Dexter
- Thread starter Howlrunner
- Start date
WesDoesStuff
Well-Known Member
Made it myself from scratch. The only thing that I wound up only slightly modifying from Jannix Quinn's version of the seal was the Florida shape. I had to free-ball it the rest of the way. I know there is text across the top of the circle so i just took a guess at it. I noticed how you put DADE under the wavy line. I just have a line of stars but DADE makes sense. The seal took the most time to get right. The picture came second.
If I was really crazy I'd get it made into a stamp and use gold/pearl ink and stamp it on right before laminating to give it a holographic effect... I'm not that crazy and I don't think it would be screen accurate.
If you are interested in that, there is a DEFCON talk about making your own high security ID and it discusses many of the techniques involved.
Zombie_61
Master Member
I got the idea from an embroidered patch I saw online the other day. Obviously based on the design used for the seal on the I.D.s, it was being sold for use as a costume item. "DADE" and the four "squiggles" under the sunburst were included in their design, but the wording in the outer ring said "Miami Metro" at the top and "Police Department" at the bottom; since there's no writing in the lower portion of the seal used on the actual I.D.s, I'm sure the seller made it up so I didn't use it.
As for "DADE", it could just as easily be four stars like you used, or the year the fictional Miami-Metro Police Department supposedly originated, or who knows what; we won't know for sure until we find a clearer image.
As for the text inside the outer circle, I think it says "To Protect And Serve", but that's the motto of the Los Angeles Police Department. If I'm right, maybe they used that because the show is primarily filmed in and around the Los Angeles area and/or to make it readily apparent it's not an "official" I.D.. Again, we won't know for sure until we find a clearer image.
The struggle for perfection continues...
WesDoesStuff
Well-Known Member
I found "Miami Metropolitan" looks pretty good. Lets hope they release some revealing promo pics.
smoxsamantha
Member
it's deborah in the books, but debra in the show
Zombie_61
Master Member
I received mine today. Only two days from Michigan to California! :thumbsup Great service and a quality I.D. holder! It wouldn't surprise me to find out these are the exact same holders they use on the show.
BTW Howlrunner, I neglected to mention previously how much I liked the photos you created! And I think we owe you an apology for completely hijacking your thread with all the I.D. laminate discussion. Sorry about that!
While I'm at it, what are you'se guys printing your I.D. replicas on? I have a ream of 57 lb. cardstock that I "liberated" from my last place of employment (slightly less thick than your average greeting card) but I'm wondering if that will be sturdy enough. Suggestions?
WesDoesStuff
Well-Known Member
The maximum dimensions stated for those holders is 2.375 x 3.25.
The ID from Jannix Quin was re-sized after TallDarkandDisfigured said that his holders where 2.5 x 3.375.
Maybe that is the issue?
I get mine done by a chain store that lets you upload prints online and have them printed in a store of your choosing. The only problem I've had is that the text is coming out as a really dark, almost black, color blue. I changed the lightness of my text on the picture, as well as a few other minor modifications, and had it printed again but the color is still pretty dark. Other than that, they are amazing and look leaps and bounds better than the crap my inkjet puts out. The first time I had it printed I had to speak to a manager and assure him that I was not making fake IDs but he was familiar with the show and I've had no problems since. Just in case, I put a disclaimer on the free-space left in the 4x6. I can fit 2 IDs on a 4x6 or 12 head shots. I cut out a batch of the new versions last night and I just need a new lamination cartage for my laminator to have a finished product.
Howlrunner
Master Member
Not at all, this thread is for the discussion, and replication, of ALL Dexter paper props - the ID badge was one of the things I really wanted.
and it wasn't until I uploaded the photo of the ID card in it's holder (next to the dolls head) that I noticed that I've sized it badly when I printed it and the "Miami Metro" from the top is completely hidden by the holder. DOH! :$
Zombie_61
Master Member
Occasionally, size is an issue...certainly true in this case.
After taking a closer look at the photos of the actual props that Rabbit4x posted in post #78, I realized that the I.D.s are slightly narrower than the width of the plastic window in the holders--they don't fill the window from side-to-side. After measuring the holder I received, I approximated the width of the I.D.s to be only 2". Because of this, I cropped the image for the Dexter I.D. I've been working on to reflect this. I haven't had time for a test print, so I'm still uncertain about the top-to-bottom length.We have an HP color laser printer, so I'll be printing mine at home. Getting the colors right will require some minor adjustments, but hopefully won't be too difficult. I also just remembered my wife bought some "photo quality" paper, so I might try printing on that to give the I.D. a semi-glossy look. I have some .030" thick styrene (plastic) sheet stock here that I'd love to try printing on, but I'm concerned that the heat from the printer's fuser would melt the plastic and it isn't worth the risk of damaging the printer.
