| MacrossMartin | 10 Oct 2016 4:55 a.m. PST |
Hello, all space-faring adventurers, I seem to be having the greatest difficulty finding a decent, not-blindingly-expensive, 6' x 4' space gaming mat. So, I am giving some thought to going the DIY route, and getting a nice, hi-res NASA photo printed on fabric. Has anyone else tried this path? If so, have you any advice about a suitable process and fabric?
Unless you're in Australia, I'll ask you to refrain from suggesting a printer; shipping such a thing from overseas seems to blow the price out to astronomical proportions. :)
Thanks all! |
| Steve | 10 Oct 2016 5:47 a.m. PST |
I've done this and it turned out great. Used a NASA image as you said printed by a banner company on a outdoor-compatible material. I printed up a 9x5 foot mat for cheap and it looks very good. Steve |
 Doms Decals  | 10 Oct 2016 6:19 a.m. PST |
I haven't done a space mat yet, but have done aerial photo mats the same way – definitely get a few quotes as prices vary massively, but rather than cloth I went for vinyl from a company that prints outdoor banners the same as Steve. |
| Hafen von Schlockenberg | 10 Oct 2016 7:40 a.m. PST |
Mr. Cheapo went to a large fabric store and bought a starfield print. There were several from which to choose. |
| companycmd | 10 Oct 2016 9:40 a.m. PST |
I can provide any graphic printed on bedsheet material and all results are fantastic as well as the price. link
any type of grid is possible. |
| Syr Otto | 10 Oct 2016 10:30 a.m. PST |
Like Steve, I downloaded some pictures from NASA and had one printed up by Banners on the Cheap. It was a 3x3 mat to use with X-Wing. Their 3x3 banner is about $12 USD, with a 4x8 at about $35. USD |
| Ivan DBA | 10 Oct 2016 10:36 a.m. PST |
Have it printed on vinyl by a banner printing company. I used an online service called Smartpress. I did both a 6x4 and 3x3 this way. They are double-sided too. link |
Oberlindes Sol LIC  | 10 Oct 2016 11:45 a.m. PST |
I'm not sure whether I spent less than Hafen von Schlockenberg. I found a large remnant of black cotton cloth. It's about 4ft x 6ft. I taped it to an outside wall on a windless morning, took up a position with my can of OSH spray white primer, and sort of misted the cloth. It came out pretty well, with random white flecks of subtly different sizes. |
| MacrossMartin | 11 Oct 2016 2:56 a.m. PST |
Thanks for the replies, all. I might have another try at the vinyl route, if I can find someone here in Oz who prints on matt vinyl. I'm thinking of getting a few done, and donating some to my local club; our space boards currently consist of older terrain boards with a coat of gloss black. What's wrong with that, you ask? Well, they didn't scrape off the sand first… |
| Daricles | 13 Oct 2016 8:38 p.m. PST |
I've done vinyl printed maps before with fantastic results. IMO,that's the way to go. The maps are durable and easy to clean up if someone spills a soft drink or drops a slice of pizza at the gaming table. Fabric might not be so forgiving. I had links to the files I used posted in another thread here at TMP, but just discovered they became broken when Microsoft made changes to One Drive. I'll see if I can fix the links and point you to them some time in the next few days. |
| MacrossMartin | 13 Oct 2016 10:25 p.m. PST |
Thanks Daricles, I appreciate your efforts. Don't be concerned if you can't overcome the terror that is Microsoft, however; I think I am indeed going the vinyl route. Looks like I might be able to get what I'm after from an Australian printer for around 70-80 dollars, although only with a gloss finish from the ink. |
| bobblanchett | 19 Nov 2016 8:04 a.m. PST |
You should look at officeworks if you are in oz.
they do A0 colour prints on tyvek for 25-30. I've had two blood bowl pitches and they're great |
goes beyond the straight line.
