The Cover Project
General Category => FAQs, Guides, Templates and Vector Logos => Topic started by: 4tyGames on July 24, 2007, 12:23:00 PM
-
I originally found out how to do apply a new cartridge label on the Digitpress forum and I am glad I did! Credit goes to the Digitpress poster "joshnickerson" for the idea. Sadly, it looks like the post to his pictures and "how to" were deleted. All of the images below are from when I replaced a cartridge label on one of my n64 games.
Materials
A Xyron Label Maker with a permanent adhesive cartridge. This is the exact one I have: http://www.xyron.com/enUS/Products/Xyron_250.html
These permanent labels are acid free so they will not damage your cartridge.
Goo Gone
Iso. Alcohol (Found at any grocery store, very cheap)
Printer with high quality ink
High Quality Paper
Nice paper cutting scissors
Procedure
If you find a rare game with a rip or torn cartridge label you can just replace the cartridge label! I got this Aerofighters Assault game from eBay where the seller mentioned that the game was in "mint" condition >:(
(http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/8160/dscf1508pv5.jpg)
First download the label and open up your favorite picture editing software, I recommend Photoshop since the attributes are the correct size for printing.
(http://img507.imageshack.us/img507/9176/dscf1511nw8.jpg)
Use Goo Gone to remove the damaged label. You can use a paper towel or your fingernails to scratch the old label away. The old label will crumple into pieces.
(http://img405.imageshack.us/img405/9854/dscf1516uh7.jpg)
Clean the cartridge surface with iso. alcohol to remove the Goo Gone's greasiness after the label is completely off the cartridge. Make sure the cartridge is completely clean and dry before moving onto the next step.
(http://img440.imageshack.us/img440/204/dscf1518qh7.jpg)
(http://img406.imageshack.us/img406/7946/dscf1519ar7.jpg)
Before printing off your label, go to your printer settings and make sure that the printer has best quality option checked. It will take a slow time to print, but there will be more ink on the label. Print the cartridge label off of your favorite type of paper. Cut the label out carefully (I had my sister who is a master scrapbooker cut the label out for me) and run it through the label maker. The label maker adds a permanent adhesive on the back of the label creating a permanent sticker that will be hard to take off once applied to the cartridge.
(http://img257.imageshack.us/img257/5254/dscf1520gs6.jpg)
You basically have one shot of putting the cartridge label on, so don't screw up or you will have to do the whole process all over again. The end result looks a thousand times better than the ripped cartridge label. It is not as glossy, but it looks professional. I recommend trying out different types of paper to see which one works the best.
(http://img204.imageshack.us/img204/3571/dscf1524yx6.jpg)
(http://img63.imageshack.us/img63/6186/dscf1526hg7.jpg)
And there you go! Total time takes about 15 - 30 minutes depending on how skilled you are ;) .
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
EDIT (July 24): TikTekTak recommends these printable glossy and sticky wine labels ( http://www.avery-zweckform.com/de1/main.jsp?action=product.Product&bct=1&bcn=C9269&pid=C9269 ). These labels are sadly :( only available in Austria and Germany.
-
Great guide! This will help a lot of people. Two very enthusiastic thumbs up :)
-
Nice job 4ty.
-
Wow! This guide is really helpful to me considering that I get most of my Nintendo 64 games off of eBay and that the labels are sometimes damaged. Thanks!
-
Is it possible to put the new label over the old label? :-\
-
Is it possible to put the new label over the old label? :-\
No, that does not make a lot of sense for many reasons.
For example, the new label will be uneven and wrinkled over the damaged label and look awful.
-
I have just one question. Where would I get Goo Gone?
-
I've seen it at Home Depot and Lowes if you are in the US.
Antony30bc
-
I have another question. Where would you find a Xyron Label Maker?
-
I've never seen nor heard of one before reaidn gthis thread so the best bet is probably to order one off the supplied link.
Hmm I have some NES Labels that look like crap this might be a good idea.
Antony30bc
-
Thanks for the guide. If nothing else, its an inspiration to me.
