How to: Print and Apply a Cartridge Label

[Rx_79]

This is probably someplace else on here but I hate searching.

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.

[Moviefan2k4]

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.

[Rx_79]

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.

[Blumpkin]

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.

[Nacho3]

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.

[Blumpkin]

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.

[Ektophase]

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  

[Nacho3]

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.

[Rx_79]

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.

[wiggy]

Yeah, using DPI and actual real world measurements is the way to go.  The whole measuring by pixel count thing is sorta dumb.

[Rx_79]

 ???I guess pixel count changes depending on the number of pixels in an image.

[Moviefan2k4]

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.

[Moviefan2k4]

???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.

[wiggy]

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.

[Moviefan2k4]

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.