UK - anyone need a CPO printing?

[Minwah]

I will soon want to get a couple of control panel overlays printed. Having read some recommendations and seen an example (thanks rockyrocket), I am going to use pixartprinting:

http://www.pixartprinting.co.uk/wide-format/printing-self-adhesive-pvc/flat-surface-adhesive/

The minimum order (charged for) is 1 square metre, which is quoted at £45.76. My control panels will only take up 916x345mm, which leaves 1000x650 ish.

Would anyone be interested in getting one done at the same time and share the costs?

Let me know!

[DHTech]

Hi I'm in the UK and just about to get my artwork printed, I intend on using printed.com, the are cheaper and better resolution printing. http://www.printed.com/

[Minwah]

Hi I'm in the UK and just about to get my artwork printed, I intend on using printed.com, the are cheaper and better resolution printing. http://www.printed.com/

Hi, how did you find out they are better resolution printing? Also, I can't see the option of having the print laminated, as required for a control panel overlay?

http://www.printed.com/products/23/self-adhesive-vinyl

[DHTech]

I was looking to getting my side art printed at Pixartprinting and they only do up to 150dpi (look at the FAQs), that's not enough for good quality prints, Printed.com have 300dpi which is much better for seeing large images closer, like on the side of your cabinet, 150dpi is fine if you are looing from a distance like billboard posters.

I'm not laminating my CP at I have cut an Acrylic/Perspex overlay, so I don't know about lamination!

[Minwah]

I was looking to getting my side art printed at Pixartprinting and they only do up to 150dpi (look at the FAQs), that's not enough for good quality prints, Printed.com have 300dpi which is much better for seeing large images closer, like on the side of your cabinet, 150dpi is fine if you are looing from a distance like billboard posters.

I'm not laminating my CP at I have cut an Acrylic/Perspex overlay, so I don't know about lamination!

I would tend to agree with you, all the art I have had printed before has been at 300dpi. That said an example I saw from pixart looked pretty good. I think I will check with them whether their faq is correct...

[jimmer]

Minwah, I assume that's the walk-on laminate?

You've got me thinking again about upgrading my contro panel, but I think I'll probably go for the simple standard matt laminate, £14 for 3 or 4  panel designs is a bargain.


Let us know what they say about resolution. I've just seen the yellow tips box at the bottom of my potential order, it says "optimal resolution 100dpi for wide format printing"

The examples that rockyrocket kindly sent me were very good, but I can't judge the dpi.

[Minwah]

Minwah, I assume that's the walk-on laminate?

Yes, sorry I forgot to mention that!

Let us know what they say about resolution. I've just seen the yellow tips box at the bottom of my potential order, it says "optimal resolution 100dpi for wide format printing"

Yes I spotted that too...no reply from them yet...

[DHTech]

Just order some of my artwork printed from Printed.com, should be here on Monday (29th) also managed to get 20% off using code "TRYUSLOVEUS", will see what the quality is like before ordering my large side art.

[Minwah]

Just order some of my artwork printed from Printed.com, should be here on Monday (29th) also managed to get 20% off using code "TRYUSLOVEUS", will see what the quality is like before ordering my large side art.

Great, I would be interested to hear how it turns out!

[timpharrison]

It doesn't look as though Printed.com offer "cut to size" so how will this work for your side art?

Is the background transparent, so the cut to size doesn't matter as much?

Which material did you select?

Tim

[ark_ader]

I will soon want to get a couple of control panel overlays printed. Having read some recommendations and seen an example (thanks rockyrocket), I am going to use pixartprinting:

http://www.pixartprinting.co.uk/wide-format/printing-self-adhesive-pvc/flat-surface-adhesive/

The minimum order (charged for) is 1 square metre, which is quoted at £45.76. My control panels will only take up 916x345mm, which leaves 1000x650 ish.

Would anyone be interested in getting one done at the same time and share the costs?

Let me know!

That's expensive I can get it done for £20. 3ftx3ft you can get a buch of sets done with that.

[Minwah]

That's expensive I can get it done for £20. 3ftx3ft you can get a buch of sets done with that.

It is expensive...would £20 include the heavy duty lamination? I think that is a lot of the expense.

[DHTech]

It doesn't look as though Printed.com offer "cut to size" so how will this work for your side art?

Is the background transparent, so the cut to size doesn't matter as much?

Which material did you select?

Tim

My side art covers the entire side of the machine, so it will be a case of cutting round the edge with a knife and then putting on the t-moulding. The only down side to Printed.com is the vinyl isn't supplied with the protective transfer sheet, this means you have to squeegee on to the printed surface, which I'm not 100% happy with, as it may scratch.  Otherwise the Printed.com artwork is excellent print quality, the backlit marquee was especially nice.

