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Artwork mounted under pexiglass....How they do that?
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garnerb350:

--- Quote from: Neverending Project on September 28, 2009, 10:44:42 am ---Or you can do what most people here do and print it on vinyl and place it behind the glass/acrylic. Still looks pretty damn good.

--- End quote ---

That was what i was wanting to do...but what is racking my brain...is  how do you secure the print to the back of the acrylic.... I know the print would be glued or have adhesive on the CPO but what about the acrylic to the print...( and be legible)...

This is for the CPO...I figured the print needs protection from hands and whatnot from everyday use...

BigThumbToe:
What youre wanting is whats called a 2nd surface mount. 1st suface is when its mounted on top of the board and 2nd suface being mounted on the bottom but still facing up. What keeps it together is more of a clear sticky laminate with a release liner than a typical adhesive or glue. I work at a print shop and we do that kind of stuff all the time, but Ive never seen it get done using vinyl though, always photo paper. I plan on doing it this way using a metallic paper when i build my next CP and using regular adhesive  back vinyl (ABV) for the sides of my cabinet. I hope this helps.
MaximRecoil:

--- Quote from: Neverending Project on September 28, 2009, 10:44:42 am ---If you want to stay as close to the original as possible, you will most likely want to find a replacement bezel in good condition. Screening is not really a process that caters toward the one-up job. Screens are very expensive to make, and the process itself takes dedicated equipment. I would guess on the order of a thousand or more to have the screens made and get it done on a a piece of acrylic.

Or you can do what most people here do and print it on vinyl and place it behind the glass/acrylic. Still looks pretty damn good.

--- End quote ---

Not thousands, more like 25 to 30. Richard at ThisOldGame.com has been known to do a run of a dozen. The usual process is to find a dozen or more people who need the same piece as you do, and that spreads the expense out over a group of people rather than just one. This happens fairly often over at KLOV for example. A couple of years ago, I vectorized the Super Punch-Out sideart, and that has resulted in two screen print runs from my file now. Here is the second run, recently completed - http://www.thisoldgame.com/New_TOGpages/CabArt/SPOsa.htm.

And to the OP, whenever you see something clear with artwork on the underside of it on an original arcade machine, it is almost guaranteed to be reverse screen printed. Even typical CPOs are made like this; the thin flexible ones that are stuck directly to the control panel; like for example, on a Galaga machine (and countless other machines). For those they start with a thin sheet of clear Lexan (polycarbonate); not much thicker than paper; and they reverse screen print the art onto the underside of it, then add the adhesive under the art so it can be stuck to the control panel. This results in a surface for the control panel which can stand up to heavy wear without affecting the artwork that is on the underside.
garnerb350:

--- Quote from: BigThumbToe on September 29, 2009, 04:26:25 am ---What youre wanting is whats called a 2nd surface mount. 1st suface is when its mounted on top of the board and 2nd suface being mounted on the bottom but still facing up. What keeps it together is more of a clear sticky laminate with a release liner than a typical adhesive or glue. I work at a print shop and we do that kind of stuff all the time, but Ive never seen it get done using vinyl though, always photo paper. I plan on doing it this way using a metallic paper when i build my next CP and using regular adhesive  back vinyl (ABV) for the sides of my cabinet. I hope this helps.

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Thanks Big Thumb.... I work in a simple printshop...i do posters and photos, but Ive never messed with the obscure types of prints....I learn something new each day i guess...Thanks

I'm going to contact a print shop nearby and see if they offer it....butttttttttt....


With that being said, it sounds expensive...( from where i am at)...is there any other alternatives? I'm making a list of options...
Turnarcades:
If you just go with bonding it to the metal panel (ie. adhesive underneath the vinyl), you're less likely to worry about bubbles than applying it to the plexi with surface-side adhesive. I think that's gonna be your best option.
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