There may be other methods, but when I built some rods a few years ago, I printed pics and text with an old inkjet printer on ordinary label paper (which had a sticky peel off backing). I cleaned the blank with lacquer thinners, pasted on the label (first cut to size with a blade). Then I covered the label with the matt Scotchtape/ Sellotape (the whitish coloured one), sealed with Colour Preserver and, finally, covered with high-build finish (Flex Coat).
It worked for me and still looks great!
