Surrey, BC
Quoted from manitouguy:Hi Bill - I have other topics on here about how I developed my process.
I will dig for a few of those links
Essentially the initial photograph allows me to do a drawing in Adobe illustrator, which I can then print as a black line on to piece of clear through my home laser printer, and then lay that over the playfield to see what needs to be adjusted in terms of line positions, thickness etc. I can go back-and-forth with this until I am happy with the artwork being exactly right. For colours i use a Pantone guide set - like a fan of paint chip samples but used by commercial printers, interior designers etc. I match the closest Pantone sample to the colour I want and then when I send my art file to the printer I tell him and he can print a very very close match from that reference.
The art file goes off to the printer who prints on a 3M vinyl – my art file has a “cut path layer’ which his machine then follows for fantastic laser cuts as it prints
Lastly the printer applies a clear top layer of Mylar which helps the decal look a bit more glossy and also makes it bulletproof as far as protection goes
When the decals come back to me it is simply a peel and stick process - no visible ridge or edges – no bubbling- you would never know that it wasn’t original paint - The decal edges don’t lift at all and there has been zero wear across the ones I have had on my machines for quite some time now
I only have 70s Gottlieb wedge heads – so no desire or need for these decals to live under any new playfield coating or clear for me
The vinyl we use is really amazing, it can be stretched and repositioned as needed and is also temporary in that it will come up without damaging the playfield below - at least that has been my experience so far – I make sure to have a good wax under the decal before I put it down too
Thanks for sharing this. I also have a SW, but mine needs quite a bit more work, so I put myself on a new PF list (lucky timing), but still interested to perhaps try this to get the current PF to look nice. Funny how many Strange Worlds seem to have found a home in BC. Are you willing to share any of the graphic work you have for re-use? also wondering which printing service you use to do this great work? Any opinion on water slide decals with a thin mylar cover?
Thank you-
<Attached pic from my driveway>. I saw him work on this for over a year (started with just a shell), was neat to see the progress over that time.. the amount of fabrication and thought that goes into it.
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