cards, possible vector project?

[SirPoonga]

I've been collecting images of instruction cards as I find them.  Suprised there isn't a repository already considering bezels and marques are all over the place.

I found this site recently, all in PDF format though.  Can PDF be converted to something useful?

Also this could be a possible vector project.
http://www.mikesarcade.com/arcade/cards.html

[patrickl]

That's a nice collection of cards. The PDF files are 300dpi scans. They would need to be traced or you might print them as is.

There are some instruction cards on mahuti's Arcade Art library (and some more in other sections).

[zorg]

I've been collecting images of instruction cards as I find them.  Suprised there isn't a repository already considering bezels and marques are all over the place.

I found this site recently, all in PDF format though.  Can PDF be converted to something useful?

Also this could be a possible vector project.
http://www.mikesarcade.com/arcade/cards.html

PDF is useful? by itself.
PDF is an embeded postscript format. you can resize them to the size you want.

by the way I can contribute some Instcard in various format.
all those file where gathered from various websites.

1941_ic_200.jpg                         PopnBounce-s.tif
2020Baseball-m.tif                      PuckMan_InstructionCard2.jpg
25cent.pdf                              Pulstar-m.tif
3CountBout-m.tif                        PuzzleBobble_InstructionCard1.jpg
AeroFighters2-m.tif                     PuzzleBobble_InstructionCard2.jpg
Arkanoid-s.gif                          PuzzleDePon-m.tif
ArkanoidCPO-s.tif                       RoboArmy-m.tif
ArkanoidReturns_InstructionSticker.jpg  Robotron_UK.jpg
ArtofFighting-m.tif                     Robotron_US.jpg
ArtofFighting2-m.tif                    Robotron_US_inst.pdf
Asterix_Instruction_Sticker.jpg         Robotron_cocktail.jpg
BaseballStars2-m.tif                    Robotron_cocktail.jpg.1
BaseballStarsPro-m.tif                  Robotron_ct_inst.pdf
Berzerk_inst.pdf                        RollingThunder.jpg
Berzerk_instructions.jpg                SNK_AOF.jpg
BlazingStar-m.tif                       SamuraiShodown-m.tif
BluesJourney-m.tif                      SamuraiShodown2-m.tif
Bomberman_InstructionCard1.jpg          SamuraiShodown3-m.tif
Bomberman_InstructionCard2.jpg          Sengoku-m.tif
BubbleBobble-s.gif                      Sheriff-inst-long.pdf
BubblesInstCard.jpg                     Sheriff-inst.pdf
BurningFight-m.tif                      ShockTroopers-m.tif
CClimber2_inst.pdf                      SinistarInstCard.jpg
CTomaday-m.tif                          SonicWings3-m.tif
CabRobo.JPG                             SpaceInvader_ScoreReg.jpg
Cadillacs_Dinosaurs.jpg                 SpaceInvader_color_inst.jpg
CrazyClimber2_InstructionCard.jpg       SpaceInvader_inst.jpg
CrazyClimberDeluxe_verA.jpg             SpaceInvader_part2_inst.jpg
CrazyClimberDeluxe_verB.jpg             SpaceInvaders.jpg
CrazyKongInstructions.jpg               SpaceInvaders_Part_II.jpg
CrossedSwords-m.tif                     Spinmaster-m.tif
CyberLip-m.tif                          Stargate_UK.jpg
DK_Jr_Long_Slender.jpg                  Stargate_US.jpg
DK_Long_Slender.jpg                     Stargate_US_inst.pdf
DK_Table_Coin.jpg                       StreetSlam-m.tif
DK_Upright_Instructions.jpg             SuperDodgeBall-m.tif
Def-CT.pdf                              SuperRider_inst.pdf
Defender_UK.jpg                         SuperSidekicks3-m.tif
Defender_US.jpg                         SuperSpy-m.tif
Defender_US_inst.pdf                    ThrashRally-m.tif
Defender_cocktail.jpg                   TopHunter-m.tif
Defender_cocktailCard.jpg               TopPlayersGolf-m.tif
DkJr_inst.pdf                           TurfMasters-m.tif
DkJr_inst_long.pdf                      VS_SuperMario_instruct.jpg
Dk_Upright.jpg                          ViewPoint-m.tif
Dk_inst.pdf                             WakuWaku7-m.bmp
