We wanted to get a custom GoBadge with an image of Hobbes on it but the nice folks at GoBadges can't do it because of copyright issues. Anyone find a work around for this?

 

You would have to do it yourself. Nobody is going to be able to do anything with it due to the copyright.

 

No, I figured as much. I was just wondering if anyone had tips for a good do-it-yourself job.

 

You could use this as a base or just google it and whatever comes up use that. If you make it a magnetic badge it will take you all of about 10 minutes to do.

 

Thanks Porthos! I like it. It may just fit the bill. I just can't send it to GoBadges and have them do the work to create it since it will violate the C&H copyright. I'll have to make the badge myself.

 

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Calvin_and_hobbes
Think about all the sticker cut outs on back windows of Calvin pi--ing on a Ford logo. Shouldn't be too hard to find somebody who could professionally make a badge and who doesn't care about copyright infringement. At least a badge would be a tribute of sorts to C&H instead of a rude depiction.

Val

 

Spicy,

What I have found for making my own badges (a lot of this is from memory as it has been a while since I've had to buy any new materials):

1. Order some magnetic sheet material. I think you need at least 30 mil thickness to keep it from flying off. Typically sign shops can sell you this stuff (I got mine from www.buildasign.com). Once you get it, cut out 3" diameter circles of the stuff.

2. Buy the print your own bumper sticker paper from a office supply store. Unless things have changed, I think you have to buy it for an ink jet and I have found that the colors don't come out right on a laser printer.

3. For extra durability (though not necessary) I also bought some laminate sheets and I put these over the bumper sticker material as the ink jet ink will smear the first time it gets wet. Even with the laminate, water will still wick in and eventually destroy the bumper sticker paper.

4. Use your software to design your badge on 3" diameter circles. I usually take those and put them in an OOo document for printing. Since you'll cut the paper and thus, can only run it through the printer once, I go ahead and do six badges at a time - either multiples of the same thing or different designs.

5. Once printed, cut the badge out of the bumper sticker paper leaving some extra space around it. Cut a similarly sized piece of the laminate and stick the bumper sticker paper onto the laminate (trying to keep out air bubbles). Then do the final cutting to the 3" diameter. Takes a steady hand. I do the assembly in this order as I found it all easier to cut like this.

6. When finished cutting, peel off the backing of the bumper sticker and stick on the magnet. Finished.

One nice thing about the bumper sticker paper is the glue is strong enough to hold for a long time, but relatively easy to peel off if the badge is destroyed by water, etc., or you just want to change and re-use the magnetic material. The magnetic materials is easily the most expensive part, so I try to recycle them as much as I can.

 

Thanks folks. I do want to make an honest and respectful tribute to a beloved cartoon character. Sam Waterson should not be surprised that his work would have been perverted in some way. People are troglodytes (present company excepted of course)