Anyone have any good tutorials on this or tips/suggestions?

The intent is to paint it black with green accents. (I'm a sucker for the green on black look) I have no clue what paint to use or anything though.

Before Pics?

What kind of laptop do you own?

I suggest you use some high gloss spray-paint. How about a photoshoped image or concept art?

I'm serious.

Your post was vague...

The last time I painted computer cases, I used acrylic paint and sealed it with a clear polyurethane coat (you can either paint it on or buy a spray can). The seal will give it a glossy look, which you may or may not find desirable, but it will substantially increase the strength of the coat, making it resistant to scratches.

Don't try to paint it like normal stuff, that is use masking tape and all that. Disassemble your computer until you have the casing itself separated then paint it without having to worry about the little LEDs and screen and stuff.

Thanks for the suggestions, Sirocco. I hadn't thought to separate it first.

And, relay: I was doing exactly that before I checked back.

Here are the before pics:

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{"name":"267452627_b7e7c68b59.jpg","src":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/3\/2\/323d321137d51e93c67d1acbad976f52.jpg","w":500,"h":374,"tn":"\/\/djungxnpq2nug.cloudfront.net\/image\/cache\/3\/2\/323d321137d51e93c67d1acbad976f52"}

Projected after:

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Sorry about the fuzziness. I literally just got this camera, and I haven't completely figured out how to use it yet. I'll be back soon with clearer images and some photoshopped concepts.

Edit: Accidentally hit update before I was done uploading the pics. heh

Edit 2: Updated post with clear photos and concept art.

As you can see, there are a few minor defects in it. There is faded paint where my hands usually go (more pronounced on the right side for some reason) and there is a hairline crack on the back of the screen.

I've actually considered painting my laptop too so... I'm glad you posted...

Well. that is extremely blurry but... I see why you wanted to paint it. My question is... how the hell would you paint the lcd?

Is there a way to remove the casing on it?

I have this copy of PC Magazine that has a bunch of laptop upgrade tips. None are really anything I haven't seen before, but it got me on this track.

And yes, there is a way to remove the casing on most. Look for little things that look like they might be covering screws. (the magazine is how I knew this)

Edit: Does anyone know of a good compound to fix cracks in laptop cases?

oooh... pretty... I dig the concept art.

And as for a compound to fix cracks. I'd actually try some sort of glue. then smoothing it out. It doesn't really matter of you can smooth it out and paint over it.

Update: My photoshop class was cancelled, so I went to Michael's and Ace Hardware.

I bought:
Black spray paint (Krylon)
White spray paint (Krylon)
Neon green acrylic paint
A cheap pack of 3 different sized paintbrushes
Some sandpaper
An all-purpose glue that the guy at Ace said works really well on plastic
Cardstock (for printing stencils onto for the keyboard)
X-acto blade (for cutting into the stencils)

What I plan to do to the keyboard:
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Not too shabby looking. Post pics of the outcome (and maybe consider submitting to hackaday.com, they like stuff like this).

Update:

Work on it today was delayed because I stayed up all night waiting in line to pre-order a Wii. (#3!!!) So when I got home I slept all day. But I was able to practice my graffiti skills on my calculator and a keyboard I never use. It took me a while to get in the groove, but I got the hang of it.

I took apart the case to the screen, which was easy enough. Felt like I was about to break it at some parts, though. I masked off the speaker holes and put on a first coat before it got too dark to continue. It looks alright, but the laptop's plastic isn't as adhesive as the calculator's, so it's a bit dull. I will probably have to put on 2 or 3 coats.

I've been taking pictures along the way, I will post a link to the photostream when the project is done.

Looking forward to see you mess up the laptop

JK, I'm eager to see what the outcome is

You waited in line at EB/gamestop to pay $50 to reserve a Wii? You do know that you aren't guaranteed anything, right? The email they sent me (I signed up for their Wii preorder info list) says preordering doesn't guarantee a system will be there for you.

I talked to the guys there about it, they said that that's just to cover their ass in case the Xbox 360 thing happens again. I don't think it's an issue, I'm #3 of 10, so I think I'm getting one.

If they get 7 units and you are the 8th person to show up you're SOL.