Dk_inst_cocktail.pdf                    Windjammers-m.tif
Dk_inst_long.pdf                        WorldHeroes-m.tif
Dkjr_Upright.jpg                        WorldHeroes2-m.tif
Dkjr_Upright.jpg.1                      WorldHeroesJet-m.tif
DonkeyKongJR_InstructionCard.jpg        XEVIOS.JPG
DonkeyKongJR_InstructionCard2.jpg       aof2_ic_200.jpg
DonkeyKongJR_InstructionSticker.jpg     aof_ic_200.jpg
DonkeyKong_InstructionCard2.jpg         ataricoin.pdf
DonkeyKong_InstructionSticker.jpg       bfight_ic_200.jpg
DoubleDragon-m.tif                      bubblebobble.sticker.set.jpg
DrMario.zip                             bust-a-move-again.jpg
EightMan-m.tif                          cad_ic_200.jpg
FatalFury-m.tif                         caga.txt
FatalFury-s.tif                         cgolf-coinage.pdf
FatalFury2-m.tif                        crzyclimberint.jpg
FightFever-m.tif                        fcc-nintendo.pdf
FootballFrenzy-m.tif                    gng_inst.pdf
GALAXIAN.JPG                            joustcockcardfinal.jpg
GALAXIAN.jpg                            kof95_ic_200.jpg
GALLAG.JPG                              kof96_ic_200.jpg
Galaga_cock_instructions.jpg            kof97_ic_200.jpg
Galaga_cock_instructions2.jpg           konami-80s-10game-multigame.jpg
Galaxian_instr.jpg                      lastresort_eng_ic_200.jpg
Galaxian_instructions.jpg               lastresort_ic_200.jpg
Garou-m.tif                             lwings_ic_200.jpg
GhostNGoblins_InstructionCard.jpg       mac+1.bmp
GhostPilot-m.tif                        mac+2.bmp
Great1000Miles-s.tif                    mac2-1.bmp
Great1000Miles2-s.tif                   mac2-2.bmp
IRobot_Info.jpg                         mac2-2.bmp.1
JUNGLEKI.JPG                            milli-glass-layout.pdf
JoustCocktail_instructions.gif          mk1_ic_200.jpg
Joust_UK.jpg                            mooncresta_instructions.JPG
Joust_US.jpg                            moonpatrol.tif
Joust_inst.pdf                          mrdo_inst.pdf
KOF94-m.tif                             mrdocastleCT_inst.pdf
LWings-i.tif                            mrdocastle_inst.pdf
LastResort-m.tif                        mrdocastle_instructions.jpg
LeagueBowling-m.tif                     mshvsf_ic01_200.jpg
LostTomb_inst.pdf                       mshvsf_ic02_200.jpg
MVScard-m.tif                           mvc01_ic_200.jpg
MagicianLord-m.tif                      mvc02_ic_200.jpg
Marvel_vs_Capcom_01.jpg                 pdpr_ic_200.jpg
Marvel_vs_Capcom_02.jpg                 pengo_Japanese_instructions.JPG
MetalSlug-m.tif                         phoenix_card.jpg
MetalSlug2-m.tif                        phoenix_instructions.jpg
MrDo-i.tif                              popeye_cocktail_ins1.jpg
MrDoInstructionCard.jpg                 popeye_inst.pdf
Nam1975-m.tif                           popeye_instruction_card.jpg
NeoGeoCup98-m.tif                       robotroncock.jpg
NeoMrDo-m.tif                           rockman_2_-_(sheet_b)_Original.png
NinjaCombat-m.tif                       sdm_inst.pdf
NinjaCommando-m.tif                     sdm_inst.pdf.1
OutZone-s.tif                           sfa3_01_ic_200.jpg
Outzone-i.tif                           sfa3_02_ic_200.jpg
PBobble-m.tif                           sfex2plus01_ic_200.jpg
PENTA.JPG                               sfex2plus02_ic_200.jpg
POLARIS1.JPG                            sh2j_ic_200.jpg
POLARIS2.JPG                            speedrum_ic01_200.jpg
PanicBomber-m.tif                       speedrum_ic02_200.jpg
Phoenix_inst.pdf                        tankbusterscard.jpg
Pooyan_inst.pdf                         toutrunmap_ic_200.jpg
PopFlamer_inst.pdf                      trally_ic_200.jpg
PopNBounce-m.tif                        varth_ic01_200.jpg
Popeye.jpg                              varth_ic02_200.jpg
Popeye1-i.gif                           vs_supermario.jpg
Popeye2-i.gif                           zookeeper_bezel_instructions.zip

