Arcade Warehouse (UK) - Artwork

[Minwah]

Has anyone used Arcade Warehouse in the UK for printing artwork? I found a post from a few years ago of someone asking the same thing...but nobody responded that they had.

http://www.arcaderepairs.co.uk/Custom%20artwork.htm

Alternatively is there anywhere else in the UK that can do high quality CPO's etc?

[jimmer]

Can't help, but interested in replies.

What are their prices like for a custom panel print?

[ark_ader]

I get mine done at.  Just send them a PDF and they will print it out. 

Give them a call and check on current prices and delivery.

[Minwah]

What are their prices like for a custom panel print?

Not sure...I emailed them and they said to give them a call. I will do when I get a chance...

[Minwah]

I get mine done at.  Just send them a PDF and they will print it out. 

Give them a call and check on current prices and delivery.

What do you get it printed on? 'Outdoor Vinyl' was the nearest thing I could see... Can they do CPO's (polycarbonate coated vinyl)?

[rockyrocket]

Minwah, have a search on Jamma+ for AW and I dont think the word hatred is too strong to describe some folks feelings towards them.
Mostly due to passing of mame machines as brand new cabs at high prices on ebay.
That being said I have no comment on the standard of print work.

[Franco B]

Ha, I was just about to post saying the exact same thing.

They have a terrible reputation, not just for ---smurfy--- sales tactics either.

Monkeyonline used to a lot of CP printing but he seemed to stopped doing it and now just ignores requests.

I use [this] guy for some of my arcade products and he does a great job. I recommended him to some people and I know he's done work for their arcade CPs which they were really happy with.

If you speak to him, tell him Franco sent you 

[rockyrocket]

Franco, can your guy do a polycarb lamination? will give him a shot myself if yes.
I have used these guys a number of times but for the "walk on" laminate the min order is one square meter.

[Minwah]

Thanks for the replies chaps...I am interested in polycarbonate laminating as well, if possible (& reasonable price).

rockyrocket: What lamination did you have have by pixartprinting for your Tempest cabinet? Was it the 'UV Filter 2/5 Matt'? The finish looked pretty good to me from your pics...I guess it is just not as thick as polycarb?

[Franco B]

Apologies, I had not seen your reply rockyrocket.

The guy I use for my stickers website is www.webstickers.co.uk

I've not used him for a CPO so you would need to ask him about polycarb lamination. The stickers I've had printed have been laminated but they're not as thick or textured like the CPOs I've bought from other places.

[rockyrocket]

The cpo thats actually on the cab came from Game on graphics, but I did get a load of other CPOs done from pixart with the 125gsm  walk-on lamination option that seems to be a polycarb treatment.
Tell you what minwah PM me your address and I will post you out a sample as a thankyou for your fine front end.
As for pixarts print options for sideart I have tried lots of combinations of backing and lamination ect, all with great results and dead cheap too.
Mostly I go with the photosolvent monomeric HD gloss material or the opaque depending on whats on offer with the UV filter 2 gloss lamination.
Just printed some art for a midi pin with a total cost of £30!.
I have wasted a lot of money trying different printers over the years and will be staying with pixart, but if anyone can find a good marquee printer then I am all ears, I want something of the same quality as emdkays offerings but here in the UK, I have a sub par offering here in front of me that was a test from a uk source - more money wasted  .

[jimmer]

rockyrocket, I love your Tempest cabinet. And thanks for the info on cpo vinyl.

I'm thinking about graphics for my Defender/Robotron panel (desktop at the moment, but who knows what it might grow into).  I'd love it if a simple laminated vinyl was robust enough without having to put an acrylic sheet on top.

Does the pvc stretch at all when being stuck down? I'd like to cut my holes first and then apply the vinyl after.

Oh yeah, I'm North Bristol.

[rockyrocket]

rockyrocket, I love your Tempest cabinet. And thanks for the info on cpo vinyl.

I'm thinking about graphics for my Defender/Robotron panel (desktop at the moment, but who knows what it might grow into).  I'd love it if a simple laminated vinyl was robust enough without having to put an acrylic sheet on top.

Does the pvc stretch at all when being stuck down? I'd like to cut my holes first and then apply the vinyl after.

Oh yeah, I'm North Bristol.

Hi jimmer,
No there is no stretch at all sorry, as to not needing an acrylic layer if you use the 125gsm lamination from pixart then yes you can do without it, I have a bit stuck onto a workbench here and its holding up fine.
For a local printer I also rate print4biz who are in kingswood the only caveat is that they can not do large format but otherwise are excellent.
http://www.print4biz.org.uk/
Just like I said to minwah I have some offcuts of the cpo prints from pixart so if you PM me an address I will post a bit out.
Sometimes I climb with a guy who works at a large bristol printers and he recons they can print anything and is going to set up a meeting between myself and a rep as I am sure the UK arcade builders could be profitable for a company prepared to do good work.
Ps I am not connected in anyway to pixart  .
Especially if they can print marquees onto duratrans ect, we will see.

[jimmer]

I was more worried it might stretch, rather than wanting it to stretch (I'm pretty accurate on the machining).

Thanks for the offer of samples, I'll pm you.

[jimmer]

If anyone in UK wants to combine an order for some graphics from pixart get in touch.

I want one cpo overlay, at the moment I'll be ordering 4 to meet the minimum order 1sqm. £40 for the walk-on is a bit steep for 1 panel (and 3 spare) so it's pushing me towards a lower protection. And these decisions are hard because I'm working blind on all this until I get to feel some samples.

[shrunkenmaster]

After many chats with printers about 'polycarbonate laminate' I have now found that I've been asking for the wrong thing, at least here in the UK. Apparently the finish is known as 'crystal matt laminate' - hope that helps in the quest for decent CPO printing.

[rockyrocket]

After many chats with printers about 'polycarbonate laminate' I have now found that I've been asking for the wrong thing, at least here in the UK. Apparently the finish is known as 'crystal matt laminate' - hope that helps in the quest for decent CPO printing.

Good info thanks.
@jimmer I will grab some envelopes tomorrow and post you out something on saturday, minwah may also give a second opinion as he now has some examples of the pixart stuff.
Man I should be on commision .

[jimmer]

I have so many questions about the choices on this page! Can anyone help?
http://www.pixartprinting.co.uk/wide-format/printing-self-adhesive-pvc/flat-surface-adhesive/

What is the standard back colour? What difference does the back colour make?

What's the difference between polymeric and monomeric? How is polymeric (presumably) better?

If HD is 3000dpi (Really? or it that 300dpi?) what is Standard dpi ?

Is Walk-on gloss or matt?

[jimmer]

Got my samples, thanks 

The larger one you sent me (Tempest?) is Matt and textured. I like this one for feel and look, will have to test it to see how it will wear.

The gloss one I don't like the look, but feels like it will wear very well.

The WIZ01 machine label, is matt and smooth. Probably my favourite although it is disadvantage by not having colour graphics on it.

So, what are the materials?

[rockyrocket]

Got my samples, thanks 

The larger one you sent me (Tempest?) is Matt and textured. I like this one for feel and look, will have to test it to see how it will wear.

The gloss one I don't like the look, but feels like it will wear very well.

The WIZ01 machine label, is matt and smooth. Probably my favourite although it is disadvantage by not having colour graphics on it.

So, what are the materials?

PM`ed you as without the samples to look at this makes no sense to anyone else.

[jimmer]

Ah, but it might be helpful to others when I say that the textured matt one, which you've identified as the walk-on laminate, feels very nice for a control panel surface and that I can't scratch it with my fingernail.

Although I might still go for a simple matt laminate to save some money.