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Post by hackbarth on Aug 29, 2012 9:37:16 GMT -9
I'm experimenting with a new way of printing the minis. I cut and pasted a lot of them in 2000x1333 pixel sheets, averaging 400 pixels from eyes to the ground, for scale. Then I brought the files to a print shop and asked to print them as 6"x4" (15cm x 10cm) photographs. With this process I get 30mm scale minis. (Yes, that gives roughly 330 dpi, should have worked the math before to get 300 dpi, that is more or less the standard) The quality of the printing is awesome. Details that are very faint even in a laser printer, my previous choice, come bright and clear. Even a laser printer using photographic paper doesn't got the quality of these prints. So now I have 440 minis (these shops operate with progressive bulk discounts) to cut. The back of the photos accept stick glue and double faced tape all right. Cutting with the X-acto works fine too. The only difference is that I have to score the line in the back now. I'm sold! Never looking back now. Attachments:
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Post by okumarts on Aug 29, 2012 9:57:46 GMT -9
I approve of this idea. Any scaling issues?
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Post by hackbarth on Aug 29, 2012 10:21:50 GMT -9
I use the measure tool to put all the minis in scale. Like I said, I use 30mm minis, and mistakenly choose 330dpi images, so I had to scale most figures roughly 115%. But this manual approach let me correct size differences between lines, like the scale difference between One Monk and Sanity Studios files. If I started now I would put the minis in 1800x1200 pixel images, so I wouldn't have to scale most minis. For example, Major Brasil got to be 40mm high. He is tall, but not this tall! Fortunately this is the only one of the set of 102 photos in which I slipped the scale. Attachments:
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Post by Parduz on Sept 5, 2012 0:08:55 GMT -9
Welcome to my "club"
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Post by gilius on Sept 5, 2012 4:39:05 GMT -9
I've had issues with cutting and mostly with gluing minis printed as photos. If you can tell more about your experience/solutions I'd like to read about them.
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Post by hackbarth on Sept 5, 2012 5:15:04 GMT -9
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Post by Parduz on Sept 5, 2012 8:36:45 GMT -9
I used double adhesive tape (a bit "thick", the kind used for mirrors). Depending on the brand, some will stick to the blade making "wires" like the cheese on a pizza The good, if the brand is good, is that it adds another half millimeter of thickness and it's clean and fast. Another option is spray glue. The kind i've found dries in looong time (24h) and smells for a week, if you put the minis in a plastig bag, but then you'll have no problems. When i'm in a hurry i just use superglue. The photo printing does not melt as our normal inks do with the gases of that glue, and the piece is ready in a minute.
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Post by Sirrob01 on Sept 9, 2012 3:19:53 GMT -9
Hows this going? I experimented with this back in jan but different companies machines scaled things slightly differently so I shelved it at the time.
have you found a way to force the scale to be the same?
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Post by hackbarth on Sept 9, 2012 15:19:25 GMT -9
I did this only once, so didn't had any scaling issues between different print runs. soon I'll do a new print in a different place (I received a discount coupon!)
But some 10 pixels from each side of the pictures are missing, so is a good idea not to use the full print area, but leave a unoccupied 10px border around the pictures.
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Post by hackbarth on Sept 13, 2012 17:39:32 GMT -9
Just to show the progress, at the moment I have some 50 minis. The process, like I said, is the same I used in making normal paper minis. In fact the fotos are better to cut, since the print doesn't flake if the blade or rule scratch her. Attachments:
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Post by Sirrob01 on Sept 13, 2012 23:01:13 GMT -9
I'm going to give this another try this weekend with some of the mini's i've got on my to build list Thanks for the inspiration
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Post by Sirrob01 on Oct 8, 2012 22:13:48 GMT -9
hackbarth any updates or pictures of the finished miniatures? durability concerns etc?
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Post by hackbarth on Oct 9, 2012 3:16:52 GMT -9
I didn't have any new photos to show, but I have used these minis and they are much more resistant than the cardboard ones.
I have a set of bunnies that has seem use in conventions three times already and are god as new. I think even soda spills could not be a concern anymore, since photos seem to have a plastic feel to them.
Unfortunately I'm not a hardcore player, playing at most once a month, so any extended testing should take a while.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 9, 2012 9:25:01 GMT -9
Sounds interesting... but what about differences between printing on mat or glossy photo paper (there are also some mid-options as well; as far as I remember) - have you test both versions, any experiences?
I'm asking because according to my tests stricte mat version, although looking and feeling superb (hate shiny glossy)! needs slightly more bright colors/saturation (which in most cases should be possible to define in Print Shop but in some cases/sets/figures it might kinda "ruin" original graphic idea - but that's just from artist point of view:).
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Post by Parduz on Oct 10, 2012 10:54:58 GMT -9
I printed miniatures on glossy paper, and some stuffs (Outrider cards, mostly) on matte paper, but it was from two different shops so take this with some caution.
The only problem of the glossy paper is that it retains the fingerprints. Anyway, for some subject (some "shining" miniature) can be the best.
The matte paper is more .... gummy... it have a plastic/rubber feel that i like a lot. It can handle some bad treatment better than the glossy (i spilled superglue on a print, and removed it with acetone.... no ink was hurt in the process!!)
I'd go for matte almost everytime.
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Post by hackbarth on Oct 13, 2012 19:41:54 GMT -9
I only tried matte, and got the same results that Parduz got. Very resistant print.
In my case my hand slipped when edging and i slashed the figure with black marker. I tried scrubbing with a cotton swab full of alcohol 98% and the print didn't suffer at all. The marker didn't got out tough.
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Post by hafu999 on Feb 15, 2013 7:26:39 GMT -9
Awesome printing dude!!Very clear size of the printing all the pieces of the model is very clear visible.Can you tell me the size of each model scale??scale issue is not have that's point is ordinary at this print.
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Post by hackbarth on Feb 15, 2013 10:50:12 GMT -9
I didn't fully understood your question, but the scale that I choose to print these minis is 30mm.
That is, the average human in standing position will measure 30mm from the bottom of their feet to the level of their eyes.
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