painting a specific design...

I've been lurking around the cosmetic mod. section for some time now. From looking at the pictures of all the painted laptops, I have noticed that most of the painted laptops are fully painted with the same color.

For my laptop, I'm just interested in painting specific sections of the lid of the laptop, not the whole lid. Well, I just want to paint a dragon onto the laptop. I think I'm just going to cut out a stenciled dragon design on paper, and spraypaint over that to achieve the design. I was also thinking of putting a few layers of clear coating. Would this be possible? If I do this, I think that the layers of paint would literally stick out.

Is there any point in adding a few layers of clear coat on the unpainted portion of the laptop? (the lid of the laptop attracts fingerprints)

I've also searched the web and found this: http://www.overclock.net/case-mod-work-logs/69645-project-lappy-paint-overhaul-56k-warning.html

In that post, he uses Vinyl for the design part. What's that? Is there any way I can use Vinyl for the dragon design?

 

Yes, the paint will literally stick out. I'd clear the whole thing, because if you do that then your more likely to make it seem like one layer, and get rid of the 'stick out'. Although I don't know how well its going to attach to your original paint(The clear coat and the dragon design).

 

The laptop that I'm thinking of painting (Vostro 1500) has a magnesium alloy, but feels like plastic. I think that repainting the whole laptop might just be a bit more work...but I can still use this Vinyl.

Does anybody know where I can get more info on Vinyl? I searched the web but I couldn't find anything.

 

What kind of vinyl are you looking for??

Like a laptop skin or something more permanent?

 

I don't really know much about Vinyls. Are they some sort of stickers? In this link: http://www.overclock.net/case-mod-work-logs/69645-project-lappy-paint-overhaul-56k-warning.html The guy seems to make his own Vinyl?

I don't want a laptop skin, I'm just looking for something more permanent...preferably paint...but that would leave an uneven bump.

 

Looks like he used the vinyl for masking. A sign store can cut designs in vinyl (or out of vinyl) for you. You can also get vinyl there and cut yourself or order some from a skin shop.

 

Thanks for the replies,

I still don't quite understand Vinyls. They seem to be some sort of tape/skin? I think i'll look around the web some more. Well, I did and found this: http://www.instructables.com/id/E4LPDFFE1UEP286IW9/?ALLSTEPS I think I might be leaning towards this option, just using a stencil and spray painting over it....it seems like it's more easy to do.

Can I see some pictures of your lappy? Did you have to design the Vinyls yourself?