Make your own custom graphics card backplate
WHEN YOU DECIDE it’s time to build a new system there is always the vision of how you want it to look. You painstakingly plan out the hardware you are going to use to suit your needs, but aesthetically there are a number of contributing factors that are very personal. You can toy around with cooling options, storage, lighting, airflow, and a whole range of combinations to make it something that has not been seen before. That said, we have seen 1,000 different builds that all look the same, and this can be down to a variety of factors; budget, competence, following a trend, case preference, and much, much more.
Depending on the style of the build you are piecing together, your graphics card not only plays an important role in the function of your shiny new system, but can be a focal point of the build too. It’s an integral part of the wow factor in many systems, and it’s just another piece that throws many options at you—leave it stock, water-cool it, mount it horizontally, mount it vertically, etc.
If you’ve blown your budget on performance, there are ways to up that wow factor and give it a personal touch at a relatively low cost. Yes, we are talking about adding a small touch of personal preference by customizing the backplate. Let’s get started, shall we? –KRIS BUTTERILL
Film— it is specifically designed for this type of application, and since it is low tack, it won’t lift or peel any surfaces underneath that have already been painted.
>> First, plan the layout. For this, draw up the backplate, using measurements, to try and avoid covering any of the mounting holes for a clean design [ Image B]. You can then export this to the vinyl cutting software, and create the stencil [ Image C]. Another option would be to print out the design and use it to trace the outline, using a craft knife to cut the stencil material. If you are ordering online, make sure you check the dimensions before placing the order.
>> Once the stencil has been cut, you can then “weed” the design. This is the process of removing parts where you want the paint to come into contact with the backplate. Remember, this will be the opposite of the logo itself, so take your time to be sure you’re removing the right parts!
4 PREP FOR APPLICATION
Now you have your stencil, and the backplate should be ready for the design to be applied. Carefully apply the stencil onto the backplate, ensuring that it is positioned as intended. To transfer the design you can use masking tape or even specialist transfer film. Check that the edges are stuck down firmly to prevent the paint from bleeding under the stencil when it is sprayed—you want a crisp, clean edge to your logo [ Image D]. In this step, we have also used masking tape and sheets of paper to mask off the areas of the backplate that we don’t want to cover with overspray.
5 APPLY YOUR DESIGN
It is now time to spray your design. Apply thin, even coats until you are satisfied with the overall finish. It may not have to be many coats if you are applying onto a lighter color. Allow each coat and each portion of the logo to dry before moving on to additional colors. If the design is multicolor, mask off each section while you paint one, then rinse and repeat for any other sections. For our example, the Moto GP logo is black for the flag and red for the text [ Image E].
>> Once the design is painted, allow it to dry fully, and then carefully remove the stencil mask—peeling at an angle will help prevent the lifting of paint layers. Here you can also opt for a clear coat to protect the design and give it a shiny finish. Personally, we like to outsource this part, as professional sprayers can provide a much better finish than we can produce. Not everyone opts for this step, but bear it in mind if you are looking for a glossy shine for your parts.
6 PUT IT TOGETHER
Now it’s time to put it all together and fit the backplate! If you’ve decided to create one from scratch using an acrylic sheet or similar, you can fix the backplate to the graphics card using double-sided tape, or if you’ve copied the mounting layout, use the original/ replacement screws if possible. For our backplate [ Image F], we’ll mount the water block to the card.
>> If opting for this route, take your time, and make sure that all the thermal pads are correctly installed. Most block manufacturers offer a great set of instructions to follow, guiding you through the process of fitting the block to the card. Be careful when tightening the backplate—sometimes, in thicker parts of the paint, the torque against the screws will be enough to crack your lovely new paint job.