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How to Apply Customized Pedal Graphics

Have you ever wanted to have your own custom art or design on your pedal? Here is how to do it. My test subjects here are two BYOC Large Beaver pe and some Pink Floyd graphics I comped together in Photoshop. I can't help you create the art, but if you have a computer you can grab stuff off the web to work with using a google image search. Another option is to use a friend who is a graphic designer to lay your art out for you. Get the highest resolution images you can find. I suggest tracing a template for the top of the pedal, including all hole locations, and scan it. You can place your art over this in your graphics software to be sure it will fit.

Here are some designs I mocked up over my BYOC template, mostly using Gerald Scarfe's incredible art he created for Pink Floyd's The Wall. Note - this is all copyrighted art. I don't own it, so don't even ask if I will sell it to you. All of this art was found on the web or made from screen captures from The Wall, then comped together in Photoshop. Click on the template to the right to get a .pdf template you can use for your Large Beaver layout.

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CONTROL KNOBS - If you want some different or better looking knobs for your pedal to make it more unique, try jameco.com or mouser.com.

Here's how to apply the art.

1. Remove all knobs, jacks, and circuit board from the Beaver (or any pedal), or just remove the knobs and jacks and tape over the pedal circuit and guts with painters tape. Be sure to cover the holes.Wipe off the outside pedal of any debris or finger prints. I use isapropyl alcohol.

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2. Spray the outside of the enclosure and lid with a gray metal primer to help your paint stick. Let dry a few hours.

3. Spray your pedal color with a good spray paint meant for metal or automotive paint. A color similar to the background color of your art will look best. Use glossy or semi-gloss satin, not flat paint. I spray 5-6 even coats to get a good smooth surface. Be sure not to spray too close and avoid drips. Let paint dry an hour or so between coats. If you get a drip, let the paint dry and then sand the drip down with a 300 grit or finer sandpaper. Repaint to cover the sanded area. Let paint completely dry for at least 24 hours.

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4. Print your art out on t-shirt transfers that can be printed on common inkjet printers. These can be found at office supply stores, Walmart, Kmart, Target, et cetera. Be sure to use the t-shirt transfers meant for black or dark colored t-shirts (transparaent film with white backing) if the pedal is painted a dark color. Use regular transfers (transparent film) for white t-shirts if your pedal is painted white or a very light color, or if you want the paint on your pedal to show through the art. Be warned though, the colors may be washed out if you use the regular t-shirt transfers on anything other than white paint. I use Avery brand dark t-shirt transfers. Here is my art placed over my templates and printed out.

5. Cut the transfer print out right to the edge of the art. Don’t worry about the holes for the knobs yet, or if you created a template with holes mark, you can go aheard and cut them out. Use a hobby knife and a ruler unless you are really good with scissors. You may need to make a template for the top of the pedal before you do this to be sure your art will fit. If you do use a template, you may cut out the holes for the knobs, jacks, or switches at this point, but I ususally wait until I have applied the tranfer to the enclosure box.

6. Peel the paper backing off the transfer. The actual transfer is a very thin plastic film. Position the transfer on the pedal and press down starting from one end to the other, pressing out any air bubbles as you go. Be sure to press out all air bubbles, if possible. It is very wise to heat set the transfer to the enclosure at this point so that is has a bond to the surface. Heat the surface with a hair dryer, very close, for a few minutes. Put a piece of paper over the transfer and press down all across the surface. You can also use a clothing iron to heat set, but you may risk melting the transfer if you are not careful. If you do use an iron, use a low heat and put paper in between the transfer and iron. Iron no more than 10-15 seconds, alwasy moving the iron. The colors may look like crap at this stage, but don’t worry.

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7. With a hobby knife or razor blade, cut out the holes in the top (if you have not already). If you can't tell where the holes are, press you fingers in the surface of the transfer to make a dimple over the holes. Cut just outside the hole area, no more that 0.5mm (1/32") from the edge.

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8. Spray the enclosure and lid with a good gloss or semi-gloss clear coat. I use high gloss furniture spray laquer. Almost all clear coats are going to act as a solvent to the transfer film due to the chemicals in them, so you may see a few bubbles appear in the transfer after the first coat (you can see the bubbles in the photo below, on right). Your clear coat may also look foggy and transluscent white. Don’t panic! This is normal. Spray about 10-15 coats, letting each dry about 30 minutes in between. The thick clear coat should cover any bubbles and hide them. If you see very large bubbles, blister sized or larger, either the transfer was not bonded firmly to the enclosure by heat, not pressed down hard enough, or the clear coat you are using is not compatible with the transfer material and is chemically breaking it down.

The more clear coats, the better, for a stronger, more chip resistant finish. I spray about 15 coats on mine. When done, let the whole thing completely dry at least 24 hours. The clear coat should deepen the colors and make everything look more vibrant when dry.

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9. Re-assemble, plug it in and play.

I suggest you print a practice transfer and test doing it on something else first if you have never done any thing like this. If you screw it all up the first time , just peel it off, sand it down and start over. I was lucky and got it right on the first try. Below are a few of my custom art jobs. The Brick Muff pedal on the right features art on everu panel of the enclosure, created with a separate trasfer custom cut to fit each panel.

Page is copyright Kit Rae. Art used on pedals is copyrighted by the owners.