I have a whole bin of cartridges received from friends dumping their retro collections on me. Its a happy thing, but I have almost a manic aversion to torn stickers -- that I simply hate handling them. Now, I feel like cleaning them up and bringing them back to life.
-
Thank you very much. I got 1 question however... What paper do you recomend?
-
I noticed when I removed the damaged label off a standard NES cartridge, I noticed that the label is laminated. So, after you print off your label and ready to stick, carefully apply the lamination to prevent trapped bubbles, then cut off the excess.
Also, as an alternative to using the Xyron, I just used a fully blank sheet of sticker paper that you can cut off by yourself.
Overall, I haven't used any high-quality materials, just the standard stuff that I can get it at a lesser cost.
-
Great! But you can't get "Goo Gone" here... Does any (European) body know what would be a good alternative? ???
-
anything with orange oil should work, you might be able to order it online as well if you don't mind paying for shipping.
-
I print on sticker paper, so i don't need to use any additional device like Xyron Label Maker
-
I print on sticker paper, so i don't need to use any additional device like Xyron Label Maker
Is sticky paper used to print labels that are glossy? If not, how do you print glossy labels?
-
where can i find the game labels to print out??? i have 2 n64 games that need to have labels reprinted but i cant find them on this site. can you help???
-
If they aren't in the N64 section, then we probably don't have them on the site yet - if you make a request in the requests forum, someone may have them and upload for you.
-
all i see are box labels. i need the lables that are on the games
-
they're only on certain games, for example, here's one: http://www.thecoverproject.net/view.php?cover_id=3072
if you checked the games you need a label for, and there aren't labels there, that means there haven't been any scanned or uploaded. In that case, that's when you go to the request forum and ask somebody to scan them in for you.
-
Are all the games have to check the label. ? I think it is not some of it do not have label. Am i right?
_________________
private labeling (http://www.rogenstudio.com) | SEO-SEM Services (http://computerseo.com)
-
Do you know how to do the same for not to expansive with DVD label, I've seen some sort of donut stiker which you print on and stickon the CD but wondered if it worked because I dont want to pay to much.
-
stick-on DVD and CD labels are a bad idea. They throw off the weight distribution of the disc and render them unreadable.
-
Inkjet printable discs are the way to go.
-
Inkjet printable discs are the way to go.
Were to buy theme and how to print on theme and also is there a way to get CD labels for dreamcast games because I use to hack them and now its hard to find the real copy
-
I am a new member and I am not too fimilar with printing lablels but when I print the labels on to semi-gloss paper, and the ink just keeps wipeing off whenever I touch it.
-
Nice guide but I noticed you said to use iso alcohol, you may not have a problem with n64 plastic but I'd advise people to use something less harsh to clean the goo gone grease off like soap and water on a cloth instead because alcohol can cause noticeable damage to many plastics. ;)
-
Inkjet printable discs are the way to go.
Were to buy theme and how to print on theme and also is there a way to get CD labels for dreamcast games because I use to hack them and now its hard to find the real copy
I saw one of those clunkers at Staples a few years ago. It's actually a special printer meant only for discs. They're probably still around. As for disc scans, you can request them here for backups but as you may have learned, we do not condone piracy at all on this site. (I know this post is a little old so I can cut you some slack ;) )
-
Does that Xyron 250 model print anything large enough to fit onto an NES or Super NES cartridge? I have lots of labels to fix if that is the case, and how would someone go about laminating them? I assume you can just buy laminate from the store, now that I think about it...
-
is there any kind of machine like the xyron lable maker that you can laminate a sticker with? or any techniques to doing this?
-
is there any kind of machine like the xyron lable maker that you can laminate a sticker with? or any techniques to doing this?
A conservative amount of spray glue and a careful steady hand.
-
is there any kind of machine like the xyron lable maker that you can laminate a sticker with? or any techniques to doing this?
A conservative amount of spray glue and a careful steady hand.
You being serious? :) wouldnt it be sticky then? or effect the ink? i use spray adheisive at work all the time! it also seems to yellow after a while to..
