An inexpensive method of making control panels is to have printed circuit boards fabricated. This permits having perfectly machined openings for connectors, switches and controls and clear, crisp, labels, Chinese fab houses can provide ten circuit boards made for $5 or less.
The pictures below show panels for a project I'm currently working on (details coming). The flat black soldermask offered as standard by JLCPCB make a sharp panel. These panels are designed to be supported by Lego Technic frames.
The top panel does have a small mistake. Most fab houses allow you to specify where to print or even omit their lot number. I meant to position the lot number on the back of the board but managed to put it on the front of the board - the fine print above Port A and B. It doesn't detract too much.
Below is another panel I created for Chinese modules (which come in a variety of functions - power supplies, power monitors, PWM generators, etc., etc., etc.) that serves as a cover to a low cost industrial enclosure.
Since these covers are for a variety of instruments, the only labels are generic. Individual labels can be added with Brother P-Touch labels.