Installing custom made
gauges like these on your car is easy! Not only will
it give your car a unique look, you can change them
whenever you like and create as many template
variations as you wish.
The only things needed are pictures, background
images, paper, and Adobe Photoshop.
At the same time installing the new templates you
could also change the back lighting for your factory
gauges. It is fairly simple to do and gives your
vehicle a unique look!
Installation Instructions:
Step 1
- Open your dash and expose the gauges.
Step 2
- Once you've completed this step, scan them at a
minimum of 300dpi in a Photoshop compatible program.
Step 3
- You will need to separate the image and have the
background (figure 1) on one layer and the numbers
and "dummy lights" on the other (figure 2). You can
customize the second layer to your specifications,
eg. font, size, angles, outlines....etc. Both
layers need to be transparent.
figure 1
figure 2
Step 4
- The background layer can be replaced with whatever
image fancies you. I've chosen a sunset. Create a
new layer and paste the desired image. Select
"transform" to stretch the image to full size. Ctrl
+ left-click on the background layer to
automatically "lasso" the outline of the gauges.
(Figure 3, layer 18). Once you've selected the
outline click Ctrl + Shift + I to reverse the
selection then Crtl + X to cut. (Figure 4)
figure 3
figure 4
Step 5
- To make a copy of the "dummy" lights and numbers
layer, click on the layer from the "layers window"
then press on ALT + L and choose "duplicate layer".
Move the copied layer between the black and pictured
gauges. (Figure 5)
figure 5
Step 6
- Merge the first two
layers.
Step 7
- To select the shine-through colour at night, click
your "dummy lights" in the layer window and Ctrl +
Left click to select. On the black gauges layer, use
the "bucket" to fill in desired colour to shine
through. Trash the copy layer. (Figure 6)
figure 6
Step 8
- Make a copy of each layer.
Step 9
- Make the image fit on a standard page. (Figure 7)
figure 7
Step 10
- Print each layer on regular white paper. (Figure 8)
(Warning: with regular white paper, some light will
shine through parts you don't want light to shine
through. You get used to it though)
figure 8
Step 11
- Cut out the images and glue the black behind the
coloured. Align using a bright light behind them.
Use ordinary wood glue and press in a heavy book
overnight.
Step 12
- Reverse step 1 to install back into vehicle.
Custom
Gauge Face