-
I'm just going to order mine from http://www.gamereproductions.com. They're only $2 and seem pretty legit.
-
Yeah, GR.com's labels are pretty good quality.
-
I found a small device in the craft section at walmart that makes stickers from paper, its small, but it should suffice in making a label. and its only $10.
-
My friend gave me a whole pack of sticker paper to use. The only problem is that it's designed to print out CD labels and is cut accordingly to work with a special program. I've printed out assorted stickers and put packing tape over it to keep the pieces together....nothing that would be suitable for cart labels.
-
I fallowed this tutorial, but I didn't want to buy a sticker machine so I just got my image printed on sticker paper at office maxx. It looks good, not quite the same as the original, but for my own collection it'll do just fine. Here are the pics:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/shine45678/P1050270.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/shine45678/P1050272.jpg)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v162/shine45678/P1050273.jpg)
It's a cheaper alternative, only cost me 60 cents!
-
I'm just going to order mine from http://www.gamereproductions.com. They're only $2 and seem pretty legit.
I would definately suggest this site to anyone who only needs a handful or so of new labels. At $2.00 (plus shipping) each, it could get pricey to overhaul and entire collection, but if you only need a few... I've ordered about four myself and will be getting a couple more soon. Top-notch quality. The only drawback is that it can take a while for the labels to arrive. As I understand it, he's a one-man operation working in his spare time. But, it's well worth the wait IMO.
-
What paper should i use for the labels?
-
What paper should i use for the labels?
Personally, I'd go for some kind of fairly thick glossy paper that the ink won't bleed through, but not so thick its hard to bend. You may also want to think about different glue types instead of sticker paper, so you have more flexibility with correctly positioning the artwork.
-
Awesome thanks! I think i may have some of that paper too.
-
I used shipping label paper sheets. 8.5X11 with 2 stickers to a sheet. If your careful you can fit a bunch of labels on one sheet. I did this for an SNES cart. Printed the label (I created in ps with the help of some random template on the net), applied DUCK brand HP260 heavy duty packing tape over it for lamination, then carefully cut the label out. The Tape i just mentioned is crystal clear and incredibly resistant to tearing and scratches. So fare the label has not lifted. I have found that gloss paper, or "sticker" paper with gloss finish will smudge with the smallest amount of moisture, for example a hand that has been mashing buttons for an hour.
Good luck
-
Since I work at Officemax, I might know exactly what you'd all need to do to make them look pristine. First off, you'll need a certain kind of paper that you can ask an employee in the Impress Department to have several sheets of if you plan to print them at home (can't really remember how much it is per sheet, but it's not much). It's called 80# glossy text; it's the same type you'd use for brochures and magazines, it's thin enough and glossy enough. If you plan to print at the store, I think the price can be around 60-70 cents a sheet, though the price can be different in different Officemax locations. It should be printable through both inkjet and laserjet printers, though the latter's the better option. If you have the label maker machine, use that if that tickles your fancy, but here's my other alternative. Take some spray mount adhesive in a can, like Super 77 or anything similar to it (they can get pricey, depending where you get them from), spray the bottom of the cut out label, and be very careful placing it onto your cartridge (of course with the old crappy one off). I've done it to a badly kept Kirby's Dream Land Game Boy cartridge and it's almost as good as new, just no shiny grey sidebars on the left and right side.
-
Great writeup! (http://i86.photobucket.com/albums/k99/wiggyx/icons/clap.gif)
anything with orange oil should work, you might be able to order it online as well if you don't mind paying for shipping.
