Custom PC - UK (2021-09)

onto the carbon copy paper, with it stuck to your case with masking tape.
Use a ballpoint pen to draw over the lines as this will press the carbon
image onto your case.
Once you’re done, remove the papers, but be careful not to smudge
the carbon details left behind. It’s easier to work with acrylic here, as you
can just place your image underneath it and trace the design as you see it.
Now, using a medium speed setting on your rotary tool, trace the
outlines of the design, first using sweeping motions and holding the tip
at an angle, so it’s not pointing straight down. Go over the areas a second
time if necessary.
You can then switch to a rounded tip for larger areas, taking care not
to press too hard. It’s better to go over each area two or three times
with lighter pressures, as this will result in a more even surface than
pressing too hard at the start. The engraving will create dust, but it should
settle locally and it’s easy to clean away. Use a damp cloth to clean your
engraving area.

It’s a good idea to practise first on a hidden area of your case, as

all cases have different paint thicknesses and will require different

pressure to cut through to the metal. Acrylic can be purchased online in

small sections quite cheaply, so if you’re dealing with a clear side panel

window, practise on some spare acrylic first, and even try engraving your

whole design a few times until you’re confident.

VINYL

An easier way to add a splash of colour or
transform the exterior of your case compared
to painting is to use adhesive vinyl. You can add
smaller details or completely cover your PC,
and you only need a pair of scissors or a scalpel
to get started. Of course, for real eye-popping
details and complicated designs, a vinyl cutter
is a fantastic tool, as you can use transfer paper
to lift your design out of a machine-cut sheet of
vinyl and press it onto your PC case.

Covering the exterior of your PC is fairly

simple. Get a sheet of adhesive vinyl (Amazon

and eBay are great sources), cut it to size

with an inch overlap so you can bend over the

corners, and then use a credit card or similar

piece of plastic to press it onto the surface

in sweeping motions, smoothing out any

air bubbles.

With a vinyl cutter, your pattern will be cut

out of a sheet of adhesive vinyl with backing

paper. The cutting machine has a blade that

cuts through the coloured vinyl but not through

the vinyl’s backing paper, so once it’s finished

cutting, you can lift the sections it’s cut out off

the backing paper, leaving the vinyl you don’t

want behind.

You can then transfer the cut-out pieces to

the case by hand, but it’s better to use transfer

paper, which is tacky on one side. Transfer

paper sticks to the cut-outs, enabling you to

easily lift them off the sheet in one go, and

transfer them all to your case at the same time.

It’s simple and very effective ,and you can

place the vinyl on paint or on top of other vinyl,

as you can see below with black text on top of

a yellow wrap. Press it firmly onto the surface

with a credit card and then lift off he transfer

paper off at an acute angle to separate the

transfer paper from the vinyl. If any sections

of the vinyl stay behind, roll the transfer sheet

back over them and use a scalpel if necessary

to press them back on, so they stay within

the pattern.

You can even cover a whole case with a

large enough sheet, which this can be easier

than spray painting. Occasionally, the edges

can lift over time as the adhesive dries, but

it’s simple to fix, either by applying glue or

recutting an identical piece and reapplying it.

We used a vinyl cutter to create a mask

for the etching cream in the earlier section,

and this can work for paint masking too. Vinyl

masking sheet is a fantastic material for both

painting and etching, as you can create neat,

complex masks in a fraction of the time it

would take to create by hand.

Use a damp cloth to clean your engraving area

We used a vinyl cutter to create

a mask for the etching cream

Cut vinyl wrap to size with an inch

overlap, so you can bend over the corners

Transfer paper sticks to the cut-outs, enabling

you to easily lift them off the sheet in one go

You can place the vinyl on paint or on top of other vinyl,

such as this black vinyl on top of a yellow vinyl wrap

FEATURE / CUSTOMISATION