0. Introduction
I previously showed a call sign badge I created using Visio in another post. Now it's finished, and I think the results are pretty good.
Comparison of stamp and printer output
Now, let's outline the process for making it, for your reference.
Later, I will find a way to make the original files available, and any friendly stations can freely modify them with their own call signs, cities, or customize them according to their preferences.
1. Advantages of using Visio tools
- Visio can create vector graphics, so the elements created within Visio theoretically have infinite resolution. The basic elements include lines, rectangles (squares), polygons, circles (ellipses), and text.
- Visio allows for alignment and equally spaced arrangement of multiple elements.
- Visio allows for precise and quantitative diagram creation. All elements can be specified with their size.
- The dimensions of a Visio diagram are physical space dimensions (millimeters), not image space dimensions (pixels). This indicates that the diagrams created in Visio are "what you see is what you get."
- Visio can perform basic boolean operations on two elements, such as finding their intersection and union.
- Support for other tools, including PPT and DWG files (drawings created in AutoCAD).
By using Visio to create a call sign badge, you are fully leveraging the features mentioned above.
2. Collect existing designs and choose your preferred layout.
From the initial design stage, I envisioned using a circular stamp with a banner-like layout in the center, similar to the design of a round seal.
3. Basic Layout
In Visio, I dragged in the reference template. I chose the red one and placed it next to my main layout as a reference. Once the basic layout is complete, you can delete the reference template.
The standard size for call sign plates is a circle with a diameter of 40 mm. However, 40 mm is too small and makes it difficult to draw, so we have increased the size to 80 mm x 80 mm, using the reference call sign plate's dimensions.
First, most ID seals typically require two circles: an outer circle with a diameter of 80 mm to define the seal's boundary, and an inner circle with a diameter of 60 mm to separate the content within the circle into two areas: a circular area and an inner circular area.
The circular area can be used to display amateur radio stations and city names in English, while the inner circle can typically accommodate logos for CRAC (Carrier Recovery Automatic) systems, landmarks of the city, or other elements that you would like to include.
However, the two circles drawn in this way are actually two lines. Although it is possible to specify the thickness of the line, on one hand, the unit of line thickness is points (磅), which we would prefer to be millimeters. On the other hand, the thickness of the line should not change with the overall scaling of the image. Therefore, we want both circles (even the thinner circles are still circles).
At this point, you would use the boolean operations in Visio. For example, if you have an outer ring based on a 80mm circle, and you add another concentric circle with a diameter of 78mm, select both circles simultaneously, and then split them. After splitting, delete the inner circle, and you will be left with just the outer ring.
Set fill color to dark gray, and set wireless bar.
Similarly, the inner circle has a diameter of 60 mm, and an additional concentric circle with a diameter of 64 mm is added. This creates two separate rings.
The next step is to create a banner that displays the call sign.
This banner consists of a horizontal bar with a circular boundary.
The top and bottom edges are straight lines, while the left and right edges are curved lines, creating an irregular shape. The default elements in Visio cannot be drawn.
At this point, continue using Boolean operations. First, draw a circle with a diameter of 80 mm, and then draw a rectangle at the desired location.
Here, I placed the rectangle on the lower side of the circle, rather than on the equator.
Additionally, you can select both the circle and the rectangle, split them, apply colors, and the desired shape will appear.
4. Decorations
Later, I wanted to add some decorations to the banner, such as making it look like an airplane runway.
This step is simpler; just add some long, thin rectangles as lines, set a white background, and arrange them appropriately.
Add the CRAC logo to the banner; this is a transparent PNG image with a white background.
As long as the resolution is high enough, bitmap images can also be used as vector graphics.
5 Add text
You can add your own call sign to the banner.
Add "QTH" on the banner. These two words are standard and can be created using Visio's built-in text elements.
Set the font.
Suggested: Use a black font or another font with consistent line thickness. Avoid using fonts like Song, which have varying line thicknesses.
The text next to the two circles is circular in shape, and Visio cannot handle that.
At this point, select, copy, and paste the entire Visio diagram into the PowerPoint presentation.
The Visio diagram in the PowerPoint presentation is a vector graphic, which cannot be resized, but its size remains at 80mm, maintaining the circular boundary pattern.
First, add the city name in English on the PPT.
In "Shape Format – Artistic Text Style – Text Effects – Convert", set the circular effect.
Add radio station in English:
The aspect ratio of the circular text might be incorrect. In this case, you can set the size of the object in PowerPoint to 7.4 cm by 7.4 cm (both length and width), then align it with the seal so that it looks harmonious.
Copy and paste each of the two texts back into Visio. When pasting, the content in Visio cannot be modified anymore. However, it is recommended to crop the white borders so that the objects do not occupy too much space, and you can easily select the desired elements.
Using the same method, I added "China Amateur Radio" in Chinese. Due to the rhombus logo obscuring part of the text, I added two spaces between "amateur" and "radio".
This ensures that all elements can coexist successfully.
6. Epilogue
So far, the basic structure has been created.
The subsequent adjustments included: changing the font of the call sign, replacing the inner circle with a gear icon, setting the image resolution for export, converting to black and white, printing samples for proofing, and finally, production.
I will add more details later.
Please note that when exporting images, the resolution should ideally be 600 dpi or higher. If the stamp is 40mm in diameter, this means the image should not be smaller than 945 pixels x 945 pixels.
The above shows a comparison of print proofs at high resolution (left, 600 dpi) and low resolution (right, 150 dpi). When magnified, the lower resolution results in a blurry image.
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