Also, Bestine is a GREAT product for removing labels/adhesive and it doesn't make a horrid mess like Goo Gone does. Don't get me wrong, I use Goo Gone too. It's nice because it can be left to soak, whereas Bestine is a solvent and evaporates very quickly. Also, you'd want to wear gloves. That stuff is no good for your hands, but it does remove the adhesive almost instantly without having to wait for something with orange oil that needs a few minutes to penetrate.
http://papercement.com/bestine.html
Nice guide but I noticed you said to use iso alcohol, you may not have a problem with n64 plastic but I'd advise people to use something less harsh to clean the goo gone grease off like soap and water on a cloth instead because alcohol can cause noticeable damage to many plastics. ;)
Rubbing aclohol is NOT petroleum based and it has just about zero ability to break down plastics. Rubbing alcohol is about the safest solvent you can use on plastics.
My friend gave me a whole pack of sticker paper to use. The only problem is that it's designed to print out CD labels and is cut accordingly to work with a special program. I've printed out assorted stickers and put packing tape over it to keep the pieces together....nothing that would be suitable for cart labels.
You can get blank, uncut sheets of the stuff at Staples/Office Ma x.
http://www.avery.com/avery/en_us/Products/Crafts-&-Scrapbooking/Sticker-Project-Paper/White-Sticker-Project-Paper_03383.htm
I've used that stuff for projects like this before and it's pretty resilient. It's not glossy, but you could always throw come glossy contact paper or whatever over it like others have suggested.
-
This is probably someplace else on here but I hate searching. :P
Whats the label size for nes carts?
Whats the label size for snes carts?
Whats the label size for GBA carts? I think gba might be 42.5 mm by 22 mm.
-
What's the label size for NES carts?
656 x 1154 pixels, with the top foldover at the 94-pixel mark.
What's the label size for SNES carts?
984 x 534 pixels, with the top foldover at the 94-pixel mark.
-
What's the label size for NES carts?
656 x 1154 pixels, with the top foldover at the 94-pixel mark.
Just tried to print, its too large for an nes cart. Found this on another site
55x97 mm, with the top 7 mm of that in the fold-over.
-
Is there a certain label maker that you guys would recommend? I'm looking at Amazon and there are quite a few with high reviews.
-
What's the label size for NES carts?
656 x 1154 pixels, with the top foldover at the 94-pixel mark.
Just tried to print, its too large for an nes cart. Found this on another site
55x97 mm, with the top 7 mm of that in the fold-over.
I think that's because you're comparing apples to oranges. He gave measurement in pixels, you gave in mm. I just checked in Photoshop and 656 x 1154 pixels at 300 dpi = 55.54 x 97.71 mm
Is there a certain label maker that you guys would recommend? I'm looking at Amazon and there are quite a few with high reviews.
I use the xyron 250 that is linked on the first page and it works great (although link does not work now, search Amazon). Print on regular glossy paper then run it through there to make it stick to the cart.
-
Can you get more specific then "regular glossy paper"? The only paper that I really see when searching for glossy inkjet paper is photo paper, which from my past experience is way to thick to bend around NES and SNES carts.
-
Nice guide but I noticed you said to use iso alcohol, you may not have a problem with n64 plastic but I'd advise people to use something less harsh to clean the goo gone grease off like soap and water on a cloth instead because alcohol can cause noticeable damage to many plastics. ;)
Rubbing aclohol is NOT petroleum based and it has just about zero ability to break down plastics. Rubbing alcohol is about the safest solvent you can use on plastics.
If I remember correctly I used some iso 90 on a super advantage joystick back in the day with a cotton ball to get some sticker gunk off then I gave the whole top a rub down and ended up with yellow streaks all over.
Also I was getting some gunk off a piece of my car dash a few years back and ended up with some hazy streaks luckily I only did a small section; to me it looked similar to genesis black plastic.
Personally I would use goo gone and or soap first before I try alcohol.
I have used alcohol on lots of things without any problems though :-\
-
Can you get more specific then "regular glossy paper"? The only paper that I really see when searching for glossy inkjet paper is photo paper, which from my past experience is way to thick to bend around NES and SNES carts.
I have only done N64 labels so no bend needed and photo paper worked just fine. I'm going to be trying something else in the next few days for SNES and can update with my results.
-
I printed and confirmed these are the correct sizes.
GBA = 42.5 mm by 22 mm
NES= 55 mm by 97 mm
I printed on regular glossy paper and sprayed with glossy acrylic art protector spray. Then glued it down.
