Printing a backflash

[john t peterson]

Welcome back, Master.

Grasshopper JP

[wembleylion]

When I got my backflash printed for the Conveyor (see A Conveyor for Christmas in Build a Slot Machine)
I downloaded the picture from Resources onto a memory stick and took the stick to my local 'one man band' print shop with the finished sizes that I required and he downloaded the stick into his computer, set the sizes and printed the photo off on A2 glossy paper. He then guillotined off the surplice white paper and laminated the print with the best quality laminate. As with all laminated prints the finished size of the laminate is slightly larger than the print.

I thought the chap made a brilliant job, no fuss no bother, just perfect.

A word of advice here. If you do go for the laminated photo ensure that it remains perfectly flat and don't whatever you do try to roll it up or bend it as the laminate will pull away from the photo. Also when cutting the ball holes cut through from the FRONT and support it well at the back; the knife will push the laminate off the photo as it breaks through if you cut from the back.

The backboard on the Conveyor is steel so I placed the laminate onto the backboard and marked the screw holes. I then punched out the screw holes with a paper punch and assembled the door frame, less glass, to hold it all in place. I then cut through from the front using the hole as a guide and cutting support; it worked perfectly, I'm pleased to say.

Hope this helps John

[jimmy55]

I've done a few for people Scottie in the UK. I use an Epson wide format printer and print on a good quality matte photo paper ( 230gsm ) and then laminate both sides to make it more stable. They seen to be wearing well in use. You just need to take a few reference dimensions from your original to help the printer scale it up to the right size. Shame you aren't closer or I would have offered to help out! Jim

[gameswat]

Yes I also purchased a high end Epson A3+ size photo printer years ago for this and other machine art. The factory inks are expensive but don't fade which is obviously important as you don't want to be re-doing this every 5 years! Make sure to ask for this when you visit your local printer. Or I guess they probably make UV resistant laminate? And the bonus with laminating is the backside is also protected from rubbing and staining. I don't worry about cutting off the outer laminated edge as there's little chance of it getting wet once back inside the machine. I use a small Dremel style sanding wheel to get nice round holes for the ball entry/exit holes ect, these are slightly smaller than the hole you need.

[andyb53]

Well for a change I CAN HELP OTHERS!!

With my friend in the Netherlands I can truly re-create ANY backglass for ANY machine up to Pinball machine size. These are not Gaudy copies printed on perspex but are as good as the originals If anyone is interested I can email them some before and after pictures (email address at bottom of this reply. but it is..... a.v.backhouse@btinternet.com

I restore to concurs condition amusement machines and learnt how to recreate backglasses a while ago now.
I can even reproduce ones with mirrored edging etc Even if the glass is broken or has bits missing is not a problem!
Basically I have a contact in the Netherlands Coos Hakvoort His email is.... ballybingo@live.nl

This is the process...

1) The old Glass needs to be scanned in as Higher resolution as is possible. It can be scanned in sections as I can seamlessly join the bits together Scan as much as possible (including the back of the glass) Save as a jpeg or bmp or photoshop file.

2) Send it to me. I will assess how long it will take and get back to you. Normally a full high resolution recreation will take around 50~100hrs to complete. (I would make a small charge, no more than £30 ~ 50 to do this) or if you are proficient with Photoshop or Paintshop Pro you can do it yourself! Both sides need to be done to allow the "light mask" to be added if needed.

3) Once done and after contacting Coos (a great very helpful and friendly guy), Emil him the file and he will get it printed on either Perspex (not the best), Toughened Glass (Better) or a Plastic film (best) The film is easily attached to a sheet of glass of your choice and the finished result is truly remarkable (I really does look like a brand new original. The printing costs depends on the size and complexity (mirror effect etc)

Quite literally any glass can be re-created provided it does not look like a smashed car windscreen (Triplex glass)

I hope this help everyone. My email again is..... a.v.backhouse@btinternet.com

[scottie]

Hi
First of all i want to say a BIG THANK-YOU to everyone. You guys really do make this the best web site by far !!

