Anyone have a correct template for the old Dragnet LAPD card

[The Director]

Like your LAPD replica ID's. What program did you use to created them, especialy to do the 50's id's eagle and lightning bolts. Did you replicate the backs of the cards as well, if so could you post pics of the backs please.

 

[Kennyd]

The real LAPD card was scanned from a genuine card and heavily cleaned up to remove the officer's name and other details. It's printed both sides but as I don't own the actual card that was photographed i'm afraid I can't post the front template or the rear, but here's a distant view which shows the general layout of the rear.

The later blue/white cards were made largely from scratch, studying photographs of genuine cards.


For the fictional LA Confidential card I took the eagle from the real card and modified it to match the movie card, then added details, thunderbolts and the seal, I think I just made these elements or found them online and modified them a bit, can't remember now.
The rear of the LA Confidential cards is blank.

Programmes are MS Paint, Imageforge, IrfanView, nothing fancy.

 

[The Director]

Kennyd, with your LAPD cards, the actors ID photos, other than the Dragnet ones that already were actual ID photos; have you ever tried to superimpose the height chart in the background like a real LAPD ID photo would have and if so, how do you do it?

 

[Kennyd]

I've tired that once or twice with the chart, but with many ID pics I change the background. You have to blank out the background with your graphics programme and overlay it over whatever background you want.

I think the only time i've did it with an LAPD Card was Frank Smith, Friday's partner.

 

[The Director]

Kennyd,

I guess I might have to get a good photo editing program to try and blank the background out in. I only have the basic "Paint" that comes with Windows XP and Thumbs Plus. I don't see anything obvious in them to do that. Which program did you use when you did the height chart for Frank Smith? Could you post pics of Friday and Smith's id's together for a nice Dragnet moment. Besides LAPD replica id's, I like the FBI Creds as well and all the other cop shows of the 50's, 60's and 70's etc. Good work on all the id's you replicate.

 

[Kennyd]

I often use Paint for this, it's very basic but easy. Set the paint brush to white, then trace around the head, then fill in the rest of the area. Then set your background next to the image, or on another Paint window, and copy & paste the head onto the background, make sure the button that makes white go clear is selected, and you have your ID pic. I then use the blur & other filters on other programmes to blend it in a little better and adjust the tone etc.

Sorry I'm not too good at explaining stuff, it's easier to do than describe. There are some programmes which will do all this with less steps and more bells & whistles, but i'm usually happy with the results.
For the Smith card I think I cropped the chart from the Gannon card, as it was clear, but I'm not sure now.

Here's the cards, as I said i'm afraid I can't post these at a resolution that can be printed. I might be able to do you a couple of the blue & white Dragnet cards as I did these from scratch (apart from the photos & sigs), but I need to refurbish the templates a bit first.

 

[The Director]

Kennyd,

Nice pics on that last Dragnet post. Good job on the Smith id pic. Did you notice that between the Red Card era and the Blue card era, Friday's serial number mysteriously changed? It shouldn't have. Have you done a Gannon red card? In the Dragnet 1966 pilot tv movie there's a scene where Friday and Gannon both flash the Red Cards. On the blue cards, did you do the backs as well? Thanks for your continuing help. What are the dimensions of the cards?

 

[Kennyd]

I haven't seen the Dragnet film but that's interesting to know. Yeah I noticed the number change, they either missed it or there was some other reason such as the number belonging to a real officer.
Yes the blue & white cards have the rear printed as well.

Sizes, the red & gold cards are 98mm wide, 60mm tall, the blue & white cards are 95mm wide, 60mm tall.
That's just the card itself, not including the laminate border.

 

[The Director]

Kennyd,

On your dragnet blue cards, what font did you use for the badge rank panels and for the word "POLICE" on the card?

 

[Kennyd]

The "POLICE" is Reservoir Grunge, available as a free download.
I honestly can't remember what I used on the rank panel :confused this was a few years ago.

 

[stgreg]

Did anyone ever get good scans or Jpegs of the 50's style (Red) Dragnet ID Cards? Been searching for the Frank Smith, can't find it. Tried making one.,.. disaster!
Anyone have any to share - PM me. Thanks.

 

[jimorjamessmith]

The Font is just Ariel Black. But all of the typewriters used on the real ones for typing the names and serial numbers etc. is a font called LETTER GOTHIC.

 

[jimorjamessmith]

Those are the older LAPD blue and white cards. Starting in the 1990's the lettering POLICE at the top looked like this...