Printing custom boards

[aaronAGN]

Have you checked with Office Depot and/or UPS store to see if they can print it on a plotter and then laminate it? Shouldn't be expensive.

I checked OD. It totaled close to $50.
I'll check UPS.

[cornixt]

These kinds of things are often much cheaper if you break it up into two or more pieces. I was quoted $30 for one board (of a different game), but when split into three it totalled only $6.

[aaronAGN]

These kinds of things are often much cheaper if you break it up into two or more pieces. I was quoted $30 for one board (of a different game), but when split into three it totalled only $6.

I'm afraid i don't follow. You mean divide one map into three smaller sections?

[cornixt]

Yes. Although in the case of HQ you'd probably split it into two or four sections.

[Daedalus]

I was thinking something simple.
Like a plain paper/poster like material laminated.
I don't need the actual gameboard.
Just some area map to lay on top of the original board.

I've got a regular standard size printer.
I don't know how to properly print it from home.
The "inexpensive service" would be finding a local print shop to print a 18×24 in game-map at a low price.
But all I've found were places charging $30 to $50 per map.

So I'm looking for suggestions, online stores with low prices, affordable alternatives, etc.

It appears cornixt's $6 suggestion is what you want, but if that doesn't pan out, what about this cheap-ass alternative?

1. Split your map onto six letter-sized sections. Will your printer do this? Otherwise use Photoshop, Gimp, or whatever. Maybe this is a stopper for you? I'm not much help, myself.
2. Print out the six 8.5x11 in. sections. With a small border, you should be able to print 8x9sections. (8+8+8)x(9+9)
3. Trim the borders off printed sheets, preferably with a straight-edge.
4. White glue those suckers down on some poster board cut to 24x18 in. (or a bit more) This topic might be helpful for aligning and optionally creating a folding board.
5. Roll the glued paper flat onto the poster board.
6. Cover the drying board with heavy books for about a day, depending on humidity.
7. If you like, cover the printed side with clear contact paper.

[aaronAGN]

I was thinking something simple.
Like a plain paper/poster like material laminated.
I don't need the actual gameboard.
Just some area map to lay on top of the original board.

I've got a regular standard size printer.
I don't know how to properly print it from home.
The "inexpensive service" would be finding a local print shop to print a 18×24 in game-map at a low price.
But all I've found were places charging $30 to $50 per map.

So I'm looking for suggestions, online stores with low prices, affordable alternatives, etc.

It appears cornixt's $6 suggestion is what you want, but if that doesn't pan out, what about this cheap-ass alternative?

1. Split your map onto six letter-sized sections. Will your printer do this? Otherwise use Photoshop, Gimp, or whatever. Maybe this is a stopper for you? I'm not much help, myself.
2. Print out the six 8.5x11 in. sections. With a small border, you should be able to print 8x9sections. (8+8+8)x(9+9)
3. Trim the borders off printed sheets, preferably with a straight-edge.
4. White glue those suckers down on some poster board cut to 24x18 in. (or a bit more) This topic might be helpful for aligning and optionally creating a folding board.
5. Roll the glued paper flat onto the poster board.
6. Cover the drying board with heavy books for about a day, depending on humidity.
7. If you like, cover the printed side with clear contact paper.

That sounds like a good plan.
I'll try that.
I don't know how to do ANY of that. But I'll try and figure it out.
I'm not tech savvy at ALL.

[j_dean80]

Can always "laminate" it with packing tape.