Questions on Printing Artwork

[Jabba]

Hi All,

I've been calling around a few print services in Ottawa (Canada) to get my 26" x 6" Marquee printed and they all look at me like I had 10 heads. They say things like "Oh, we'll have to make a plate for that!" What gives? From reading here by byoac, it seems you US folks just walk into Kinkos and get it printed. I checked, we do not have a Kinkos here in Ottawa.

Ultimately, I would prefer to do it at home on my Printer. I have AI and a Canon S-900 printer, so the quality will be there (I think). I tried it, but it printed the Marquee on three pages which I had to cuit and paste (literally). Needless to say, I was not happy with the result (could see seams...). If I can do it on the printer at home, are there any special tricks I need to consider in AI? Any special stock I should use?

If I cannot use my home setup, I would prefer not to e-mail it and have it printed remotely because I do not want to pay shipping and customs fees (unless they are Canadian and are reasonable).

Questions I have for you are as follows:

1. Does anyone know of such a place here in Canada (preferably Ottawa) where I can get this done?

2. What is the best stock to get this printed on for the Marquee? I do not want it washed out. What is the best technique to make sure it looks OK.

3. I am not settled yet on the image to use. I went to Zakks massive site (great images Zakk!). Anyone know of any others sites/images before I finalize my Image.

4. Would it be a MAME sacrilege to use a real Marquee (like Defender, Pacman, etc?)

So many questions....... Thanks all so much for the feedback.

Garry

[TalkingOctopus]

To print it at home, you should go to an office store and look for photo banner paper.  That will at least be seamless.  The image you print off should be at least 200 dpi, but if you are using Adobe Illustrator you don't have to worry about that if it is a vector image.

I had my marquee printer here and I couldn't be happier with the quality.

http://www.emdkay.net/

Answer to number 4: I don't think too many people will be bothered by a real marquee on a mame machine.

Hope that helps.

[mahuti]

I use a defender marquee. I think that makes more sense, personally than using the name "MAME." Who besides us actually knows what an emulator is, or cares. To others it will be about the games. Not the emulator.

[Jabba]

I use a defender marquee. I think that makes more sense, personally than using the name "MAME." Who besides us actually knows what an emulator is, or cares. To others it will be about the games. Not the emulator.

Actually, thats where I was going with a "real" marquee. I often now have to explain what MAME is.  Now, if I had defender marquee, they would say "wow, cool, you have defender"...

[TalkingOctopus]

I use a defender marquee. I think that makes more sense, personally than using the name "MAME." Who besides us actually knows what an emulator is, or cares. To others it will be about the games. Not the emulator.

Actually, thats where I was going with a "real" marquee. I often now have to explain what MAME is.  Now, if I had defender marquee, they would say "wow, cool, you have defender"...

I have to second that.  Sadly, No one who uses my cab except me knows what MAME is.  They are also baffled by the marquee and constantly misreading MAME as MEME or MNME or MMME.  I wish had used a real marquee or just put a general marquee that says "arcade" like some people do.

[Stingray]

That's why I chose to just make up a name for my cab instead of using MAME.  Very few people I know have ever heard of MAME.

-S

[GGKoul]

Jabba

I'm in Canada too, Outside of Hamilton.

I'm using www.mamemarquees.com to get my stuff printed.  He's based in Detroit and doesn't charge crazy prices for shipping to Canada.

Go Sens Go!

-GGKoul

[menace]

For items with a height under 8 1/2" inches I use a little program caled poster7 (free on the internet) it lets you print 10 posters/banners or whatever of any size --if you use large paper and cut it into 8 1/2" strips the printer should accept them no problem.  for larger, I went to kinko's , and even though the ink cartridges were smarter than the 2 boobs behind the counter, they turned out nicely. (12$/sq/ ft.)

[Jabba]

Thanks all. I used Poster7 for my current marquee and it was a great tool. I think I read one of your posts in an earlier thread menace. I think I am going to splurge more $$$ and get the real mccoy. Something legit like a defender, startgate, asteroids (I did not see one of those marquees. Does one exist with CPO and Sideart?) I've spent a whole bunch of $$$ on the project so far, and feel "in my heart" I NEED real artwork to really put the icing on the cake for this prject (this MAME bug sure bitting me big) .

As I finish this project off, I am already starting to convince myself I need a new project bartop mame, cocktail mame, real defender cab mame....

BTW GGKoul: Go Sens Go (aren't you a TO fan???) I thought for sure I'd be hearing the opposite  .

[Stingray]

As I finish this project off, I am already starting to convince myself I need a new project bartop mame, cocktail mame, real defender cab mame....

HAHAHA! Man, I know what you mean. I'm not even finished with my upright and I'm already thinking of doing a bartop or cocktail next. Probably a bartop since I know where I can get an empty one pretty cheap.

-S

[GGKoul]

BTW GGKoul: Go Sens Go (aren't you a TO fan???) I thought for sure I'd be hearing the opposite  .

I'm an anti Leaf fan.  I'm just tired of Leafs this and Leafs that.  Just give me a good hockey game on TV and I dont care who's playing.  I'm more a CFL Hamilton Ti Cat fan.

OsKee Wee Wee!

-GGKoul

[menace]

GGKoul--I lived in Hamilton for close to 6 years, and I still don't know what the hel an oskee wee wee is

[Rahzel]

If you want your marquee printed professionally, there this guy Gregory McGill located in the US that prints awesome marquees on thick plexi glass. He only charged me $30 + $15 (I think) for shipping. I had the same problem as you until I found out about this guy, I had mine done over a year ago so I'm not sure if he still does this but you can contact him anyways at www.arcadeshopper.com