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Custom Grid Lines Transparent overlay

Started 4 weeks ago | Questions
Vintehin Junior Member • Posts: 28
Custom Grid Lines Transparent overlay

Hello !
For a very specific project I need some custom grid line on my camera (Sony A7RIV).

Panasonic offer such option in firmware, but Sony doesn't and switching brand is not an option for me !

So I want to try to print some screen overlay with custom grid line, I tried with my ink printer and transparent sticker I found online, but it's nor working, if I use viewfinder and touch backscreen with my nose the ink start flowing immediatly, same if some water drop fall on it.

Anyone have an idea how to achieve my goal ? Any protoection screen brand offer custom display ? Or maybe just grid display ? Any idea of printing technique or brand of waterproof sticker ?

And bonus question, the same one but for viewfinder ? print very little transparent sticker ? I'm open to any new solution, DIY craft, third party accessory, firmware hack ...

All advises welcome !

ANSWER:
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ProfHankD
ProfHankD Veteran Member • Posts: 9,147
Re: Custom Grid Lines Transparent overlay

Vintehin wrote:

Hello !
For a very specific project I need some custom grid line on my camera (Sony A7RIV).

Panasonic offer such option in firmware, but Sony doesn't and switching brand is not an option for me !

So I want to try to print some screen overlay with custom grid line, I tried with my ink printer and transparent sticker I found online, but it's nor working, if I use viewfinder and touch backscreen with my nose the ink start flowing immediatly, same if some water drop fall on it.

Aha! You are putting this on the rear LCD... good, that's easier than the alternative.

Anyone have an idea how to achieve my goal ? Any protoection screen brand offer custom display ? Or maybe just grid display ? Any idea of printing technique or brand of waterproof sticker ?

The stickers are waterproof -- it's your inkjet ink that isn't.

Try drawing the lines using a fine-tip sharpie or waterproof ink. Another possibility would be to 3D-print a little frame with lines to fit over the display.

Actually, for drafting, they used to make these very thin rolls of black "graphic arts" tape. My first circuit boards were done using such tape to make masks for the traces. These can be applied to the screen (or a protector) and then peeled off later without harm. Now, they most often seem to be 1/8" or 3mm wide (some are 1/16" or even 1/64") and often get called "whiteboard thin tape" and come in a variety of colors. I'd strongly recommend these.

And bonus question, the same one but for viewfinder ? print very little transparent sticker ? I'm open to any new solution, DIY craft, third party accessory, firmware hack ...

The awkward alternative. You don't want to disassemble the EVF.

No firmware hacks for the A7RIV -- that stopped with the A7III. The A7RII is still hackable using OpenMemories.

 ProfHankD's gear list:ProfHankD's gear list
Canon PowerShot SX530 Olympus TG-860 Sony a7R II Canon EOS 5D Mark IV Sony a6500 +32 more
Joseph S Wisniewski Forum Pro • Posts: 35,462
Transparent over transparent...

Vintehin wrote:

Hello !
For a very specific project I need some custom grid line on my camera (Sony A7RIV).

Panasonic offer such option in firmware, but Sony doesn't and switching brand is not an option for me !

So I want to try to print some screen overlay with custom grid line, I tried with my ink printer and transparent sticker I found online, but it's nor working, if I use viewfinder and touch backscreen with my nose the ink start flowing immediatly, same if some water drop fall on it.

Top of my head...

  • Put a transparent sticker over your printed sticker. You may even be able to use the same material you're already using. Or "screen protector" material. Or clear packing tape.
  • Print shops often have "solvent printers" that can print water/chemical resistant stickers. Call around, see if any local shops do this. You may also be able to get this done by an online print ship.
  • Scribe the lines into a transparent sticker, then rub them with wax pencil or paint pen, Buff to get excess off the clear part so it stays only in the scratches.
  • Pin the sticker down sticky-side-up and draw the lines on the sticky side in sharpie.
  • Pin the sticker down sticky-side-up and lay out the lines with thread. Stretch the thread tight enough to make sure the lines are straight, but not so tight that they make the sticker curl up when you unpin it.
  • Take 1/64 inch or thinner "model pinstripe tape" available at any decent hobby shop and lay the lines out directly on your LCD. This give you a broad choice of colors. I recommend hot pink.
  • 3d print a frame just larger than your LCD, and make a grid in thin colored wire.

Anyone have an idea how to achieve my goal ? Any protoection screen brand offer custom display ? Or maybe just grid display ? Any idea of printing technique or brand of waterproof sticker ?

And bonus question, the same one but for viewfinder ? print very little transparent sticker ?

They would have to go inside the viewfinder, over the little LCD display. Are you comfortable taking that much of the camera apart?

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Armenian genocide survivor, amazing cook, scrabble master, and loving grandmother. You will be missed.
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 Joseph S Wisniewski's gear list:Joseph S Wisniewski's gear list
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OP Vintehin Junior Member • Posts: 28
Re: Custom Grid Lines Transparent overlay
1

Thanks both of you for answers !

I will try :

- Professionnal sticker print

- model pinstripe / graphic arts tape on screen

- cutting frame in a carbone fibre paper sheet or 3d print

I'll report here the best method (for my taste) !

-

jiberlin Regular Member • Posts: 421
Re: Custom Grid Lines Transparent overlay

Vintehin wrote:

Hello !
For a very specific project I need some custom grid line on my camera (Sony A7RIV).

Panasonic offer such option in firmware, but Sony doesn't and switching brand is not an option for me !

So I want to try to print some screen overlay with custom grid line, I tried with my ink printer and transparent sticker I found online, but it's nor working, if I use viewfinder and touch backscreen with my nose the ink start flowing immediatly, same if some water drop fall on it.

Anyone have an idea how to achieve my goal ? Any protoection screen brand offer custom display ? Or maybe just grid display ? Any idea of printing technique or brand of waterproof sticker ?

And bonus question, the same one but for viewfinder ? print very little transparent sticker ? I'm open to any new solution, DIY craft, third party accessory, firmware hack ...

All advises welcome !

Print with laser printer or use a copy machine.

 jiberlin's gear list:jiberlin's gear list
Canon PowerShot S120 Sony a7 Nikon Z6 Nikon Z 14-30mm F4 Nikon Z 24-200mm F4-6.3 VR +15 more
A-Marc
A-Marc Senior Member • Posts: 1,366
Re: Custom Grid Lines Transparent overlay

is camera stationary on tripod ? if so, you could  tether into Capture One and use the overlay tool with a custom grid .png.

 A-Marc's gear list:A-Marc's gear list
Sony a7R II Sony a7R IV Voigtlander 15mm F4.5 Super Wide Heliar Sony FE 55mm F1.8 Zeiss Batis 25mm F2 +4 more
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