Introduction: Laser-Cut Laptop Tattoo

About: I'm the former Frontend Engineer for Instructables. Problems with the site? It may have been my fault... Like what you see? Sing my praises!

Make a sharp adhesive label to cover a logo on your laptop! There are lots of examples of awesome designs laser-etched directly into the tops of laptops. Here's one of the first instructables on the topic. Instructables even did this for free at the last few Maker Faires and a few conferences.

Here's my problem, though: I could never decide on a design for my laptop. I'd come up with one, but a few days later I would think it was lame. That cycle happened a dozen times before I thought of a better way: Why not use the laser cutter to create a precision-cut sticker, instead? This "tattoo" would be removable, so I didn't have to be gun-shy any more.

This instructable shows what I did, including the source files for the design, a description of the special retroreflective tape I used, and a nifty trick for getting a perfectly-placed sticker.

Step 1: Make a Design

I threw this design together using Illustrator. The file that I ended up with is attached. I also took a picture of my laptop lid to get the proportions just right; you can see that the design has a glowing area that is totally inside the existing Apple logo but also completely covers the rest of the logo.

I used a funky perspective to bring the lit "power" logo off-center. That way the whole sticker can be centered while the power logo can be as big as possible while avoiding that bite in the right side of the apple.

Step 2: Choose a Sticker Material

I chose something called retroreflective tape, which is a material with some interesting properties. I also covered my messenger bag with it, and explained how it works in this instructable. What it comes down to is that the sticker surface is black in most light, but in certain conditions it will glow pure white. Very cool.

In addition, unlike other stickers, the retroreflective tape I used for the new sticker has a thin metal film it it, so the Apple logo is masked completely. Other materials might allow the light to show through.

Step 3: Clear the Area

My last laptop decal had a similar "power" logo. I'm still fond of it (especially the barcode design) but it was cut by hand using an xacto knife and had ragged edges. Also, the sticker it was cut from still let the Apple logo shine through, even though it was a fairly thick vinyl. As I mentioned in the last step, the retroreflective tape I used for the new sticker has a thin metal film it it, so the Apple logo is masked completely.

This step was easy. I peeled off the old sticker, leaving a clean surface.

Step 4: Laser-Cut Your Sticker

First, I did a test cut using normal paper to make sure the right parts of the design would be illuminated and the rest of the Apple logo would be completely covered. The first two pictures below show the paper version being pulled out and test-fit. The latter two pictures show the retroreflective tape, laser cut.

Step 5: Apply Using Water

Here's a trick that I learned from my fellow Instructables people: When applying stickers or decals to a non-porous surface, a film of water give you tons of time to get the placement perfect.

In the pictures below, you'll see what I did: a spritz of water on the sticky side of the peeled-off sticker and spritz of water on the laptop lid. Then, I carefully laid down the sticker close to its final position. With the water in there, though, I had time to carefully adjust its placement and push out air bubbles.

With a piece of plastic, I carefully squeegeed the area and then patted it with a paper towel. The sticker was fairly fixed, at this point, but as the liquid fully wicked out from underneath, the adhesive bound to the laptop lid itself, making it even more permanent. Best of all, it looks perfect.

Step 6: Finished!

The "tattoo" looks great on the laptop, hiding the Apple logo completely. In certain light, the black sticker will actually glow pure white, just like reflector on a freeway sign or on a bicycle. It's a neat effect!