Megaprint.com?

[milhouse]

Does anyone have experience using Megaprint.com for side art or control panel overlays?  Their prices are very good but its still several hundred dollars, obviously, for adhesive-backed vinyl.

For my needs (two 44x77 sides, a 24x44 CP and 6x44 admin panel) its under $450 including shipping which is very good - I often see over $500 just for the two sides.

Thanks.

[wol-nz]

No no no that sounds far too expensive. Gameongraphix is far cheaper. http://www.gameongrafix.com/products/side-art
remember that price is for BOTH sides. You can even have different art on both (highly recommended as they don't flip the art for you.

So for your needs you will be looking at around US$220 + postage.

[dmarcum99]

I have an alternative solution, although it may not be very popular with some forum members here.

I had an entire set of artwork....2 sides, a CP top and the CP box.  I have a Midway cab that I MAME'd out, needed artwork and not much $$$.  I saw on another site that someone mentioned AsahiMax as a cheap place for banners, signs, vinyl, etc.

I sent an email to AsahiMax, sent in my artwork (in CMYK), got proofs emailed back to me for approval, and had everything delivered to my door (from China) in 3 weeks.  Total shipped from China....$78
Now, my artwork came laminated, but not with the textured laminate that gameongrafx uses, so that will be something you need to think about when making a buying decision.  For me, it was a no-brainer because I could not afford the $300+ that the other guys were going to charge.  My sideart was 37X73 and my CP was 17x37...or something like that.  I bought the heavy-duty 3M vinyl with the 5yr outdoor color resistance and figured that in my location the arcade will not be exposed to a whole lot of UV so the artwork should hold up fairly well.  18 months later and it still looks like the day I installed it.  No complaints about my purchase. 

I am building another MAME cab for a friend and AsahiMax will probably get his business as well....with an additional discount for repeat business.

FYI, AsahiMax has been bought by Souldraw....

[milhouse]

Thanks for the info.  I wasn't sure gameongraphix was still operating.  I've contacted them a couple of times, but never heard back, so I wasn't sure if they were still operating.  Seems like companies catering to the arcade community seem to vanish sometimes...

[GregD]

I have an alternative solution, although it may not be very popular with some forum members here.

I had an entire set of artwork....2 sides, a CP top and the CP box.  I have a Midway cab that I MAME'd out, needed artwork and not much $$$.  I saw on another site that someone mentioned AsahiMax as a cheap place for banners, signs, vinyl, etc.

I sent an email to AsahiMax, sent in my artwork (in CMYK), got proofs emailed back to me for approval, and had everything delivered to my door (from China) in 3 weeks.  Total shipped from China....$78
Now, my artwork came laminated, but not with the textured laminate that gameongrafx uses, so that will be something you need to think about when making a buying decision.  For me, it was a no-brainer because I could not afford the $300+ that the other guys were going to charge.  My sideart was 37X73 and my CP was 17x37...or something like that.  I bought the heavy-duty 3M vinyl with the 5yr outdoor color resistance and figured that in my location the arcade will not be exposed to a whole lot of UV so the artwork should hold up fairly well.  18 months later and it still looks like the day I installed it.  No complaints about my purchase. 

I am building another MAME cab for a friend and AsahiMax will probably get his business as well....with an additional discount for repeat business.

FYI, AsahiMax has been bought by Souldraw....

I dont blame you at all.  I think Gameongraphix is expensive. They charge $12 for a paper template of your control panel after you drop $50 on the vinyl cpo.

[tsaylor]

Basement Arcade Grafx would also be a lot cheaper.  I had good results there (a one man shop, who posts on this forum).

[milhouse]

Now, my artwork came laminated, but not with the textured laminate that gameongrafx uses

What kind of texture (from Soul Draw) did it have?   Looking at their 19OZ vinyl it seems to have a weird texture, almost thatched, but that could be from the photo.  Mine has no sunlight issues, so it might make more sense to go with a PVC film sheet for under the plexi or else use Vinyl Sticker everywhere since cost isn't really an issue.

Of course, actually hearing back from Gameongraphix or Basement Arcade Grafx might make this moot, but I am hesitant to pay >$300 when I'm not sure if either are still around.