-
Yeah, using DPI and actual real world measurements is the way to go. The whole measuring by pixel count thing is sorta dumb.
-
???I guess pixel count changes depending on the number of pixels in an image.???
-
Yeah, using DPI and actual real world measurements is the way to go. The whole measuring by pixel count thing is sorta dumb.
I did mine by taping a piece of paper over the cart label, and tracing the groove on the plastic with a pen. After that, I measured the distance between lines with a ruler, and used math to come up with pixel counts.
For example, an NES cart label is 2 & 3/16" wide. 3 divided by 16 is 0.1875. Add 2, and multiply that by 300 for a total of 656.25.
-
???I guess pixel count changes depending on the number of pixels in an image.???
Yes, but 300 pixels per inch is the accepted standard for most printing projects.
-
Yeah, using DPI and actual real world measurements is the way to go. The whole measuring by pixel count thing is sorta dumb.
I did mine by taping a piece of paper over the cart label, and tracing the groove on the plastic with a pen. After that, I measured the distance between lines with a ruler, and used math to come up with pixel counts.
For example, an NES cart label is 2 & 3/16" wide. 3 divided by 16 is 0.1875. Add 2, and multiply that by 300 for a total of 656.25.
But it's silly to measure a given area by pixel count. Nobody in print media would ever measure anything that way because it's a relative unit of measurement.
???I guess pixel count changes depending on the number of pixels in an image.???
Yes, but 300 pixels per inch is the accepted standard for most printing projects.
300dpi is pretty much the minimum resolution that any print artist would work with.
It's the standard on TCP, but it's not a universal standard.
-
But it's silly to measure a given area by pixel count. Nobody in print media would ever measure anything that way because it's a relative unit of measurement.
Well, all my Photoshop stuff is done at 300, but I suppose the final step could be altered by anyone with a higher number in mind. I just wanted to be as accurate as possible.
-
Measuring using PPI is bass-ackwards. You're measuring a real-life piece of printed material in MM or Inches, then converting it to PPI, then printing at a set DPI, NOT PPI. Why even bring PPI into the picture? There's no reason to dick around with PPI. If something's XXmm x XXmm in real life, then create a file with those measurements and set the desired resolution (DPI). There's no added accuracy in converting to PPI. In fact, conversions like that just leave greater margin for error.
Pixel count is only useful when it comes to digital presentation, same as RGB color mode. Neither are of any value for print media, which is what we're creating here.
• Print media resolution is measured in DPI, not PPI.
• Print color is mixed via CMYK, not RGB.
• Monitors display in PPI, not DPI and that number isn't static. I.e. different monitors display at different resolutions.
• Monitors display in and mix colors via RGB, not CMYK.
Working on print media in RGB and PPI is incorrect. It results in poor and incorrect color output (RGB can display colors that CANNOT be printed via CMYK) and causes all these print scale issues that everyone has all the time.
-
Ok so hopefully someone on this thread can help me out. I only have a small number of games that I want to re-label. Only 1 of which I think really needs it, the others are just me being a perfectionist.
Some games on the site are listed with labels, but none of the ones I'm looking for. Is it possible that someone already has them made up? Then I just need to learn how to print them on the proper label paper and stick them on. Here's what I'm looking for:
SNES:
TMNT IV: Turtles in Time
Super Metroid
Super Punch-Out
And these I don't care as much about it, but if I have an easy time doing the others:
NES:
Super Off Road
Batman
Kid Icarus
-
Ok so hopefully someone on this thread can help me out. I only have a small number of games that I want to re-label. Only 1 of which I think really needs it, the others are just me being a perfectionist.
Some games on the site are listed with labels, but none of the ones I'm looking for. Is it possible that someone already has them made up? Then I just need to learn how to print them on the proper label paper and stick them on. Here's what I'm looking for:
SNES:
TMNT IV: Turtles in Time
Super Metroid
Super Punch-Out
And these I don't care as much about it, but if I have an easy time doing the others:
NES:
Super Off Road
Batman
Kid Icarus
I have Super Metroid...
https://app.box.com/s/4yyrgwvjvs7azlo3n4hq
... There's a bunch of different ones (original and several custom) for Super Metroid in that folder.
