While I thought the vinyl eyes at rogue minis (http://rogueminis.com/3.html) and some other vendors were pretty cool, I thought they all looked too angry. My mini doesn't feel like it would be an angry car. I am also a very cheap person and didn't feel like paying a kind of high price for them. So I made up my own under the bonnet eyes to put in the indentions behind the headlights.
traced shape, scanned shape, converted base shape to vector using illustrator, this provided the shape of the final piece. eye graphics made using DAZ 3d software rendering program with a little bit of photoshop.
printed on some avery label paper. laminated the top, slapped the label onto a scrap piece of vinyl from local vinyl sign shop. cut out shape. voila. a waterproof, weather resistant set of eyes. put them on the other night after a few beers, they're not perfectly evenly placed in daylight sober, but they look very cool.
could've used vinyl print paper as well, but it cost more. total cost of project= maybe a dollar, probably less, as it is all pretty much scrap materials.
also helps to have the software, laminator, and a printer.

 

Plan on making more?

 

hadn't thought about it. i posted a large enough file in the gallery so anyone can print one of their own. I have the file in layers and its pretty easy to change the eye color if someone wants an iris of a different color or looking in a different direction. I got no problem sharing graphic files.

 

Awesome!

I too have been looking for non-angry eyes, these look just about perfect. The only thing I would change on mine is a little more red around the whites.

 

very nice.. do u have the right eyes? i wan both eyes lookign str ahead..

 

sure, having the corneas on separate levels makes it pretty easy to adjust their size and location. these are a little darker blue. for opposite eye, print in reverse.
larger print file in gallery. original file size I used was at 300dpi, but the files posted at 72 should do ok. this might not be so looking straight ahead after looking at it, I kinda got hooked on the cross-eyed look to the car.

 

the 3d program I mentioned before has the ability to increase redness, and its free if you want to play with more bloodshot.
http://www.daz3d.com/
you can also manipulate the shape of the vitreous cavity to kind of match the shape of the mini's.
I originally tried vector image artwork for the iris, but they looked too cartoonish, I think I'll post that sample up as well.

 

Lol, one hung over MINI coming up!

Thanks again for the links and the work.

 

its always awesome seeing people making their own things!
looks great!

 

That is awsome!! Good job on them.

 

correction for work instructions:
print-apply to vinyl-cut edges-then laminate, trim to 1/8 inch or so for laminate overgap.
laminating as the last step gives it a nice seal away from any heat or moisture
totally makes a difference. my passenger side eye was getting bubbly on edge (I used the wet application method for that side eye), remade them, this worked to keep them nice and flat and sealed from any heat or moisture.
sprayed hose and armor alled, and they are much more protected this way with e little edge to the laminate.