Printing art, cutting holes and aligning everything.

[upper2bits]

Should I do one before the other?  I have a PSD with the art so should I just try to print that to use to drill the holes?  I'm worried I'll get the art cut and some of the button holes with be off.

I guess I could have them not cut out the button holes and do it myself with a knife.

[upper2bits]

$22 to print this, 29.5"x12".  They said it will cut all the transparent parts so I can just layer it on then peel off the backing.  Hopefully it's strong enough to not come up after rubbing.

[Woodshop Flunky]

Your CP art looks tiptop! 

Where are you getting it printed?

If it is Game on Grafix, then I'm going to kick myself.   I didn't know you could get transparent areas cut out.  That would have made my CP much easier to overlay and drill the buttons.  Depending of course on how accurately they can cut out the transparent areas.

When I did my CP overlay, I applied the overlay first, cut out the holes with a razor, and then drilled the panel with forester bits on my drill press.

[dfmaverick]

How I aligned everything was to have small crosshairs printed in the center of button holes and joystick holes.

When I received the art, I placed it over the CP. Clamped it down. Used an awl or something to indent the center of the crosshairs (which transfered the center of the holes to the wood).

Used my spade bit with the indentations left by the awl and drilled until the spade bit just pokes through the underside of the CP. Flipped the CP over and finished off te holes. Later, would cut out the holes from the art with a razor blade.

I'm sure there are many other ways, but this kept me from having to worry about doing both separate and hoping they'd be aligned.

[Jefferson]

I've got the same problem but with a metal cocktail CP.  Any advice for the J man? 

[upper2bits]

Sign-A-Aram is printing it, I'll let you guys know the quality.  Here is the final version that I sent to print, can't wait!  I'm going to line this up with my CB, push the center spot through and then drill the holes that way to make sure everything lines up.

[Well Fed Games]

Going to look sharp, love it.