Painting By-Hand The Coloured Numbers on Aperture Rings

[RonVol]

Scan from a 1970s Nikkor Lens brochure.
I'm somewhat astounded that this was done by hand as automated pantographs had already been invented.
Imagine having to do this job, day in - day out.

[richardHaw]

this is what I am currently doing to my tickmark 50/2

the paint came off after a scrub with hotwater and soap

[David H. Hartman]

I painted over the foot scale on a number of my AI Nikkors with black acrylic artist polymer. I tested one lens and after a few days or a week or so I removed the acrylic paint successfully with methyl alcohol, no problems. It seemed safe and reversible.

Some time ago I tried removing the acrylic paint from a lens and the old yellow paint underneath was stained quite darkly. This was after years, decades. Any ideas how this stain might be removed or what kind of paint might I used to repaint the foot scale? Perhaps I need to remove all the original paint and repaint the scale with the proper kind of paint as it was at the factory.

Thanks!

Dave Hartman

[Akira]

I think they just fill the engraved numbers with the paint and wipe off the excess.     See the cleaning paper or cotton.

[Hugh_3170]

Akira, I understand that is how it was done by Leitz in the old days.

I think they just fill the engraved numbers with the paint and wipe off the excess.     See the cleaning paper or cotton.

[richardHaw]

http://richardhaw.com/2016/01/27/project-lettering-restoration/

I actually made a blog post about that some months ago. basically usual scale modeling know-how

[Erik Lund]

Nice image, it's a Job/Art! No worries or problems except getting the colours and tone correct, there could have been rotation between different work stations of similar work,,,

[Roland Vink]

Just imagine, a premier photography company doing paint by numbers! 

[bjornthun]

Just imagine, a premier photography company doing paint by numbers! 

Nice play with words.