car lover 1996 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 Hi guys, I have another question on how to make a custom license plate. I want to make one of those front plates that the dealers put on that say their dealership name and the brand and town the dealership is in. They usually have a plain white backround and that is why I cant use the acme license maker because you need to have a state picked and cant get a plain backround. I wanted to make one for my local ford dealership (and since it is a local dealer, I cant find a picture of the plate online). So if anyone can help me or has ideas, leave a reply. Thanks
highway Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 The best thing I can think of if have to have the plate from that EXACT Ford dealer is to photoreduce it. Next time you have a few minutes on a nice day, take your camera down to the dealership, and take a picture of the plate on a car or truck from about 25 feet away. Then upload the pic to your computer and either transfer the image to decal paper or if you don't have decal paper, print the pic and cut the license plate from the picture. This was the way to make custom real plates way before the digital age!
car lover 1996 Posted March 23, 2011 Author Posted March 23, 2011 The best thing I can think of if have to have the plate from that EXACT Ford dealer is to photoreduce it. Next time you have a few minutes on a nice day, take your camera down to the dealership, and take a picture of the plate on a car or truck from about 25 feet away. Then upload the pic to your computer and either transfer the image to decal paper or if you don't have decal paper, print the pic and cut the license plate from the picture. This was the way to make custom real plates way before the digital age! Hey thats a good idea! ! ! The next chance I get I will get down to the dealership and take some pictures. Thanks for the idea !
Foxer Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 (edited) Take photos from various distances as the size of the print and the distance will vary. The actual distance changes with the lens focal length on your camera. The 25' Matt mentions is a good start. Take some closer and further away about two feet apart, one foot if you can. One shot will be close to 1/25. The size you print will also change the plate size. A 1/25 plate will be .48" or close to a half inch (state plates are 12" in 1:1). If you take the photos in order, say start 30' away and go closer you should be able to figure where to stand for the next plate. With the wide angle lens in most cameras now you will probable be closer to 15' away for the right size. Edited March 23, 2011 by Foxer
MikeMc Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 The best thing I can think of if have to have the plate from that EXACT Ford dealer is to photoreduce it. Next time you have a few minutes on a nice day, take your camera down to the dealership, and take a picture of the plate on a car or truck from about 25 feet away. Then upload the pic to your computer and either transfer the image to decal paper or if you don't have decal paper, print the pic and cut the license plate from the picture. This was the way to make custom real plates way before the digital age! Take your picture, run it thru MS word, size it as needed...just like using acme platemaker
Guest Gramps-xrds Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 I make my own plates, but print them on photo paper and cut them out. Then take a black marker and color the edges. Works great. As for the size, I resize them to .500x.250. That's 12x6, in 1/25th scale. You can also make your own in Microsoft paint and then move them to a photoshop and resize them. I think photopaper works better than decal paper and the print comes out much better.
spad007 Posted March 23, 2011 Posted March 23, 2011 If you have a flat bed scanner or can borrow the use of one, Go to the dealer and ask for one of the plates. They are usually paper board and not expensive heck you might just borrow it and mail it back. Be sure and tell him/her why you want it.and that your going to show/share with friends and on the net.(free advertising hint hint) scan it in take the scanned file in to your photo editor size it to fit. print it out glue it on. that way it will be exact no angles to futz with.
car lover 1996 Posted March 23, 2011 Author Posted March 23, 2011 thanks everybody for the great ideas!!!
VW Dave Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 I'm still 'old school' when it comes to photoreduction; I picked this technique up back when SA still had an 'E' on it. My trusty 35mm PHD camera on a tripod and a vertical surface to pin stuff to, along with varying distances of 12 to 15 feet makes for nice 1/24-1/25 model boxes, license plates and stuff.
Foxer Posted March 24, 2011 Posted March 24, 2011 Hey Dave ... that's MY garage! Oh wait, I had less than 34 VW kit boxes last time I did this.
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