[Dawgz Rule]

I found Gameongrafix to be very reasonable.  I had them do two full sides, coin door, control panel, and marquee and it was right around $300.  The coin door was a tougher vinyl than the rest.  Gameongrafix is very much in business and you can confirm this by looking at the testimonials..... there is one up there dated 3/13

[RejectedManiac]

I was also holding off on an email for side art because I didn't know what happened. He messaged me a month later when I don't have the money =(

[milhouse]

I was also holding off on an email for side art because I didn't know what happened. He messaged me a month later when I don't have the money =(

I'm having the same issue with both.  I don't mind the printing taking some time, but it worries me that both vendors haven't responded to inquiries after 2 days.

But maybe I am just impatient.

[TopJimmyCooks]

FWIW, I just used gameongraphx for my marquee.  I used their online order entry, uploaded the art, asked for confirmation since I exported the art to .ai which I don't have sofware to open, so I hadn't seen the export.  Got no human replies, only automated/form letters (we received your order, your order shipped, etc.)  Marquee came and it was perfect, $29 shipped.  Might consider someone local if you want more human interaction.  Nothing wrong with that.  It will cost more.

[milhouse]

FWIW, I just used gameongraphx for my marquee.  I used their online order entry, uploaded the art, asked for confirmation since I exported the art to .ai which I don't have sofware to open, so I hadn't seen the export.  Got no human replies, only automated/form letters (we received your order, your order shipped, etc.)  Marquee came and it was perfect, $29 shipped.  Might consider someone local if you want more human interaction.  Nothing wrong with that.  It will cost more.

I just want a price since its a custom job - I don't need anything more than that. 

I'm leaning towards having Soul Draw do it, since at worst I will be out $80 if its terrible.

[dmarcum99]

Now, my artwork came laminated, but not with the textured laminate that gameongrafx uses

What kind of texture (from Soul Draw) did it have?   Looking at their 19OZ vinyl it seems to have a weird texture, almost thatched, but that could be from the photo.  Mine has no sunlight issues, so it might make more sense to go with a PVC film sheet for under the plexi or else use Vinyl Sticker everywhere since cost isn't really an issue.

Of course, actually hearing back from Gameongraphix or Basement Arcade Grafx might make this moot, but I am hesitant to pay >$300 when I'm not sure if either are still around.

The laminate is a clear, smooth finish....but you can opt to not have any at all if I recall correctly.

[gbeef]

I have an alternative solution, although it may not be very popular with some forum members here.

I had an entire set of artwork....2 sides, a CP top and the CP box.  I have a Midway cab that I MAME'd out, needed artwork and not much $$$.  I saw on another site that someone mentioned AsahiMax as a cheap place for banners, signs, vinyl, etc.

I sent an email to AsahiMax, sent in my artwork (in CMYK), got proofs emailed back to me for approval, and had everything delivered to my door (from China) in 3 weeks.  Total shipped from China....$78
Now, my artwork came laminated, but not with the textured laminate that gameongrafx uses, so that will be something you need to think about when making a buying decision.  For me, it was a no-brainer because I could not afford the $300+ that the other guys were going to charge.  My sideart was 37X73 and my CP was 17x37...or something like that.  I bought the heavy-duty 3M vinyl with the 5yr outdoor color resistance and figured that in my location the arcade will not be exposed to a whole lot of UV so the artwork should hold up fairly well.  18 months later and it still looks like the day I installed it.  No complaints about my purchase. 

I am building another MAME cab for a friend and AsahiMax will probably get his business as well....with an additional discount for repeat business.

FYI, AsahiMax has been bought by Souldraw....

I used them also the only problem is the Print process they used JAPAN2001 printing vs SWOP CMYK colors spectrum are different. So when you order its a crap shoot.

[8Bit Villain]

Some files used by gameongraphix are just...not correct. The mk3 midway side cpo art for example. Or the MK3 side art, the "3" is so off position and shade. A lot of his files are like this. Other than that they do great work!

[milhouse]

For anyone looking in the future, I just received my artwork from SoulDraw.  I'm definitely happy with the quality, especially considering I got two full sides, I CP and an admin panel shipped for less than $95.  It also took less than a week to get to the east coast of the US from China.  For what its worth, I never did hear back from any US-based printers about price quotes.

