Don't have any info for you, but if you do come across an affordable source for doing this let me know. I have a pipe dream project that I am hoping to start on later this year.

You have to REALLY want that artwork.

Each 48x24" screen costs $50 to make, and you need one screen per color.

So a standard 11 color playfield has $550 in set up charges before the first playfield is screened.

Then most screeners want a minimum order of a few hundred dollars. It can take a while to register each screen to match the first, clean out each color ink, clean each squeegee, obviously ink left on the screen is wasted.

A playfield is a high value substrate, not just a piece of posterboard, or a tshirt than can be thrown away if the operator mixes up the screening order or color.

I would not be surprised if someone quoted you $1000 to do a single playfield.

Considering that CPR charges $600-$750 for a reproduction this wouldn't be that bad for a one off. I believe that CPR has done a one off before, but it cost quite a bit more then $1000

Just checked, it wasn't a custom playfield it was a custom back glass.

Is CPR a full service operation? I mean do they actually create the white woods and screen them in-house? That might be your answer.

Well, I was thinking $1k because he already had the playfield made, and just needed screening.

CPR says they are too busy to do any one offs, but any poster making shop should be able to quote it out.

Try asking Betelgeuse how he got his Ghostbusters playfield made.

John Greatwich did the ghostbusters and it was ink printed. Check out his site:http://greatpinball.com/services.html

I also want to do a similar thing and since I am in Aus freighting becomes my big expense so checked out a artie talented screen printer locally and he said he could do the screens with a CMYK print process which is I am sure how Stern print their play fields which means only 4 screens required. My local guy said ink, screens etc would be around the $500 mark (safely) as haven't shown him the artwork yet (still working on it).

Charlie (spooky pinball) did his custom Godzilla playfield with a printed overlay, not sure he is open to custom work ???

Hope that helps

Topics like this are bad, they make me start thinking which machines I could re-theme and to what.

Actually, I know what, I just can't think of a suitable game that it wouldn't be a crime to take an industrial sander to. My favourite film is Rollerball (the old one), I'd need a game with some serious loop action - something like Sea Witch.

I have a machine I'm working to re-theme. I'm looking to have the pf art printed on mylar or the like, affixed and cleared. The few feelers I have out (still early in the project) regarding printing seem to indicate that it should be about half the cost of screening. Now if I could just buy some creative abilities to actualize the artwork I envision.

Would it be easier/ cheaper to just hire an airbrush artist? Or even do yourself-- if you have the artwork done allready im sure you could make and print out stencils and airbrush that right on there fairly easily (albeit slowly). Silkscreen only seems appropriate for mass production....

I'd do it.... but it too large a format for us....

http://www.juggernaut-graphics.com/

I would think John could do it for you. He's a busy guy, though. He offers both an overlay service and a 'direct ink' process, where the art is printed directly on the playfield. So far he has done Sorcerer and Space Shuttle reproductions. Aside from Ghostbusters, I am not sure if he has done any other customs.

I have a nice skateball table with plenty of worn art on the table but perfect everything else. I have printed layouts for the kids and their art assignment with homeschool is to design a theme for the table, cabinet, and backglass with sounds that I'll add in using an mp3 board.

It's in the very early stages, and it won't be collecter quality like the Ferrari table that I am very excited about seeing done on this forum but it will be a fun project.

Anyway, I am looking for as many options as possible on how to get the art on to the playfield, so threads like this are terrific! Keep up the topic and if you have links or other ideas to share, let's see em all!

Just a update. I'm open to doing custom overlays @ $200 US shipped to USA/Canada. It includes the masking for doing white also. 300 dpi or better art. You should cheaply print it out on paper first to make sure your work is correct! UV ink is printed on clear film, which is protected with a top cold laminated film. No clear coating over work, & you apply it wet to align easier. After applying & let dry a few minutes. You have to cut out lanes, etc.

Ghost Busters is a good example of what can be done.

Do custom backglass also.

I made up a new translite backboard for my Scared Stiff because mine was cracked and non were available. I was going to sell some, but got 'approached' and told this would be a bad idea as it was a registered piece of artwork. Which is fair enough.

I could print out a full playfield size mylar print on our machine as it would do the size easily enough. As pointed out though, it would need to be clear coated after, or it would wear off too quickly. It's a shame we couldn't back print it, as it would last fine that way and look very good indeed without the cost of CC.

Know it's late, but hope you can reply - so you're saying this would not need to be clear coated? Could it be though to make it last longer?

They should last for many years. The clear vinyl is inked, & then another is cold laminated for protection.

So I assume you just need the artwork files to do this...hrmmm.

300 dpi or better, for playfield or backglass.

Is the backglass screened then or printed like a translite?

A good screener for a one off job would use just one screen. I use them and the emolsion used to transfer the image to the screen can be resolved and washed off with a cleaner. Which would cut down costs but it will still be expensive.

I was talking to a screen printer that specialises in art, music and movie posters and he said most screens are done in CMYK, so it reduces the screens to only 4, so the costs can come down a bit more

Believe me one can be used its just easier for them to use more. Because they would have to clean it off and put on a new image between colours

CMYK has a limited color gamut.

Lots of colors can be out of spectrum so you will end up with a duller print with CMYK vs spot color or a simulated process that uses a simulated RGB process... pull-up-banner-rgb-cmyk_clip_image004..jpg

ETA: If I have to produce color seps, positives & burn the image onto a screen that has been reclaimed of the old image and coated with new emulsion, You can bet on a screen charge no mater if I use one screen, eight or eleven screens. LOTS of time involved with burning/prepping screens

The overlay printing process that John Greatwich is using works very well. There must be over 2500 plays on Ghostbusters since I installed the overlay and there is absolutely zero wear and no difference in gameplay that I can see. If you are making a one-off, this is a great way to do it.

The only issue I ever had was some minor delamination in the first few weeks near the kickout and a few of the posts. I was able to repair most of this by simply swabbing a strong glue under those areas. This could have also been more a problem with the installation of the overlay as I was a novice.

Brian

My screener would never use a single screen for an 11 color job.

He screens, dries, screens, dries....as he runs though all the colors. He would certainly not screen a color, then strip the art, then dry, then put down new emulsion, then expose, then rinse, then register, then run the next color. Way too long of a process.

Once he is done with all the screens, they all get stripped and reused (unless the job would be reordered in the next 6 months, then he saves the screens).

Thanks for the info Juggernaut, always learning and great to know vid - both helps us guys that do not know this stuff and search for advice.

Also cheers betegeuse I will be going to John in the near future, currently doing a re-theme

I ment more if you were doing it yourself on a tight budget