super tiny printing

[chrach]

I've been using micro-tip pens for writing out text and runes on larger character battle banners, tanks etc. Does anyone know of a way to write out extremely tiny letters to fit actual sentences on 40k model books etc? Obviously it would have to be done (and read) under high magnification, but I have no way of writing or painting with text that small.

It would be really fun to actually print out actual "oaths of the moment" and the like on the scrolls on landraiders etc, although I doubt it is possible to print letters that small. I do alot of surgery under an operating microscope, and so I would just need some kind of wonder-micropen, single fiber paintbrush, laser-etching device or the like. I'm not even sure if these types of devices exist.

[<E!_Mance>]

Sadly, they don't...
... not on the common market, anyway.

[artificer]

you could always email a Guinness world record holder for tips, you know, the type that can write the entire American Declaration of Independence on a grain of rice...:shifty:

[Gman]

I think you are very ambitious for wanting to make something that small and legible. When I do purity seals and things of that size, I just make some squiggles and dots so it looks like writting. I have a small paint brush that plucked most of the bristles out of, leaving about 6-10 of them. I then dip it into GW ink and make my "writting" that way. You could attempt this doing it under a magnifying glass to make actual words etc. The key is only a few bristles and ink because it's thin enough to not smudge and blot, but has enough pigment to look good small.

[CaptainA]

A guy at our game store has a really cool Necromancer and the model is holding a book. He scanned the cover of his Vampire Counts codex and shrunk it down and took it to kinkos and printed it out. He did the same kind of thing with a sign. They both looked very nice. That could be an alternative.


Just Me

[Hard A**]

If you have access to a decent high resolution printer (inkjet or laser) then you could do what I have done in the past, and print onto tattoo film. This is translucent film, on a transparent backing sheet, that is designed to have (very) temporary skin tattoos prrinted onto it with an inkjet printer.

You can get extremely fine quality print (under 1mm high and still legible), I know as I was experimenting putting oaths etc. onto the side of a Sisters of Battle Rhino.

Other options include buying a 00000 brush, and using a Optical Magnifying Visor (you need the stereoscopic vision to know when your brush is actually on the surface of the model, a single magnifying glass won't do), a clamp for the model and a very steady desk to rest as much of your hands as possible on while painting. Or use the magnifying system with a Rapdiograph type mapping pen (which are pretty expensive).

Hope this helps.

[artificer]

Or use the magnifying system with a Rapdiograph type mapping pen (which are pretty expensive).

There is little in this world (except, perhaps, a REALLY nice fountain pen) that surpasses the rapidiograph pen in terms of 'silky smoothness' while writing. They're worth every penny!

BttT- all joking aside, similar to Hard Aun's comments, I'm using laser jet 'water slide' transfers to print the names of my marines for their shoulder guard unit badges and 'honour plates' (the little plaques that are attached just above the bottom edge of some of the shoulder guards). My Sgts. will all have their names printed in 2.5 pt type, with no fancy brushwork required from yours truly.
You don't even need a laser printer, just take a tiff of the art work you generate to a quick-copy type of place and have them print it.

I don't recommend the ink jet style of transfer paper, as it needs to be clear coated before use, and can crack and craze when being bent to shape on the piece. The laser stuff is dead-easy.