Engraved body colored handle pic

[Ron Stygar]

Finally got my engraved body colored handles and surrounds installed. Only engraved the drivers side. Pic isn't that good but you will get the idea.

<img src="http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/handle4.jpg">

<img src="http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/handlemcoupe.jpg">


<img src="http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/handle6.jpg">

[Ox///M]

That is SUPERB! I have hated the black plastic door handles on the z3 for so long! Any process steps coming? P/N, cost, etc?

TIA

[Polar Bear]

I'd like to get an idea of how the painted door handles look in relation to the rest of your car - I have chrome surrounds and handles and have been thinking of having the originals painted-


TIA

PB

[dakarm]

Wow that looks beautiful!

[Ron Stygar]

<img src="http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/whitehan.jpg">

<img src="http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/whitehan1.jpg">

[Randy Forbes]

Hey!
What's with the gills?
Is that your old car? I thought that was an ///M too...

BTW, the body colored handles look nice, like the ones on my black car (LOL).

[Ron Stygar]

It's the '00.

[bleemer]

I took the liberty of making a few edits....

I happen to have a font that's remarkably similar to the one BMW used for the Z3 - it's called Serpentine, from Adobe.

The M is just Futura Extra Bold Oblique with a couple o' lines in front.

If you like these, I can send them to you in AI 1.1 (or whatever) format, which any CAD or vector-based etching controller (or vinyl cutter or whatever) should be able to read.

[bleemer]

Here's a better look at the type, raw.

[Ron Stygar]

If you like these, I can send them to you in AI 1.1 (or whatever) format, which any CAD or vector-based etching controller (or vinyl cutter or whatever) should be able to read.

>>>Sure. Send them. Not sure what AI 1.1 is. How about windows useable?
The following pic is "roadster" euro extended that we did. This handle with a modified mounting pin is available.

<img src="http://www.unofficialbmw.com/images/handle6a.jpg">

[bleemer]

Well, "Windows useable" can mean a lot of things...

What are you using to do the etching? Is it on a CNC, or are you using a chemical etch (looks machined to me, but hard to tell)? I've had some chemical etching done in the past on steel, and it's really wonderful. It's a photographic process, so you can get a lot of detail and not worry about paying a lot more for a more complex image. Pretty cheap, too, as I recall....

AI 1.1 is the earliest version of Adobe Illustrator - it's what I've been asked for in the past when I've had work done with computer-controller vinyl-cutting machines, embroidery machines, etc . I'm assuming CNC wouldn't be too different.

Basically, it's a file format for vector-based art - and any cutter/CNC usually works with vector-based input, though Doug W. told me he has a local source with a machine that can take raster (bitmapped) images and etch them, too. I suggested 1.1 because it's the lowest-common-denominator, and a lot of graphics systems can read it.

I can just as easily give you a GIF, TIFF, EPS, PDF or just about anything else - I may even be able to convert to DXF, if that's what works best for you. If you want a bitmapped image, let me know the resolution (pretty high, most likely).

So what I'm saying is, it depends on the process by which you are etching/milling the art. If you're outsourcing it, they should be able to tell you what file formats they can accept, and I'll do what I can to make it easy.

David

[whamac]

I'd pay a lot of attention to this Bleemer guy.

He's a genius, I kid you not!!!!

Doug W.