Poster-size photo print as sideart?

[Well Fed Games]

OK, so I recently asked about DIY stencils, and now I have another cheapskate thought about side-art. Costco can do poster-size photo prints (24x36) for pretty cheap. Any reason I wouldn't be able to go this route for side-art? Print it up, trim it out, and adhesive it on somehow? Anyone done this, and would it be recommended to do some sort of clear coat (varnish?) over the top of all of it for durability?

Really want custom side-art, but a little leery of the cost of adhesive vinyl, and the prospect of messing it up with applying it.

Good news is, Illustrator is making more sense now and the side-art design is coming along.

[Corbo]

Illustrator is great when you get the hang of it and the shortcut keys.

I would worry that a poster print will get torn, or not take the adhesive well and get soggy patches.  It could end up costing you more in the long run.

I suppose you *could* get a poster print and use clear self adhesive vinyl from a diy store.  Put the poster on the side and vinyl over it, but then you face the same concerns with applying it to the cabinet.

Personally I would save up some pennies for a vinyl print, you could be less than happy with the result otherwise and when you work so hard on a project like this, if it's not quite right, it will bug the hell out of you until you put it right.

[Well Fed Games]

Thanks for the feedback. Corbo, you bring up some good concerns. Since I am not really trying to restore a cab I am willing to cut a few corners, but if it is harder in the long run it might be easier to go with vinyl. Unless some folks have some success stories I can copy off of....

[Well Fed Games]

Not too shabby! Good to hear about the rubber cement... I was originally thinking some sort of spray adhesive or something.

[flashiv]

I used print out and spray adhesive for my marquee.  Not too bad for my first time.

[TopJimmyCooks]

3M super 77 is a good spray mount adhesive and commonly available.  It's most commonly used for mounting paper to paper, so I would test it on a test piece of the print stock and a sample of the painted surface to be 100% sure. 

[Well Fed Games]

Cool, I think I will end up trying it. Very little lost if it doesn't work!