As far as printing them out. I usually don't mess with that myself. Mainly because I suck at cutting them out. I have a guy whom I order them from whenever I need a label. He prints them on vinyl, which looks great IMO.
-
Cool. Thanks. BTW did you know that the Super Nintendo logo on that Metroid is partially obstructed?
Does your guy do it through a site or ebay? Or is it a friend that just does it for you privately?
-
Cool. Thanks. BTW did you know that the Super Nintendo logo on that Metroid is partially obstructed?
Does your guy do it through a site or ebay? Or is it a friend that just does it for you privately?
Ooops... Thanks for pointing that out. It somehow missed my detection. Here's a fixed version if you need it...
https://app.box.com/s/00rkt62f802jzpo5qfd7
I actually found my guy through eBay initially, but have been buying the labels directly via e-mail and paypal as I can get them a little cheaper that way. I'll PM you his address (I already asked him and he's cool with it).
-
Awesome. Thanks.
-
Just wanted to throw my 2 cents in. I've been making myself repros, and hunted threw a lot of different products to make labels.
Inkjet printable waterproof adhesive vinyl sheets.
(marketed for outdoor use and production labels)
http://www.texascraft.com/hps/product.php?productid=17514&cat=249&page=1 (http://www.texascraft.com/hps/product.php?productid=17514&cat=249&page=1)
Gloss laminate overlay
(after using this, the labels look very high quality/professional, also marketed for UV protection/outdoor use)
http://www.texascraft.com/hps/product.php?productid=17545&cat=&page=2 (http://www.texascraft.com/hps/product.php?productid=17545&cat=&page=2)
They can be purchased in smaller quantities or by the sheet on eBay.
They're a bit pricey but you can do 6 genesis labels per sheet. So about $0.60 - 0.75 per genesis label.
-Pro Tip: The backing on them is very thick and every time I tried to print, the vinyl would peel away and stick inside the printer jamming it.
I put a few pieces of scotch tape along the leading edge of the paper to stop that. Works perfectly.
(http://i67.photobucket.com/albums/h319/OdensGugnir/2013-09-23_10-48-24_731_zps806c428c.jpg)
-
Thanks for this information. I ordered some of those Papilio vinyl and gloss laminate. They are excellent. Those combined with my cutting machine I was able to do some cool things:
NES controller overlay:
(http://www.stoneagegamer.com/images/IMG_1108.JPG)
7.5" Earl vinyl sticker:
(http://www.stoneagegamer.com/images/IMG_1110.JPG)
-
Wait til you see what I've got in the works ;)
-
Loving the custom controller stone age! Great work!
Add one more thing to my to-do list.....
-
Okay so I bought Mystical Ninja Starring Goemon for the N64 today at the fleamarket. The label is in bad shape due to the sticker on front (14.99 red sticker) and I tried to use a blow dryer to attempt to remove it but it seems it got damaged :-[. Since I heard about this site what's the best size to replace an N64 label? I need to know ASAP. :o
-
Just download the label from the N64 section(http://www.thecoverproject.net/view.php?cover_id=1682) and it is already the correct size. Use photoshop or something similar and make sure you don't have an option checked for fit to page or similar wording and it should fit perfectly.
-
Ok so I downloaded the label so I print it straight up? I don't know if I use Photoshop however I have windows photo viewer would that be possible?
-
As long as it doesn't say fit to page I think it should work fine. or if there's an option for scale put it at 100%.
-
well despite printing the said label its bigger it wont fit on the n64 cart how on earth do i make it smaller so it will fit on the cartridge? a little help here
-
When I post, I just get a blank text box with none of the things shown in that image. Maybe because Im almost always on my ipad and its different for mobile users?
-
Is there a recommended sticker paper to use?