I was looking at the backflash I need on this site ( O.W. JACKPOT) on my laptop at home and the picture was bigger, which means I would take the picture from that and put it on a stick .....instead of off my tablet, if that makes any sense... I also stopped by a store that does copying....not printing....and they told me to put all the information on their website and then I can come in and pick it up...mmmm.....
I think I will track down a small print shop that will take the time and work with me...

Once again thank you everyone for all the great advice...now I hope this deal will go smoothly and I get the machine.

Scottie

[scottie]

Just to change the subject a bit....
I just got pictures of the machine (O.W. JACKPOT )
It looks like the jackpot is fake... hard to tell from the picture but it looks like you can put a stack of pennies in the little box behind the window and they would just stay there..... Am I missing something...?
How does one get the pennies in the jackpot?
I'll try and post the picture....
Scottie

[widget2k4]

The jackpot is fake, it's to make the player think they are going to win what's in the window, it will actually pay it by the payout slides and leaves the coins in the jackpot window, another thing to remember is to cut that square out the backflash before you laminate it

[pennymachines]

Yes, as Widget says, it's just a fake on these.
The Philip Shefras Jackpot and the Morris Shefras Payola also pay from the hopper but create an illusion of paying from the jackpot (i.e. it swings aside when you turn the handle).

[scottie]

Ahhhhhh good to know.....so they just get a extra turn of the knob
So cut out the window of the blackflash before getting it laminated
Wow lots to do....
Scottie

[scottie]

Hi
One last question......
I just came from a print shop and the guy did print off a b/w copy of the jackpot blackflash... it was a bit fuzzy around the edges....
He told me that he needed a picture that had a resolution of 600 or more
Any ideas?
Thanks scottie

[widget2k4]

Hi Scottie, try mine that I've redone after Stu did it for me as I had the same problem with the resolution but didn't like to say anything in case I offended him

Oliver Whales Jackpot backflash

[scottie]

Thanks so much widget2k4
I'll see what the printing guy says....
I guess there's no way of knowing what resolution a picture is....? Until you blow it up and see how it looks.
Scottie

[widget2k4]

The one I posted is 2934 × 3226, so quite a bit bigger than the other one which was 1006 × 1149. I used mine and it was perfect as far as resolution goes. Your printer should not have any issues with it once it's adjusted to the correct size.

Good luck

[pennymachines]

As Widget says, the image he uploaded should be fine. You could ask the printer to resample the image to, say, 600 dot per inch for a smoother result, but probably not necessary.

[scottie]

Good morning
I'm going to go to the printers again this morning and get him to do another test print.
Thanks for all your help
A few years ago, OK maybe 4 or 5 years ago i bought a win-a-spangles back flash off ebay.
The gentleman was in the U.K somewhere and he had made up a bunch of different ones for different machines... They were very well done... I'm just wondering if he is a member in here or if any one knows who he is ........

Scottie

[scottie]

Hi all
Just got back from the printers.....mmmm
They did a test b/w 8 1/2 x 11 with the better picture of the JACKPOT backflash and said it was no good....
Would it be the equipment they're using?
Is it time to try another printing place?
How do you do it on your side of the pond?....
Scottie

jackpot large.jpg (92.3 KiB) Viewed 2651 times

[widget2k4]

There shouldn't have been any problems with that image at all, but the one you have just put on is low resolution compared to the one in the resources, have you changed the resolution on it on your computer?

[scottie]

hi Widget
yes i have the updated new one thats in the resources section.
all i am doing is right clicking on the picture and saveing it in "my pictures" and then emailing it to the printer so its on their computer....? should they get it right from the web site? would that make any difference?
thanks
scottie

[gameswat]

Scottie, I just tried and if you save straight from the small image it will only save that actual small 92.KB file, but you need to first click on the image, and then once it's larger size on your computer screen save the file you you'll get the large print file of 2.39MB needed!