[Los Abrazos Rotos]

I've had this problem in the UK, its amazing how many printshops dont even bother replying

[SNAAKE]

what kind of material I am looking for if I wanna wrap it around the sideart and use t-molding?

this right here?
http://www.souldraw.com/vinyl-sticker.html

[milhouse]

That's what I am using...

[GregD]

That is a great price and really good turnaround time.  I am going to try them as well.

[Mikeosoft]

sorry to bump an old thread but if i am looking to print a marquee should i get it printed on this and just stick it to a clear piece of acrylic?
http://www.souldraw.com/vinyl-sticker.html

it would be easy because i could get everything printed on this material and not worry

[dmarcum99]

It should be fine...I think the other places offer to put the marquee on adhesive material if you choose.

On a side, but simalar note, I know I got a couple of people turned on to Soul Draw and I said I was going to use them again.  This time, I got the discount for being a repeat customer, and I got the artwork back in less than 10 days!!  It turned out great and I could not be happier....

2 pieces of sideart (37.5"X74") and a CP (27.5"X12.5") and a piece for the front of the CP (3.75"X27.5")......ALL FOR $74.  I'm on day 21 and I'm still waiting for my marquee from a popular US supplier....??   

[yotsuya]

It should be fine...I think the other places offer to put the marquee on adhesive material if you choose.

On a side, but simalar note, I know I got a couple of people turned on to Soul Draw and I said I was going to use them again.  This time, I got the discount for being a repeat customer, and I got the artwork back in less than 10 days!!  It turned out great and I could not be happier....

2 pieces of sideart (37.5"X74") and a CP (27.5"X12.5") and a piece for the front of the CP (3.75"X27.5")......ALL FOR $74.  I'm on day 21 and I'm still waiting for my marquee from a popular US supplier....??   

To be fair, I'd be interested in the quality of the marquee you get from the "popular US supplier" compared to the one from Soul Draw.

[Mikeosoft]

ok i just spent some time with the chat specialist Shady Lee. She figured out real quickly by how small my order was and the dimensions  24in x 13in vinyl sticker CPO and 24in x 6 inch marquee vinyl cut to square, that i was "arcade machine builder?"

She told me "theres a minimum order size charge of 10sqft by 10sqft"  so i'm assuming she made a mistake and meant 10' x 10' or 10squareft since we aren't dealing in 3d printing... really kind tho, but she did want me to clarify something:

She asked if my vinyl would be applied to white background, if not, to use black vinyl adhesive.  She said to be safe, use black vinyl adhesive. I went back and forth with her trying to make sure i understood her correctly, as my arcade machine cpo is made of wood that I have sanded, primed, sanded, primed, sanded again, painted, sanded, painted, woodfilled, and sanded.  I said "it is sanded as smooth as metal and is currently painted brown"

So i told her I will work on some sideart to fill up the 10ft x 10ft minimum to get my money's worth.

[Blanka]

For Europeans here: my buddy is making all this kind of stuff, and he charges 35/m2 ex VAT to print on basic white vinyl, but if you like, he can print on any adhesive roll-sheet and cut it (like scratch proof laminate etc.). He uses a very HQ Mimaki 1400mm solvent printer with very high rated lifespan against UV for the inks, and a active rotating knife cutter from SUMA, able to cut the finest letters. The price really depends on the base material though. There is cheap crap and bullet proof high performance 3M stuff and everything inbetween.

[Worthing Gooners]

For Europeans here: my buddy is making all this kind of stuff, and he charges 35/m2 ex VAT to print on basic white vinyl, but if you like, he can print on any adhesive roll-sheet and cut it (like scratch proof laminate etc.). He uses a very HQ Mimaki 1400mm solvent printer with very high rated lifespan against UV for the inks, and a active rotating knife cutter from SUMA, able to cut the finest letters. The price really depends on the base material though. There is cheap crap and bullet proof high performance 3M stuff and everything inbetween.

I am interested in getting some artwork organised from design to print. Is this something that could be done all from your mate?
Thanks
Worthing

[SNAAKE]

I used a cheap Chinese printer for Konkey Dong, and it was -really- cheap (like $12?) but I do have problems with the edges slightly curling.  I used painter's tape and rubber cement to fix one side, need to do the other. 

 

did you wrap it around the edge and use tmolding?

thats what I did with my cabs before.