Vector files.

With scanned images, you're getting all the imperfections of the scan, defects and texture of the paint and wood, etc.

The best/easiest thing is to try to get copies of the silkscreen films and scan those, since it's much easier to vectorieze those, or scan a nice playfield and redraw it as vector artwork, which can sometimes be a painstaking process, depending on how detailed the artwork is.

Nope. It involves some luck, some connections, the films being in private hands (rather than planetary pinball, CPR, etc), and the willingness of whomever happens to have copies of the films to share them.

Unless you know a graphic designer who's willing and able to help, and/or you would be able to pay for one to do the work. But, it's not impossible that a graphic designer could have use for a printer like that, so who knows.

I am in the printing world, high res artwork (vector) is what you need. Yes, a graphic design background would help or you will pay someone a ton of money to recreate the art.

Correct, the printing part is really reasonable, but the work and money is in the artwork.

just the other day I was designing a new playfield for my Shaq Attaq machine but without a strict print area template it was just another way to fend off boredom.

If you had a CAD drawing I could use as a template and a shop that could shave a playfield (including inserts), the design is the easier part.

Registration, scale and proportion. You will need vector art that is editable or dont bother as it will take several attempts to get it right. Seems like it should be easy. Like if you buy a new door for you house from home depot. The dimensions say it should fit right? Never happens and thats just four edges. Now try it with numerous uniquely shaped inserts scattered over the surface area with varying orientations. Im shopping for a flat bed printer as its absolutely awesome the myriad of things they can do but repairing old playfields isnt one of them.

ahem

We can talk more offline on this, but I have thought about wanting to try my hand at this type of thing - although on a smaller scale (backglasses or small sections that show wear). The only thing that I would need is a scan of the playfield, and access to the machine to match colors.

I found that some people have have had luck modifying scanners to take scans of smaller sections - combining them into one image, but the easiest and more accurate way would be to get a large format scan taken (maybe your printer has a large scanner?). Discussed here: https://pinside.com/pinball/forum/topic/play-field-scanning

From what I remember of Safari, I don't think it would actually take me that long to vectorize a scan from it - there are a lot of large solid areas.

Me too. This area is my antagonist. I’d love a printout I can clear over (water-based). The color drastically lightens as one sands down to the paint. Add clear over a decal, touch-up, etc and it’ll never look right.

But if you have any ideas, I’m open.

I’m thinking about doing unapologetic alternative art there but would like it printed out hardtop style. Impact absorbing. Recreate the lettering, of course.

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