Hi all

I have worked out how to create a vector image for my Big Deal playfield using Photoshop and a Silhouette Cameo. I'm having a bit of an issue with the actual stencil material however. I've tried friskit as someone recommended that. Obviously, I'm after something transparent, however the friskit is quite temperamental: the back sticks to the cutting matt. I'm wondering if there's anything else I can try? Would appreciate suggestions. I've also heard of the 'floating' method but it sounds terribly complicated

Regards
Josh

I tried this stuff, last night. Believe it or not, it actually works really well. It doesnt take the paint off the playfield when removed. Lining up the cut out image with the playfield is a little challenging however and I'm afraid my 'tracing' in Photoshop wasnt exactly 100%. I'm actually thinking it might be easier to skip using Photoshop and the Silhouette cutter altogether: rather, I would just lay the contact material on the playfield and use an exacto knife (very very lightly) to cut out the areas I want to paint.. one colour at a time.

Clear Contact (resized).JPG

Hi Doc,

I used a Cannon CanoScan LiDE 400. It's the only flatbed scanner I could find with a removeable lid. Most other scanners have a lid that either cant be removed or (at the very least) bend back 180 degrees. Scans of the playfield arent the issue. The Cannon can scan up to 600 DPI (I generally use the 400 DPI setting) and the quality of the images is 'ok'.. good enough to use the pen tool in Photoshop to create the vectors.

Is there a particular brand of paint stencil or mask you would recommend that doesnt cost an arm and a leg?

Regards
Josh

Playfield Scan1 (resized).JPG

Playfield Scan2 (resized).JPG

Also, in terms of the letters… stencil or decals?? I saw a guy do a restoration of a Close Encounters and it looks like he uses a transfer for the letters / text

0F434AC5-EAA3-403C-8D57-2C0544E09B83 (resized).png

7AA1EE8E-A72C-4DEF-BD03-74739FBF8FDD (resized).png