Drilling holes in custom CPO?

[Moby Ick]

So I'm designing a custom CPO and was wondering how you cut the holes? Once it's stuck to the primed MDF, can you just use a forstner bit to cut through both, or do I have to cut the holes first?
I don't look forward to aligning it after the fact?

Thanks

[Nannuu]

Depending on the material I guess.  I've always found it very easy to hold the CP up to the lights while holding the overlay on it.  This way I can see where the holes are (they slightly light up the CPO).  If the material is too thick or maybe has a better print this might not work.  It's always worked for me however.

Then I can glue it down.  Once it is down you can cut the holes with an exacto knife using the holes as a guide.

[Nannuu]

Oh, or you can hold it up against the window.  It's easier to hold and move the CPO around that way.

Or you can feel the button holes through the CPO.

Funny, I have no idea how other people line theirs up?  I never create CP edges on my artwork.

[motorfish]

I always print targets on my CP overlay artworks to ensure that they'll be perfectly centered.

- Dan

[Moby Ick]

Think I figured out a solution.

I printed white 1-2 mm dots at the exact center of the buttons on the CPO. I'm going to hold the cpo over the MDF, drill through each dot, pull of the CPO, then use the dots to center my Forstner drill bit and drill the holes.  If I trim the MDF a bit first, I should be able to line it up afterwards perfectly, and just punch through the holes with an exacto

[JLR2000]

Yeah, for my CP I designed it in Visio, using "+" marks for center points.  Lined it up on my CP board, taped it down and then used a hole punch (nail set or awl will work too) to mark the center points.  Then removed and saved the CP paper template and drilled away.....it worked out extremely well for me.

Good luck.