The black is going to be easy since it seems to be the base coat, I would sand everything down though before spray painting the case so the paint sticks well, then of course you sand and paint again and repeat until it's smooth and glossy. The green could be done easier with pin striping, less permanent but it may look nicer. If you want to paint on the green I would mask off everything but where you want to paint then apply the green. You could possibly clear coat over the green to protect it better. As for the letters on the keys... you are mad ... mad I tell you! It will look cool but be a pain in the ass to pull off. Personally I'd just paint the keys black and call it an elete keyboard, you should know what keys are what anyway

Won't be too hard to do a single key, just the fact that I have to do a billion of them.

Edit: Well, I think I'm not very good at painting with acrylics. I tested it out on my calculator and at first I couldn't get a solid color, but I got past that... now it's just kinda globby. Although I suppose I could just sand it down afterwards...

Edit 2:

Asking opinions. Can't decide between having the green borders on the keys or not.

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Green borders on the keys are quite cool but i think it takes quite some work to do nicely

I like it better w/o borders.

If that green glows in the dark (sorry if you said it does I didn't read all the posts), then I'd say border the keys, otherwise don't.

I'd say don't border the keys, and if it glows in the dark then do the letters in green instead of white.

I second that.

I think it will look good as long as the paint job doesn't end up looking like something out of a bad MSPaint drawing

Perhaps I'll repaint my laptop. It's all scratched to hell and may look nice with a new paint job. I'll probably wait a little while though, until the warranty expires.

[hijack] BTW, does anybody know where I can get new rubber feet for my laptop that will fit correctly? I lost 3 of mine, Gateway tells me they can't send them to me because I bought it at Best Buy (they are the same feet... what kind of BS is that), and Best Buy says to call Gateway (GW told me to call BB), so I can't get anywhere with them. Perhaps I should go to the store and rip the feet I need off the floor models? [/hijack]

I have the same problem. I am missing all 9 feet though! I was planning to buy some rubber and just cut it myself.

The feet I lost are different thicknesses and they were nice and rounded, so I was hoping to get the nice rounded feet. I suppose I could cut my own though.

Update:

Put second coat on interior screen casing -- looks PERFECT. Put first coat on exterior screen casing -- was perfect until the wind blew and some leaf chunks fell onto it. I picked out what I could but there are still some tiny fragments. I'll resand it tomorrow after class and put on another coat. (assuming the weather cooperates; it's supposed to be rainy until Saturday!)

Also, I think I'm not going to border the keys. It does not glow in the dark, and if it did, the output would be overpowered by the screen anyways. An interesting project would be to sap the PSU into some LEDs underneath the keys and light them up. That would be cool. If I did that though, I would change the color scheme to white and blue, because blue is my favorite glowing color.

Do you have a garage or someplace you can paint (or at least store it after you paint it), so this doesn't happen again?

I've been putting it in the kitchen, but my sister was working on the outside of the house at the time and I had to say something to her for a second. I shouldn't have walked away!

Off to class!

Edit:

Well, of course... it was clear all day (when I was stuck doing work) but then I get home and immediately grab the spray paint, a trash bag, and the casing, run outside, set it up and start shaking the can... "My, what is this moisture appearing on the casing? Could it be? Yes, it is...RAIN!" So, that's probably all she wrote for the week... it's only supposed to get worse from here.

Oh, and @ this:

We do have a small garage, but we live in the historical district of downtown, so we aren't allowed to do major renovations to stuff, so everything costs more to fix...nevermind, long story short, the garage would be a worse place to do it than outside, even if I found somewhere to put all of the boxes of stuff that are in the garage.

Update (10/18):

We had a break in the weather today, so I finished touching up the screen parts and started on the main body parts. The lower panel was a real beast to get off, and it turned out that there were a few hidden screws on the bottom, and for some reason, on the top, next to the keyboard!

Oh yeah, and my "Warranty Void If Seal Broken" sticker now says "Warranty <hole>d If Seal Broken"

Midterms tomorrow.

Good luck. I have one too. I call mine, "Interview with a Japanese Vampire." Should be interesting...gotta study now.

Looking forward to seeing your painted laptop.