At Marking Systems (MSI/MSD), we understand the power of first impressions. That’s why we take custom overlay manufacturing seriously, ensuring your product not only looks its best but also functions flawlessly. We offer a variety of options to meet your specific needs, including backlit, dead front, and invisible ink overlays.

What are Dead Front Overlays?

Imagine an overlay where icons or text are hidden until illuminated by an LED light. That’s the magic of dead front overlays. When the light is off, the graphics are concealed, providing a clean and uncluttered look. This is commonly used in car dashboards, airplanes and military applications where only the relevant symbols light up, reducing visual distraction.

The Manufacturing Process:

Creating dead front overlays involves precise printing, often with multiple passes of ink, to achieve the desired opacity and reveal graphics upon illumination. Cutting is another crucial step, and MSI/MSD utilizes state-of-the-art equipment to ensure +/-.010 tolerance, guaranteeing perfect alignment of graphics with the light source.

Backlit Overlays: Illuminating the Way

Backlit overlays offer a captivating visual experience, especially in low-light environments. The graphic overlay is strategically placed in front of a light source, typically LED or incandescent lights, to illuminate specific elements when needed. This is ideal for signage, instructions, and applications requiring clear visibility in low-light conditions.

Invisible Ink: The Hidden Advantage

Marking Systems offers invisible ink printing, a unique technology that allows you to embed codes or information invisible to the naked eye. These codes can only be revealed using a special reader equipped with a black light. This technology is ideal for applications where you need to track or identify products without the information being readily visible, such as for security purposes or counterfeit prevention.

Invisible Ink Innovation: The National Instruments Success Story

At the heart of our breakthrough in invisible ink technology stands our R&D Director, Razvan Datcu. In a groundbreaking collaboration with National Instruments, Razvan played a pivotal role, working hand-in-glove with their team to seamlessly integrate invisible ink into their product labeling process. This ambitious project aimed to embed a 2D barcode within each label, invisible to the eye yet fully scannable using specialized equipment. This innovative approach not only elevated product quality but also guaranteed the precision placement of overlays on the correct instruments, marking a significant leap in operational efficiency for National Instruments.

The Marking Systems Distinction

What sets us apart is not just our proficiency in crafting dead front, backlit, and invisible ink overlays; it’s the personal touch and technical guidance Razvan Datcu brings to the table. As our esteemed R&D Expert, Razvan will work directly with you and your team, diving deep into your specific requirements to unearth and tailor the most effective solution for your needs. Through our rapid prototyping program, we offer the unique advantage of visualizing your concept in a tangible form at minimal cost and within a remarkably quick turnaround time. This process is designed to ensure that the final product not only meets but exceeds your expectations before moving to full-scale production.

With Razvan Datcu leading the charge, our commitment to innovation, coupled with a personalized approach to problem-solving, ensures that your project is in the most capable hands.

Contact Marking Systems Today

Let Marking Systems Inc. and our Technical Experts be your partner in creating captivating and functional overlays that elevate your product’s visual appeal and functionality. Contact us today to discuss your project and explore the possibilities of dead front, backlit, and invisible ink overlays.