Well then, it's all for the greater good. With all of us working on it, hopefully we can come up with something we can live with. They might not be perfect, but they'll certainly be more accurate than those cheesy Evilbay replicas.
WesDoesStuff
Well-Known Member
Now I'm worried about the dimensions.
Any way, here's is a shot of my cut, glued, and laminated first generation with one of my completed 2nd generation IDs.
Any way, here's is a shot of my cut, glued, and laminated first generation with one of my completed 2nd generation IDs.
Zombie_61
Master Member
I finally got around to doing a test print of my "finished" Dexter I.D.:
And here's a side-by-side shot with a screen-used I.D.:
It photographed lighter than it looks. In person the background colors (text and watermarked seal) are dead on IMO, but the photograph printed too dark so I'll have to lighten it up a bit. Aside from that I'm pretty happy with it, so until we discover the correct font, seal image, and Dexter photo, I'm considering it finished.
Since Shark500 mentioned dimensions, mine is 2" wide by 3-1/8" high. For the test I just printed it on regular paper; once I lighten the photo I'll print the final one on photo paper.
And here's a side-by-side shot with a screen-used I.D.:
It photographed lighter than it looks. In person the background colors (text and watermarked seal) are dead on IMO, but the photograph printed too dark so I'll have to lighten it up a bit. Aside from that I'm pretty happy with it, so until we discover the correct font, seal image, and Dexter photo, I'm considering it finished.
Since Shark500 mentioned dimensions, mine is 2" wide by 3-1/8" high. For the test I just printed it on regular paper; once I lighten the photo I'll print the final one on photo paper.
Jannix Quinn
Sr Member
OMG I've been recast.
Kidding. Anyway, someone please make an evidence bag that holds the slide box. Get to it boys!
Kidding. Anyway, someone please make an evidence bag that holds the slide box. Get to it boys!
WesDoesStuff
Well-Known Member
I think someone found it and posted a link to a place selling it in one of the slide-box threads. If I find it I'll post it here.
FOUND IT!
And for reference:
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smoxsamantha
Member
the evidence bags they used until season 3 were integrity evidence bags, but in season 3 i believe they started using Evident Evidence Bags: http://www.evidentcrimescene.com/cata/evid2/evid2.html & http://www.crimescene.com/store/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=93
Zombie_61
Master Member
Actually, I want to thank you for inspiring me. Until I read this thread I really had no thoughts about trying to replicate the I.D.s, but this week I've been almost obsessed! You'd think it would be easy to find usable photos of Michael C. Hall, Jennifer Carpenter, David Zayas, Lauren Velez, C.S. Lee, etc., buuuuut nooooooooooooo! :wacko And that round Florida "seal"--you have to hand it to the prop department for including such intricate detail that most people are never even going to see!
Well, sheesh, it's no fun if you can just go out and buy 'em...
Edit 03/21/10: Okay, maybe I am obsessed. The photo I've been using for my I.D. was a screengrab from Episode 11 of Season 4. It was shot with the camera close to Michael C. Hall's face and, as such, the image had a bit of a "fish eye" distortion which elongated his face. So, in an effort to make it look more like the photo on the actual I.D., I shrunk the face vertically by 10% from the bridge of the nose down and, while I was at it, gave the hair a little more thickness. Let me know if you think it's an improvement.
Also, I finally got around to watching the last two episodes of Season 4, and I noticed that somewhere along the way they started using a different I.D. holder. The new ones are squared off at the bottom, not rounded like the ones in the photos everyone has been posting.
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Jannix Quinn
Sr Member
would anyone have any screens of the names on the slide box interior? Or better yet, a pre-made interior? Pretty please?
rabbit4x
Sr Member
The actual box didn't have the names of Dexter's victims. The only thing it had were numbers 1 - 50 and the bottom had what I presume to be the manufacturer's info, but I've never been able to find a clear shot of it.
The only premade one I've seen was the one sold on ebay.
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