**DESIGN PERIOD COMPLETE - 2007 BYOAC Token BACK SIDE Design Thread**

[Santoro]

Just because I've been too busy to post polls let's extend it to Sunday - Jul 22. I know a few stragglers had ideas.

[dstone]

Just wanted to give this a bump in case there were any ideas that missed the second deadline. 

[Santoro]

Hey MrC - weren't you going to submit something?

[missioncontrol]

he's been out of town most this week, you may have to PM him a reminder...

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Santoro, check your PM's.

[Santoro]

OK... I've been holding the door open for mr.Curmudgeon to get his submission in.  If anyone else wants to submit please do so ASAP.  The double-final super drop-dead closing date is midnight friday (eastern time.)  I promise no more extensions\delays.

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Doh! I've had it done since just after the *last* deadline. Looks like we've both been too busy for our own good. I designed a front and a back that are designed to go together as a theme. I'm just going to post them both here for now, I can split the image up to seperate threads if that's more appropriate.

Anyhow, I'm a big fan of Steam Punk stuff, so my token design is part of that genre. The central theme is based on the challenge stated on the coin, "How Retro Can You Go?", which is an homage to one of the core aspects of this hobby..our love of the past, and our desire to recreate it.

The idea behind some of the details is that the coin was hand-crafted years ago, using a watchmakers time-honored attention to detail and a showman's penchant for flair. Imagine, if you will, that it were two thin coins, (like magicians trick coins), intricately machined together, so that one (toothed) outer edge could be turned with the fingers, causing the tiny gears to spin, in turn, rotating the stars on the back, which would then (using pins that go through the coin) rotate all the "stars" on the front face of the coin. (ie: so all the stars on the coin are rotating). Trust me, I'm mental. I planned this whole thing out as if it could actually work.

There are ten stars on the coin, each with ten facets, which represent the 10 years that BYOAC has been helping all of us relive our past, and challenging us with the question, "How Retro Can You Go?"

Originally, versions one and two were even more detailed, but then I realized I was working on a token that was going to be 25mm in diameter. Duh.


Version 3 - Click to Zoom



Version 4 - Click to Zoom
(a little less detail on the text)


Love 'em or hate 'em, there they are.
mrC

[KDOG]

I like it

[siropa]

I like them mr.Curmudgeon. They really remind me of old tokens from arcades.

[Pixelhugger]

I love them. And I hate them. I hate them for being so much more amazing than anything I could do. I hate them for being so f%$%*ING cool I'm gonna hafta fork over more much needed cabinet money just to hold these intricate little beauties in my hand!

Having gone the rounds with the mint several times now, IMO nothing so far would hold a candle to the feel of these actually minted with all that insane detail. I like steampunk stuff too, but aside from that these are so unusual and would look so incredible in metal I feel like I've gotta have them. I'm sure some people will beg to differ since they are decidedly more "retro" than the hobby in general, but I think that makes them that much cooler. These have to be the most "token" like of anything we've done so far.

Wow!

[Pixelhugger]

I like version 3 for the final. While the white lettering in version 4 looks a bit better in "print"... the actual metal stamping will make MUCH more of the outlines and relief in version 3.

Awesome. I'm finally excited about the possibilities again!!

[mr.Curmudgeon]

I like version 3 for the final. While the white lettering in version 4 looks a bit better in "print"... the actual metal stamping will make MUCH more of the outlines and relief in version 3.

I know nothing about how the stamping works, so I'm all ears on that part...and I have no problem tweaking the design, and considering other suggestions, based on your experienced. I thought ver. 3 would be too detailed. But that's cool if it's not. I like that one better anyhow.

I'm stoked that you love them.    ....and hate them! 
 

[bfauska]

Bling 'em, bling 'em.  I like a few of them so far but I think maybe curmudgeon's are my favorite so far.  I think jfunk and pixel might be of a more appropriate era, but since I am at least as into mechanical things as I am arcades I really like Curmudgeon's.

Mostly, I think we've finally arrived at a place where we should see everything blinged up for comparison.

[Kaytrim]

Version 3 - Click to Zoom



Version 4 - Click to Zoom

It is hard to tell which of these two versions is my favorite.  I like the look of version 3 but the complexity may be a bit too much for minting.  We will have to let Santaro let us know on that front.  Personally I like the invader style coins but these are just too pretty not to be considered.

Excellent Job Mr C.

EDIT**  A few suggestions.  You have the coins designed for visual excellence as they sit now.  However the coloring is not proper for minting.  The lighter the shade the more to the front the object will be.  An example of where you have a mistake in this are the banners on the front face.  Another example are the stars.  I understand the faceting you envision for them but as they sit now they will not show up that way when minted.  I don't know how you would set this up for minting but maybe when they are 'blinged' it will translate better.

EDIT 2 **  I would take out the screws from the stars on the back and then do a reverse faceting on the star in the '1'  Also loose the shadowing for the main lettering on both sides (v4) as well as around the edge of the coin.  These look nice in this form but will be there anyway when minted.  I would also shade the number '1' slightly so when minted it will be lower than the word 'TOKEN'  Once version 4 is tweaked for minting it should be the best design of any I have seen and one to be coveted in anyone's collection.

[jfunk]

Darn you, Mr. C!

Excellent entries...

[mr.Curmudgeon]

EDIT** However the coloring is not proper for minting. 

Yeah, I'm at a loss for the minting process, so I tried to cut my losses and tried to design for a little of both arenas (gray levels for minting, visual queues for viewing). I think Pixel is going to help make sure that issue is addressed with this design.

