Re: how to make keyboards look more cool

[Alex Stahl <alex@pixar.com>]

Coincidentally, one of the big manufacturers of vinyl cutters is... 
Roland. Last i checked there were far more Roland vinyl cutters than 
guitar synths on eBay, let alone digital harpsichords.


On Feb 1, 2005, at 4:37 PM, thetoyroom@comcast.net wrote:

> I might suggest you go to a sign/banner shop that specializes in 
> 'vinyl cutting'.  They use a plotter with a blade head to essentially 
> 'cut out' graphics on sheets of roll vinyl.
>
> Usually, these type of shops have a good selection of vinyl, in a wide 
> array of colors, and they would probably sell you a section of vinyl 
> sheet in your choice of color.  They even make roll vinyl in 
> 'temporary' tack adhesive, for graphics that are intended to be 
> removed.
>
> Then you can cut out small pieces, apply them to the keys, and use an 
> x-acto blade or razor blade to clean up the edges.  If you want to get 
> really trick, you can make an outline of the exact shape of the keys 
> in a drawing program like Corel Draw, Adobe Illustrator, or Macromedia 
> Freehand, export the file as an .EPS file, and take that file to the 
> graphics shop.  They can import it into their software, 'plot' the 
> shape, cut the vinyl, and then you are just removing the vinyl and 
> applying it right to the keys, in the exact shape...just like putting 
> on a bumper sticker.
>
> hope that helps,
>
> rich
>
>
>> I have an idea for you,
>>   4 years I bought a Roland digital harpsichord
>> http://www.8thstreet.com/prod.asp?pid=9056
>> As you can see it's got black keys that are very cool and what appears
>> to be white "accidentals".  When I picked it up I discovered the white
>> keys were actually a horribly uncool light grey.  So, I went to the
>> hardware store and bought some white vinyl adhesive tape.  I very
>> carefully stretched the vinyl tape over the top surface of each ugly
>> grey key and trimmed any excess off the sides with an Xacto knife.  
>> They
>> still look great, haven't slipped, and since the tape is vinyl are 
>> easy
>> to clean.  Maybe you can get some black vinyl tape and cover the 
>> surface
>> of the white keys so every key is...none more black...voila, death 
>> metal
>> killboard!
>
>