An online POD service for large poster maps?

[Morrus]

After using the poster maps in the WotC adventures, I'm kinda spoilt - I want all my battles to be on big, pretty poster maps!

Are there any cheap, efficient ways of achieving this? My original thought was POD, but Lulu doesn't offer a service that produces maps of that size.

I guess I could buy myself a GIANT printer, but that's expensive, and if there's an online service I could use to get them done ad-hoc just by uploading the files, that would be great. Preferably one that doesn't require a second mortgage just to have a poster shipped to the UK, of course!

Any ideas?

 

[crazy_cat]

I use a local specialist print store to print out large scale maps, and also to laminate maps I've bought to help extend their lifetime - but they are quite pricey.

They specialise in large scale printing for architects drawings and do sizes up to A0 (and bigger I think) It does get rather expensive for full colour however, so I'm not sure if its viable for general one shot battle maps - but for campaign maps they provide a lovely service.

For smaller one shot battle maps how about an A3/A4 colour printer and then sticking the pages together - not quite such a high standard of finish, but alot more affordable; especially if the maps will only be used once or twice each.

 

[D'karr]

Have you checked with the Gamer Print Shop? They provide this service, though I'm not sure if they do international shipping.

 

[EP]

Shipping will be a big factor for you. My work is a large format printer and we were looking into just this kind of thing, but shipping costs made us completely non-competitive and the idea was shot down.

Do a search for any "large format printers" in your area - any one worth its salt can make you ones just like you're looking for or better ones. I recommend having them printed on Sahara with an inkjet printer - does kink, folds and rolls nicely, and wipes clean with little smudging of the image.

 

[Mark]

After using the poster maps in the WotC adventures, I'm kinda spoilt - I want all my battles to be on big, pretty poster maps!

Are there any cheap, efficient ways of achieving this? My original thought was POD, but Lulu doesn't offer a service that produces maps of that size.

I guess I could buy myself a GIANT printer, but that's expensive, and if there's an online service I could use to get them done ad-hoc just by uploading the files, that would be great. Preferably one that doesn't require a second mortgage just to have a poster shipped to the UK, of course!

Any ideas?

I split up maps into standard page sizes, print them out at the least expensive local place that has a color printer (currently the UPS Store does $0.35 per full color page), glue stick the pages to an appropriately size piece of foam board, then cover it all with lamination sheets to preserve and protect and allow me to use wet erase markers on them. The back can be scored in places to allow them to fold up well enough. The overall cost of materials is between $5 and $10 US.

Here's some photos of a couple of these I did for a Free RPG Day with Paizo maps (that I even had to scan and enlarge to make it happen) -

06-2008 Free RPG Day - a set on Flickr

 

[f33b]

Fedex print stores also provide printing services for large or oversized prints, and will mount and laminate as well. I have no idea about price. Fedex will accept PDFs and can return 600DPI prints. I imagine you may have to "prove" that you have permission to print the material, however, as corporate stores tend to be a bit more stringent in applying fair-use policies.

 

[Morrus]

Here's some photos of a couple of these I did for a Free RPG Day with Paizo maps (that I even had to scan and enlarge to make it happen) -

They're gorgeous! But probably a bit more effort than I'm prepared to make. I'm hopng for someone where online where I can just upload, pay something by PayPal and have the ifnal product arrive at my home.

Have you checked with the Gamer Print Shop? They provide this service, though I'm not sure if they do international shipping.

Yeah, I can't find any prices, and the link to their store is broken.

 

[Mark]

Thanks. I'm sure the gamer print shop guy has posted here in the past, so I dropped him a line with the thread url. Hopefully he will stop by and fill in the missing pieces for us.

 

[Morrus]

Thanks. I'm sure the gamer print shop guy has posted here in the past, so I dropped him a line with the thread url. Hopefully he will stop by and fill in the missing pieces for us.

I met him a couple of years ago and said he could produce WotBS maps. I need to talk to him about that, anyway.

 

[Treebore]

I met him a couple of years ago and said he could produce WotBS maps. I need to talk to him about that, anyway.

I have seen him posting in the last week or two over on the Goodman Boards. He is doing some cool mapping on some oriental material that he has been showcasing in the art forum over there.