Making my own license plates

[Rob McKee]

I often see custom license plates on many of the builds here.

Is there some software that could be used to make them? Free if possible.

[martinfan5]

Rob, I use several different websites to make my plates, then I resize them in mircosoft word. most of the times I resize to around 21-22%

http://www.acme.com/licensemaker/

http://www.licenseplates.tv/license-plates.html

http://www.plateshack.com/

[sjordan2]

However, you need to check how recent the license plates are on those sites. Just the other day, I was checking Tennessee plates on one of them and they didn't have the current design. I found what I needed by a simple Google Images search for blank Tennessee license plate, which yielded the proper result and is easy to adapt for custom numbers.

[MikeMc]

Rob, http://www.licensepl...h-columbia.html

You can just type in what you want on the plate and it automatically puts it in the correct font and color, just right click and import it to miscrosoft word, resize, then print.

Nick

And if you do not have the proper font....do a search for the font you need, download, unzip and load into windows fonts folder. then you can type the correct font

I did this for another person and when reduced the fonts are dead on and level.....I have found at least 12 plate font sets online that I use

Edited February 5, 2012 by MikeMc

[sjordan2]

That's way easier than my way. Thank you for posting that link Nick!

It is NOT the easiest way if you're looking for current plates. Most of the plates on that site are outdated.

[Longbox55]

It also leaves out Truck plates, which in many areas are different from Passenger plates.

[sjordan2]

Also, those "make your own plate" sites do not have the correct type fonts for each state. You're better off making your own. Using Google and your own software, it's all free.

Edited February 5, 2012 by sjordan2

[Nick Winter]

Sorry, tried to help. Comments removed.

Nick

[Rob McKee]

Thanks guys for all of the suggestions. Although the site Nick suggested doesn't contain every type of plate from each state or province I find it easy to use and very usefull.

Thanks again everyone.

[martinfan5]

I posted the same site first

[Rob McKee]

Yes, thanks Jonathon. I have played around on all of the sites you referred.

You guys all taught an old dog a new trick!

[Fabrux]

We got new license plates here in NB in 2009 and nobody has them on their websites... Our plate designs are the same no matter what they're going on, however there are slight variations for veterans, firefighters, antiques, amputees, seasonal and conservation (I have a buck on my truck ). Fortunately, when they released the new plates there was a press release with beautiful large pictures of each variation. I can modify plates as I see fit. The only font I have, however, is for German EU plates. I'll have to go digging for fonts and see if I can find the one we use here.

[martinfan5]

Rob, I started printing my plates on photo paper, they come out much better on photo paper then decal paper for me. I use double side clear tape to attach them to the model.

[Rob McKee]

Rob, I started printing my plates on photo paper, they come out much better on photo paper then decal paper for me. I use double side clear tape to attach them to the model.

That is a great idea Jonathon.

I'll have to find some double sided clear tape. Is it like carpet tape?

[martinfan5]

I meant to say it was double sided scotch tape

[High octane]

Here in Illinois we have ex govenors who make license plates as they are spending time in the clink.

[Rob McKee]

Here in Illinois we have ex govenors who make license plates as they are spending time in the clink.

lol, I think most politicians should be making them at the end of their careers! lol

[1320wayne]

Once you find the right image that you are searching for whether it be already existing or you make your own custom plate using the Acme site or whatever, the easiest way (that I have found) is simply laying out your decals in a Word document and printing them out from there. No pricey graphics programs needed, just a basic computer tool if you have it loaded in your own.

I also print my decals onto photo paper and merely glue them in place. No double sided tape needed.

[Kit Basher]

I don't know how it is where you are, but the Virginia DMV has pictures of all their plates on their website. You might check your jurisdiction and see if they do also. Photoshop the text in.

[greymack]

Hey don't guys in jail make licence plates?

[Guest Adamo]

Before the days of nice printers I had one of those 'scratch' letter sets I would use to make custom plates. Worked great but photoshop is much easier.

[martinfan5]

Once you find the right image that you are searching for whether it be already existing or you make your own custom plate using the Acme site or whatever, the easiest way (that I have found) is simply laying out your decals in a Word document and printing them out from there. No pricey graphics programs needed, just a basic computer tool if you have it loaded in your own.

I also print my decals onto photo paper and merely glue them in place. No double sided tape needed.

Thats what I do for all my plates, and or decal making

[kingtoy]

Wow, those websites are great. I think I will use them and also google image search to make plates. Give me some ideas for the future like making lots of international plates, like Dubai or Russia even China maybe.

[MikeMc]

Once you find the right image that you are searching for whether it be already existing or you make your own custom plate using the Acme site or whatever, the easiest way (that I have found) is simply laying out your decals in a Word document and printing them out from there. No pricey graphics programs needed, just a basic computer tool if you have it loaded in your own.

I also print my decals onto photo paper and merely glue them in place. No double sided tape needed.

Your correct.....Takes way too much time in PS

[charlie8575]

I like to use Open Office Draw for my plates.

I'll go to one of the plate sites, or find one on the Internet, copy and paste the picture, and Draw makes it very easy to reduce the plate.

One word of caution, Draw does not save in normal files, like .bmp or .jpg, but it will cut and paste into Paint, which does, very easily. I don't use Paint because I don't like how it works for this type of stuff. Draw, and all of Open Office, will, however, save as a .pdf, which is nice.

I can make entire sheets of license plates in draw in less than half an hour. For standard U.S./Canadian plates, set it to 0.47" wide by 0.23" high, and that's almost exact (+/- 0.0001".)

Charlie Larkin