EDIT 2 **  I would take out the screws from the stars on the back and then do a reverse faceting on the star in the '1'  Also loose the shadowing for the main lettering on both sides (v4) as well as around the edge of the coin.  These look nice in this form but will be there anyway when minted.  I would also shade the number '1' slightly so when minted it will be lower than the word 'TOKEN'  Once version 4 is tweaked for minting it should be the best design of any I have seen and one to be coveted in anyone's collection.

I will definitely look into this. I went into this figuring there'd be some adjustments along the line. Great suggestions.
...and thanks for the compliments, as well. 

Pixel is thinking that the detail in ver 3. might be doable (which surprises me), minus any other design adjustments for depth effects, etc.

[Pixelhugger]

The outer rule around BYOAC in version 3 is over .003" which means it should be mintable without any problems. Some of the serifs in the smaller type will likely be a bit lost I'm guessing, but I doubt that'll affect the overall look much.

[missioncontrol]

very nice Mr C. and worth the extra wait to you to finalize them..... guess my design doesn't have a chance now.....

They have my vote.... can't wait to see them blinged

[Pixelhugger]

FWIW .002" is the absolute minimum line width.

[jfunk]

Might I suggest removing the 2007 from one of the sides?  (Front would be my choice)

Don't know that it needs to be on both and would allow some more of the detail on the front to be seen...

[Pixelhugger]

Man that design is just beggin for some old latin motto.

Ludus numquam finitus est!

[missioncontrol]

Might I suggest removing the 2007 from one of the sides?  (Front would be my choice)

Don't know that it needs to be on both and would allow some more of the detail on the front to be seen...

agreed lose the year on the front

[Pixelhugger]

Bling. Apologies to any who've already sent files for bling. I'll get those posted too as soon as my head stops hurting from this one.

Please keep in mind this is not a 3D rendering and is only an approximation of how things will look stamped in metal. Consequently some/all of these layers probably look much chunkier and overly embossed than they would in a final coin.



And if there's not enough to order nickel, heres the brass.

[jfunk]

wow.

[Kaytrim]

Now that I have seen the bling, thanks PH.  I would lose the shadow on the BYOAC Mr. C. 

Pixel here is a good example of what the stars should look like, Mr. C tell me if I am wrong.


TTFN

[Pixelhugger]

Unfortunately we are not able to actually create 3D extrusions on the coin. We can only use multiple flat layers, so the kind of detail intended with those stars has to be approximated. It should come off looking pretty close to that I think, considering they'd be a small fraction of an inch in size. 

[dstone]

  Wow. I didn't care much for the design seeing the drawings, but seeing the blinged out version really makes me appreciate the intricacy of the design. Splendid work! 

[Kaytrim]

Unfortunately we are not able to actually create 3D extrusions on the coin. We can only use multiple flat layers, so the kind of detail intended with those stars has to be approximated. It should come off looking pretty close to that I think, considering they'd be a small fraction of an inch in size. 

Bummer, they would look really sweet like that and they would be too plain without the facets.    Oh well beggars can't be choosers.

TTFN

[Pixelhugger]

seeing the blinged out version really makes me appreciate the intricacy of the design.

And this is just a cheap 2d cheat. The actual metal would likely be far more intricate and amazing.

[ChadTower]

Wow.  I'll have to finally pony up the dough for BYOAC tokens.  Nice job.

[Kaytrim]

After zooming in by 400% the detail of the coin really comes out in the blinged version.  Super job PH.  Also looking closer like this showed to me that the shadow of the "BOYAC" is on the banner behind and below but not above the banner.  IMHO it looks out of place in this version.

TTFN

  Just do the brass that looks even better than the nickel plated one. 

[mr.Curmudgeon]

Pixel here is a good example of what the stars should look like, Mr. C tell me if I am wrong.

You are definitely correct. That's what I had in mind, it looks like I need to correct the Illustrator file.
Some edits are in order. We'll see how it goes.


mrC

[pointdablame]

wow, that is an awesome design Mr. C.    Great work, I love 'em

[Pixelhugger]

This is the only other file I've received to bling. Anyone else ready?

[saint]

Man that design is just beggin for some old latin motto.

Ludus numquam finitus est!

"Game at no time neighboring is?"

In sanctus nos fides

[markrvp]

"Yo tengo un pene muy grande"

[bfauska]

So the way you posted it PH, it sounds like the consensus in the past has been toward the nickel instead of brass, is that correct?  Personally if I am going to have custom tokens I think that they would look cooler/more retro/more like tokens if they were brass.  Am I way off base here.  If I wanted silver color I'd use quarters.  I also like the idea of brass probably being cheaper since my to cabs have quarter mechs right now and in addition to the tokens I'd have to buy 3 token mechs if I want these darn things, and I probably will since there are at least 3 designs I'd be willing to use.

[Pixelhugger]

I'm not sure what the preference has been. But both have been an option. It's just that nickel requires something like a 10,000 coin minimum to mint, and then costs more on top of that so it's not likely unless there's a lot of demand. I love them both, but if I had to choose, brass is much more nostalgic for me.

Mark - That's more than I needed to know. But for the record (and what I am sure is a large number of hot latinas reading) - yo también. 
Saint - Almost. It's actually "All your Ludus are belong to us." 

[bfauska]

hey Pixel,

Ummmmmmmmm,  I do really like the idea of these and enjoy seeing them blinged, but...  IS YOUR CABINET DONE YET?  I would feel horrible if that poor cabinet was getting no attention while you spent so much time working on these tokens.

[Pixelhugger]

Heh.

Well, let me revise the latin to: "my project numquam finitus est"

But to answer your question, any of these art related projects I generally do during uh... whats the word.... downtime... at work.