Correct Sticker Paper for Replacing Cartridge Labels?

[Original_Name]

Hey guys, I'm replacing the labels on a few of my more beat-up cartridges (specifically Super Nintendo) -- does anybody out there know the correct type of sticker paper to use for this? Last time I tried, I had the wrong paper, more of a matte than the glossy finish of a real cartridge label, and the difference is obvious.

Is this what I need?

[Hobie-wan]

None of them will be the same since all but the later cheap SNES carts have a plastic coating on top.

[marurun]

You might be able to get a local FedEx/Kinkos or other print shop to print stuff like that for you on proper labels. Maybe on something better.

[Anapan]

The stuff you linked to looks like photo paper - All the photo paper I've bought is thick and does not bend well. It'll probably work, but I'd question it's ability to adhere properly after being bent over the cart since most inkjet photo paper is so thick and plastic-y. It's also very bad for scratches in my experience - the thin layer of ink is able to be scratched off with your fingernail easier than a scratch&win. The ink is usually absorbed into the paper but with photo paper it's directly on the surface. Maybe if you gave it a spray paint clear-coat it'd be OK, but I have never tried that.
I suggest you get them made up better than the original. Go to a print shop that has a vinyl dye sublimation + laminate machine. Not too expensive since it's a common technology now and is far better than the paper/plastic stuff that was used. I get hard-hat stickers made up with these because the weather&scratch proofing is essential, and they can be applied to a spherical surface easily. Visually they are indistinguishable and the print shop can have the CNC machine cut it to exact specifications.

[Frag Mortuus]

I bought an ugly UMK3 last year that I wanted to add a new label. I printed it on high quality photopaper. Applied it with a scrapbooking glue stick then used a piece of packaging tape across the label (for the plastic/protective effect). Lastly, I used an x-acto blade to trim the excess tape around the edge of the label. It looked amazing. I later sold the cart (letting the person know it was a repro label) and they said they would have never known.

[Luke]

I'd pm Ziggy. His carts look fantastic.

[GirlGamer55]

Maybe this is a stupid idea but I've seen some packages of this sticker/label paper in the office supplies areas in stores and I always wondered if the would work for repro labels...I think you can use them in your printer like normal paper. Don't know if they would be of any quality but...worth a shot?

Oh and maybe i'm the only one who didn't ever get to see Ziggy's work but looking at his thread all of his pictures are gone so..if the OP is like me we have no idea how good his repro's were lol.

[Ack]

As an owner of Ziggy's work, trust me, they are spectacular.

[Ziggy]

That's the same exact one that I use.

The stuff you linked to looks like photo paper - All the photo paper I've bought is thick and does not bend well. It'll probably work, but I'd question it's ability to adhere properly after being bent over the cart since most inkjet photo paper is so thick and plastic-y.

Yeah, that's the problem I have with it. After getting a good technique down to apply it, I would rubber band a piece of foam to the top of the cart for a few days. Otherwise, that top part pops up. Pain in the ass.

That photopaper looks alright, doesn't scratch too easily, and gets the job done. It was easier than the "tape trick." But yeah, it's photopaper, so a lot more fragile than a real label.

Last time I tried, I had the wrong paper, more of a matte than the glossy finish of a real cartridge label, and the difference is obvious.

Most people do what I call the tape trick. You take any kind of adhesive label, like this one...



...and cover it with clear packing tape. The tape mimics what a real label looks like. Some tapes work better than others, mine always looked a little fuzzy but I've seen ones from others that look a lot better. This is a lot more durable than photopaper.

Oh and maybe i'm the only one who didn't ever get to see Ziggy's work but looking at his thread all of his pictures are gone so..if the OP is like me we have no idea how good his repro's were lol.

Charity Auction 2011: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 11#p520411

2012: http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g295/ ... G_0247.jpg

2013: http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g295/ ... 5a920c.jpg

Those are all made from the photopaper in the above Amazon link.

[GirlGamer55]

Charity Auction 2011: http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewtopi ... 11#p520411

2012: http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g295/ ... G_0247.jpg

2013: http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g295/ ... 5a920c.jpg

Those are all made from the photopaper in the above Amazon link.

Ah thanks, well I've seen worse. But as with most repro labels, unless you have an amazing quality printer, it's going to look like it was printed out. Which while yours are some of the better "printed out" ones i've seen, they still look...printed out. Maybe i'm missing the point, but when I think of repro labels, I think of ones that look like the originals or damn near close to original. I mean i'm not trying to be mean or rude, it's better then anything I could do since my printer is a jacked up peice of shit...