Author Topic: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?  (Read 338 times)

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Offline Caveoftreasures

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REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« on: August 21, 2011, 08:39:14 PM »
I would like to hear from anyone on the forum via PM or in open discussion about your "latest" efforts at reproducing your own artwork for your own pinball machine restoration (full cabinet decals incl headbox). I saw that someone did a beautiful set of Guns n Roses artwork for themselves etc.

There are so many good n bad copies getting around of many different titles, but i wanted to reproduce a set of decals for one of my machines that isnt avail anywhere, and the software I have is old hat and a few years old compared to what others may be using, or think should be used today. I also wanted to find out if anyone can reccommend a good quality LARGE hand scanner to use with the appropriate software.

Note - the decals I want to produce wont be for sale, only my own use so to speak so we all dont get into that age old argument about bullshit licencing etc.

Any current ideas would be great.

Brett  ^^^
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Offline Homepin

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #1 on: August 21, 2011, 10:56:32 PM »
I can get high quality printing onto vinyl done at VERY good prices but it comes down to the artwork..

I don't think we have anywhere near the licencing issues we may have once had  %.%
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Marty Machine

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #2 on: August 22, 2011, 10:35:39 AM »
IS there actually a "Large" hand-scanner available at all??? i've never seen anything wider than say 12.5cm (5") back in the 90's....in fact i haven't seen hand-scanners around much since then....

I'd like to think there must be something around 30cm-wide these days?

MM.

Offline Homepin

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #3 on: August 22, 2011, 05:27:28 PM »
I have a new A4 sized on - it is only about 40mm square and the width of a piece of paper. Average results though as really, for pin art you need to take photos to get high enough res.


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Offline Caveoftreasures

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #4 on: August 22, 2011, 06:06:19 PM »
yeh, so far I am finding that no-one can find a hand scanner that is very large at all.
I am also finding that people are still using photos and then preparing artwork from blown up photos etc.

To date, I have seen one commercial seller in QLD consistently reproduce quite good cabinet artwork for quite a few dmd machines using photography plus stretched/manipulated artwork etc, but the cost and time consuming effort has been expensive to him, even though he is using someone who charges a small amount per hour.

I have found one company who reckons if i take the pinball machine to their place of business, they can take photos using their 2011 year model equipment, and reproduce artwork at a very reasonable price with their state of the art latest software. Just got to find the time to take the machine up. Probably the best idea i have found to date.
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Offline Retropin

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #5 on: August 22, 2011, 06:16:07 PM »
Youd be better off using a flat scanner like the HP 4670... scanning the whole side, stitching together and then use Photoshop to address any blemishes etc... itll be hi res. Its still a lot of work though if you only want to print off one decal.
The decal can then be printed off by any sign place etc.. make sure you get it laminated though.. makes application MUCH easier and also acts as UV and scratch protector... the laminate comes in gloss, matt etc.
 Most decals available are not laminated.. and in all honesty, for the price charged, they should be

Offline ajlaird

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #6 on: August 26, 2011, 07:45:54 PM »
Unfortunately if you want someone to do artwork at a reasonable price you need to outsource it overseas...

Offline deep six

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #7 on: August 26, 2011, 10:08:04 PM »
Its a big job, most probably will take many hours to get right and cost mucho dollars.
I make a few reproduction decals for vintage honda motorbikes. What I do is scan the originals, then take the image into my drawing app, hand draw all the lines and add fills, also have to correct where the screen print has shifted due to poor registration.
I can spend a couple of hours easy on getting a tank decal just right, can't imagine how long it would take to do a big job like yours, but then I work pretty slowly so maybe not so bad.
When I get a decal that is too large to fit in my scanner I do it in two sections. I place a piece of pin stripe masking tape in the middle of the decal so I can line the two images back up perfectly when finished. Its a bit cumbersome and I find myself tweaking one image as little as .10 degrees to get it lined up perfectly.
To scan a large area would be difficult but I guess not impossible, just depends on how determined you are.
Another thing that comes to mind is getting the colours just right, different printers can run different profiles and you may get a different shade from what you were expecting. Of course I am just a novice so someone with more experience might be able to do it a lot easier.
Anyway, just my two bobs worth.
« Last Edit: August 26, 2011, 10:11:51 PM by deep six »
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Offline Strangeways

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #8 on: August 26, 2011, 11:12:22 PM »

Just look at that printer .. .. ..

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Offline v200juke

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #9 on: August 26, 2011, 11:16:55 PM »
If anyone can do Guns N Roses full set  please, please let me know.I have been after a set for ever. Mark. 0414 494949.

Offline greatwichjohn

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Re: REPRINTING CABINET DECALS ?
« Reply #10 on: August 27, 2011, 08:43:24 AM »
I have done a couple of overlays with my printers help. Like some people have suggested the art after printing is cold laminated for protection. This custom Flash Gordon custom pin art is on its way to the USA. Along with masking for light lenses, Oracal 810 is what I have used for years so you can spray basecoat white after 2 coats varethane to sanded playfield. I would spray 2 - 4 coats varethane over white & level sand before installing overlay on wet application.

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