feel free to ask any instcard you wish.
I plan to put thm online as soon as I have some web hosting space.

[patrickl]

PDF is useful? by itself.
PDF is an embeded postscript format. you can resize them to the size you want.

I don't completely understand this remark. PDF files (or embedded postscript) can indeed be resized to any size you want, but then so can a JPEG file.  The file format is not so important, but the contents are (even an AI file might simply contain a bitmap). In this case the PDF files (from the link) contain bitmap images (300 dpi scans).

Amazing list of cards btw.

[zorg]

PDF files (or embedded postscript) can indeed be resized to any size you want, but then so can a JPEG file.  The file format is not so important, but the contents are (even an AI file might simply contain a bitmap). In this case the PDF files (from the link) contain bitmap images (300 dpi scans).

ooops my fault
rigth I was focused on PDF produced from eps files, thus you can resize them to any size without any quality lost.
if the pdf is produce from a bitmap image, there will be a lost in quality.

[mahuti]

Feel free to post them at the art library. IF they can be converted to EPS easily, then we can help. If they are JPG type PDFs then we can post them in the "unclean"section & hopefully people will trace them when they have the time.

[zorg]

Feel free to post them at the art library. IF they can be converted to EPS easily, then we can help. If they are JPG type PDFs then we can post them in the "unclean"section & hopefully people will trace them when they have the time.

hummm
a lot of clicking in perspective, do you have a temporary ftp account that I can flood at once. ??

[SirPoonga]

When I say useful I mean use ful as in displaying them in a frontend on a cabinet.  PDF is not a wise choice.

[patrickl]

Ah, I was thinking "useful for vectorizing". I guess you could convert a PDF to a JPG (or PNG).

[zorg]

Ah, I was thinking "useful for vectorizing". I guess you could convert a PDF to a JPG (or PNG).

yes you can
convert (unix) allows conversion from pdf to jpg

[mahuti]

I'll PM you the FTP information.

[paigeoliver]

Why would one need to vectorize an instruction card that was already at print size, not like anyone is going to want to print them 3 feet tall and use them as sideart.

[Generic Eric]

Why would one need to vectorize an instruction card that was already at print size, not like anyone is going to want to print them 3 feet tall and use them as sideart.

Maybe smaller size is required?
I dunno

[zorg]

Why would one need to vectorize an instruction card that was already at print size, not like anyone is going to want to print them 3 feet tall and use them as sideart.

why not ;-)
but vectorization of those cards is also a way to get characters vectorized, that will be good for creating your own artwork
eg the Bubblesbobles I traced where based on the instruction card

but I agree if you just need to print the card and if it's in a high enough resolution/size it will be of poor interest

[patrickl]

Why would one need to vectorize an instruction card that was already at print size, not like anyone is going to want to print them 3 feet tall and use them as sideart.

I already said they could be printed as is, so I agree this is an option. On the other hand, if you trace them you can make them look better than the scans now are (they are not complelety clean). It also makes it easier to edit them or to make a collage or something. File size for a vector file is probably smaller too.