Making NES/SNES labels for repro carts?

RGB_Gamer · Post by **RGB_Gamer** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 3:16 am

I ordered an eprom programmer and I finally want to make some repro carts (some for NES, and a couple SNES). Anyone have any tips on making cartridge labels for NES/SNES games? Did a google search but a bunch of old/dead links, and on here but no results.

thanks!

Post by **Memblers** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 11:14 am

I use the same brand of ink, paper, and printer. That's important so the ink colors will take to the paper properly. I use matte photo paper. Then I apply a layer of label protection tape (made of polypropylene, hopefully UV resistant because UV light is ink's enemy - causing fading and color changes). Then I use a glue stick to stick it to the cart. Rubber cement would be another adhesive choice, I've heard from others that it works well.

Also be sure the adhesive on the tape, the label adhesive, and the paper are all acid-free. The tricky part may be finding tape that's big enough.

MottZilla · Post by **MottZilla** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 2:05 pm

Is some kind of label protection why NES and SNES labels have that "shine" to them?

RGB_Gamer · Post by **RGB_Gamer** » Sat Feb 28, 2009 4:22 pm

Memblers wrote:I use the same brand of ink, paper, and printer. That's important so the ink colors will take to the paper properly. I use matte photo paper. Then I apply a layer of label protection tape (made of polypropylene, hopefully UV resistant because UV light is ink's enemy - causing fading and color changes). Then I use a glue stick to stick it to the cart. Rubber cement would be another adhesive choice, I've heard from others that it works well.

Also be sure the adhesive on the tape, the label adhesive, and the paper are all acid-free. The tricky part may be finding tape that's big enough.

Do you know of any kind of self adhesive printable paper that would be good? Also, do you know of any place to get some templates for making your own SNES/NES/etc labels?

thanks!

Post by **Memblers** » Mon Mar 02, 2009 4:16 pm

MottZilla wrote:Is some kind of label protection why NES and SNES labels have that "shine" to them?

Yeah, I'm sure it is. The tape I use is thicker (maybe by a thousandths of an inch or 2 - I've pulled labels off of carts and that stuff is unbelievably thin). You'd have to look really close to notice any difference (looks identical to me).

eastbayarb wrote: Do you know of any kind of self adhesive printable paper that would be good? Also, do you know of any place to get some templates for making your own SNES/NES/etc labels?

If it's inkjet, it depends on the printer and ink being used. If durability doesn't matter, anything will do, otherwise stick with the photo paper / ink combination your printer's manufacturer makes. You'll want matte paper (not glossy) if you use the protection tape.

Also another note I forgot to mention is the make the labels in the highest resolution possible. The labels I printed for Garage Cart #1 and my UNROM dev cart were printed at 2400 dpi. I'm not sure about the size, but I probably used a ruler on it and created a blank file somehow based on the size * resolution of 2400 dpi. The resulting .PNG files are something like 70MB, heheh. But the visual detail is awesome.

NMorgan · Post by **NMorgan** » Tue Mar 10, 2009 2:07 am

I made a few customs labels on Photoshop, which I could send to you if you want. You could use it as a template perhaps for creating your own labels. I put a Super Mario World (famicom pirate) board into a 60>72 pin converter pulled from a Gyromite cart, and put it all inside a NES cartridge shell. Then made and printed out my own label, it looks very pretty

As for applying the label, I used a similar technique as mentioned above. I printed the label out onto standard (non-glossy) sticker paper. To give it the glossy feel, I applied a layer of standard packing tape onto the sticker paper. Then I cut it out using a straight arm cutter and applied my newly made label to my cartridge. Looks very nice

peppers · Post by **peppers** » Sun Apr 26, 2009 3:39 pm

I would be interested in a template.

I think a higher end laser printer may be better for this purpose rather than than useing ink printers, toner has advantages here.

alienform · Post by **alienform** » Mon Apr 27, 2009 6:11 pm

eastbayarb check out my labels on these two carts i refurbished.

i might make a video on how its done. I also got labels on the top ends
on the final cartridges i did check it out here.

http://picasaweb.google.com/alienform/N ... mentSystem#