently in the industry), but in my resources (I don't have $1000+ to spend on a commercial-size printer like say the guy at Reprolables has). 

 

In terms of what you want for your labels, that is your perogative of course.  I would suppose you could get a small sheet of vinil adhesive and cut your own.  If you have access to that go for it.  As far as the white letters on black labels goes, you will have to go to a vinil-cutting printer for the effect you want.  Printers cannot print white.  But in terms of "professional," my G1 Prowl has black decals with white lettering (white from the label paper) and my Universe "Spychanger" Prowl is manufactured this way as well. 

 

Another alternative is to get the label paper Testor's makes.  I have heard other guys that use it that like it, but the paper is a bit on the expensive side (for me anyways), plus I just like the paper I am using in comparison with other papers I have seen.  Even with the Testor's makes, you still have to design the label sheet with a computer. 

 

Hope I haven't talked your head off, but since you wanted to your project to "look real professional," I just thought I would give you a professional point of view. :thumb

I am putting the finishing touches on my Alternator Prowl, based on the Meister/Shockblast mold...and I need help.

 

I need labels...and I was wondering if some kind soul out there would be willing to make me a few labels for my custom...of course for a price...

 

Reprolabels can make a set for you.  $15 I believe.  Its not posted on their site but just ask for them.  They can print "police" using white ink and clear background which is exactly what you're looking for.

Hey Superquad, I never meant that your take on the labels was un-professional...

 

Its just not what I was looking for. 

 

You had a great idea...and I was actually going to ask that when you get around to selling yours, to give me a buzz, so I can take a set...

But, I mean for now, while I have the time, and oppurtunity...I want to try and find another way...something no one has done yet...

 

I have a custom here that I won on e-bay and it was the custom testors labels that the person must have made...and it looks fine...but you can tell its a decal that was cut...and thats what I want to avoid.

 

No offense man!  and let me know when you have your labels ready for sale!

 

I'm actually going to a place called U-Stick-It Graphics today to see just how small they can cut vinyl for cars...and whether it would work or not...

You can order them online at policecarmodels.com.

 

Me, I found mine in a unexpected place, in a dollar store.  I brought one of those packaged little plastic army men type toys, except it was police theme. I took the stickers off the police cars and put them on my custom. But this is not what you are looking for, so maybe you can try that site.

I used Reprolabels for custom Alt Prowl labels and they were exact replicas of the original gen 1 labels. From the hood crest and arm crests. All the labels you would need. Like VP said just email them and ask for custom Alt Prowl labels. They will make them for you. Not a bad price either.

Just tried Reprolabels, and they are selling me a set...

I'll have to see if its what I'm looking for...I'll probably end up using it. 

I am going to a graphics place later, so, I'll let you guys know how it turns out...

Hey Bluavenger, are the go who sold me the custom Alternator Deadend as Prowl?  If so, when are you posting your next custom...?  I really wanted that Skywarp you made, and I missed the end of the auction.

Thanks guys for all your help!