Famicom Front Decals DIY

Started by Skawo, January 17, 2023, 01:10:48 am

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Skawo

January 17, 2023, 01:10:48 am Last Edit: September 29, 2023, 05:26:27 pm by Skawo
Described below is a process you can use to create decently-accurate replacements for the Famicom case labels. Naturally, I would only recommend doing this if your decals are gone or are in really bad shape.

Shopping around, you should be able to get the materials required for under $15.

Things needed:

1. Self-adhesive transparent foil for your printer type. A5 is the perfect size, and tends to be cheaper than bigger sheets.
2. Self-adhesive golden foil. Doesn't matter whether it's printable or what size it is - just get what looks best or is cheapest.
3. Exacto knife
4. Clear sellotape - at least as wide as the front label
5. Plastic scraper tool
6. Ruler - preferably metal, but any ruler over 30 cm will do.

Front label
First step is to remove the old label and clean the adhesive residue it leaves behind. Use a plastic scraper tool to scrape off the gunk. If you have something like Goo Gone handy, that may help loosen the gunk up as well.

Once that's off, take a big piece of sellotape and stick it where the label used to be. Make sure there're no air bubbles or wrinkles. Make sure the whole indentation is covered - it doesn't matter if the tape goes outside of it.

Next, use the exacto knife to cut along the edge of the label indentation, then remove the excess tape. This should leave you with the space where the label used to be covered in a piece of sellotape cut down to size.

Next, print out the labels on the transparent foil. Take note whether your worn Famicom label had the FAMICOM FAMILY logo or not - unless you don't care, in which case just print whichever one you like the best. You have to make sure the print dimensions match - personally, I find IrfanView easiest to use for that.

Here are the label templates:
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Select A5 paper and make sure "from image DPI" and "fill paper" are set and also that you're using High Quality printing preset, with Glossy Photo Paper as the media type.

Once printed, cut one of the labels out of the sheet (doesn't have to be exact for now) and peel it off the backing. Now carefully stick this onto the gold foil, making sure no air bubbles are formed. Since the foil we printed the label on is clear, the parts that used to be white in the image are now see-through, and when stuck onto the gold foil, we get our desired look.

Now you just need to carefully and precisely cut out this label. Use the ruler to line up with the edges of the label and then cut using the exacto knife. Make sure that the exacto knife cuts through both layers. Once the label has been cut off, optionally you can use a pair of small scissors to round off the corners.

Next, peel off the label from the backing (make sure you only remove the gold foil's backing!) and carefully stick it where it should be. And there you go, the new label is in!

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Personally, I then cover it with another layer of sellotape, in order to protect it and give it a nicer texture, but it's not strictly necessary.

Top labels, EXT port label
These are as simple as printing out the given template onto the transparent foil, cutting the labels out using an exacto knife and sticking them on where the old ones used to be. Again, you have to make sure the dimensions match, and use the same settings as mentioned above.

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Credit for the this template goes to this person: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WXXnt3AYb4
I did edit the front label, though, as it wasn't quite accurate.