A few CP questions

[cheezeflap]

All-
  My cab is coming along great.  Thanks to everyone who has helped me.   There are a few items about the control panel that I have not been able to piece together.

1- I was looking at http://www.polymerplastics.com for my Lexan.  Does anyone have experience with them?  Is there better proces elsewhere?

2- I was going to have kinkos print my artwork.  What type of paper should I print it on?

3- what thickness lexan should I buy?  Is thinist best?

[grafixmonkey]

I was going to have kinkos print my artwork.  What type of paper should I print it on?

I used Matte paper (at least that's what the place I printed at called it), but it looked more like the semi-glossy that Kinko's has.

And, you shouldn't go to Kinko's.  You should call a few other places in town, looking for someone who has a decent quality (1200 or 1440 dpi printing) large format printer.  As far as I can tell, the large format printers that are standard at Kinko's were obsolete six years ago.  I couldn't find a Kinko's with a large-format printer over 600 dpi anywhere in town.  I printed a sample, and was sitting there counting the printer dots at arm's length without difficulty.  (i.e. it looked terrible)

3- what thickness lexan should I buy?  Is thinist best?

I don't think that matters much...   I think it will look better if it's thicker, but then it'll be more expensive too.  Also, the thinner it is, the easier it might be to break it.  I've got a crack in my lexan now, because it was catching on an edge while I was screwing the panel down tight.  (don't think thicker would have helped that though.)

It's not going to be supporting any weight or trying to prevent projectiles from going through it, so go with what you think looks best for the price.  Maybe print your print sample, and then take it with you shopping for lexan.

BTW, Lexan is same as Lucite Tuf.  (in case you've seen that in local stores but didn't know.  They have it at Lowe's here.)

[cheezeflap]

grafixmonkey- thanks that was helpfull

Does anybody have recomendations for a printing place in or around Ney York City?

[grafixmonkey]

yellow pages are your friend...    

Just call a place and ask if they have large format color printing.  Either they will, or they will suggest someplace who might.  That's how I found the little tiny place called "Dean's Blueprinting" that I got mine done at.  

I think I started at the "printing" heading in the yellow pages.