[Minwah]

My side art covers the entire side of the machine, so it will be a case of cutting round the edge with a knife and then putting on the t-moulding. The only down side to Printed.com is the vinyl isn't supplied with the protective transfer sheet, this means you have to squeegee on to the printed surface, which I'm not 100% happy with, as it may scratch.  Otherwise the Printed.com artwork is excellent print quality, the backlit marquee was especially nice.

Maybe use a towel instead of squeegee to be safe not to damage the print.

I decided to order a test print from pixart, without the lamination (which is pretty much all of the cost). My test image is 552x383mm and cost < £6 including postage. I uploaded the image at 300dpi...not sure what it will get printed at but I will judge if it is good enough when it arrives...

[jimmy2x2x]

Very interested in seeing pics when they arrive.

Thanks

[PL1]

The only down side to Printed.com is the vinyl isn't supplied with the protective transfer sheet, this means you have to squeegee on to the printed surface, which I'm not 100% happy with, as it may scratch.

Hold a piece of paper (glossy/heavy stock preferred) still on top of the vinyl and run the squeegee over the paper.

The squeegee won't scratch the printing, but will transfer the pressure to the vinyl.


Scott

[jimmer]

I decided to order a test print from pixart, without the lamination (which is pretty much all of the cost). My test image is 552x383mm and cost < £6 including postage. I uploaded the image at 300dpi...not sure what it will get printed at but I will judge if it is good enough when it arrives...

Must have arrived by now?

What's it like? 
What spec did you choose?

[Minwah]

Must have arrived by now?

What's it like? 
What spec did you choose?

Yes sorry, I forgot about this thread...I just went for no laminate, adhesive PVC wide format.

Not impressed with the result really. One of my images was the Asteroids cabaret CPO...black with white lines and text - you can see red around the white parts. Not sure what DPI it was printed at but definitely not 300 as per my source image.

If you are not picky and have a dimly lit room it will be passable...

Also the delivery tube was flat as a pancake when it arrived so the vinyl was ruined...more of a courier issue though.

[jimmer]

All very dissapointing. And confusing as I've seen good work from them too.

Which material did you specify? 

Are you going to ask them about the quality?

[rockyrocket]

All sounds a bit odd to me chaps, always send them 300dpi myself and am sure thats what I have received back?.
Maybe something has changed - the order was always printed in italy, what about yours Minwah?.
Infact the image below is from them.

[jimmer]

Rockyrockets picture above is one of the samples he sent me, which I referred to in an earlier post. 

For info, it is the walk-on laminate coating. It is textured and as far as I can tell, indestructible.

It is sitting on my desk as a constant reminder to get my own panel printed up.

[DHTech]

All sounds a bit odd to me chaps, always send them 300dpi myself and am sure thats what I have received back?.
Maybe something has changed - the order was always printed in italy, what about yours Minwah?.
Infact the image below is from them.

I don't think the quality of that sample look all that good, the edges of the shapes and letters aren't particularly sharp, I wouldn't be over happy with that, #justsaying

[ark_ader]

That's expensive I can get it done for £20. 3ftx3ft you can get a buch of sets done with that.

It is expensive...would £20 include the heavy duty lamination? I think that is a lot of the expense.
[/quote

Go check it out:

www.granthams.co.uk

[rockyrocket]

Ok guys, so I have mentioned more than once that pixart are my go to printers however the last thing I want is anyone thinking I have caused them to waste money.
So I have taken some better quality shots of some CPO`s that I have from pixart so that people can give an honest appraisal for anyone else who may be thinking about using them.
Also if us brits do have a better and cheaper alternative then please speak up as I will jump ship myself .
Its worth being mindfull the top laminate has a bit more grain to it than other CPO`s I have had from other US sources but is marketed for walking on.
Anyway here are some shots with a microswitch for scale...









Here you can see a spare print I made for my tempest cab compared to the one from GOG already fitted (ignore the colour difference it was an experiment).

[DHTech]

Thanks for posting the images, I still don't think their printing is particularly good quality, may be it's the laminate that makes the images less sharp. I've used printed.com and my artwork is excellent quality, printed at 300dpi, the only downside of printed.com is they can't cut to shape.

[rockyrocket]

Thanks for posting the images, I still don't think their printing is particularly good quality, may be it's the laminate that makes the images less sharp. I've used printed.com and my artwork is excellent quality, printed at 300dpi, the only downside of printed.com is they can't cut to shape.

Ok thanks for the feedback maybe I will try them next time, do they do a overlay option?.
I do think you may be right about the top layer possibly defocusing the print slightly but it seems to be about the same quality as the GOG print,
They are defo not as good as the 3M backed stuff though from this old game but the turnaround from pixart is days.
Think I will try printed.com for a test marquee as I think I remember someone getting a duratrans print from them and its marquee printing that I can not find a good UK source for.
Gremlins marquee quality and turnaround time has varied a lot over the orders I have made with them.