Photorealistic Mats in the Uk - Anyone done this?

EddieAz · 03-12-2017 14:56

Hello all - so, looking to get started, one of the things I'd like to get is a photorealistic map of the Channel for Battle of Britain games. My table is 3" by 6", so to get the most out of this I'd want to try and cover it. Googling tells me that this has been done before, and there are various image files hosted here, but I'm wondering if anyone has actual experience of doing this (and what issues they found.) I'm nervous that the image files might not be in enough detail when blown up etc, so which files they used, and where they got them printed etc.

Thanks in advance for any help you can give! :-)

EddieAz · 03-29-2017 14:08

So......62 views but no comments - not sure if that means no-one is able to help, or my question is too stupid to bother with, or no-one now knows how to do photorealistic mats in the uk? Any feedback gratefully received guys! :-)

**Flying Helmut** · 03-29-2017 16:10

Hi James

Sorry, I'm not able to help from an experience POV, but I am also thinking of getting a "White Cliffs" photo mat.

I'm afraid I don't know of anyone doing these, but if I do find out I'll let you know.

BTW, no question is "too stupid" to ask - good luck with your info search.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 03-29-2017 17:39

Hi James,

I don't know about the UK but here in Australia 'Office Works' is my go-to place for maps. A0 size is 841mm x 1189mm and B0 is 1000mm x 1414mm. I find that you do lose some definition when you blow up an image to that size, but it just looks like the ground from 20,000 feet.

I did a 'how to' back in 2013 - http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/con...printing-time)

**Ken at Sunrise** · 03-30-2017 08:42

I did screen shots of Google Maps once for a different project once. I don't know if that helps,

**hawkhurst** · 03-30-2017 08:55

I have used one of the maps from the file section http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/dow...o=file&id=1042 and had it printed as A0
is ok but sometimes wants to warp so not a good playing surface, possible if left laid out would be ok but I roll up for moving
took to Hammerhead this year but it had warped on the way there so was unable to use

**hawkhurst** · 03-30-2017 11:16

just a few shot of the map

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**Ken at Sunrise** · 03-30-2017 11:18

I wonder if you could have printed them on smaller 110# paper then glued them to a poster board? Even so, you should be able to glue that down. But then it wouldn't roll up.

Looks good though.

**BobP** · 03-30-2017 13:45

James, Teaticket had some maps he used at COLD WARS last week. I think he said he had them made by VISTAPRINT, the ones that advertise for business cards. They were really good maps. You may check with him. I am sure that there are others that will give you more info.

**Ken at Sunrise** · 03-30-2017 14:16

The guys over at FFG's X-Wing forum often suggest something like Banner on the Cheap, if I'm not mistaken.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 03-30-2017 14:21

If you want to see some printed maps in action check out these AARs, all examples are B0 size. I have never had any issues with the surface warping. I have the maps printed on heavy paper and do not laminate them - it make the surface too shiny and slippery for the cards.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...light=photomap

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...id-Malaya-1941

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...ghlight=sollum

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...ghlight=darwin

EddieAz · 03-30-2017 14:56

Wow - thanks guys! The B0 looks great and is what, 3ft by 4.5ft? Plenty big enough!

**BobP** · 03-30-2017 15:55

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/att...6&d=1490489744

Cold Wars WWII game.

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 03-30-2017 17:13

Originally Posted by EddieAz

Wow - thanks guys! The B0 looks great and is what, 3ft by 4.5ft? Plenty big enough!

3 foot 4 inches x 4 foot 7 inches or thereabouts. I have comfortably had a dozen WGS aircraft in that space.

**Ken at Sunrise** · 03-31-2017 05:32

Originally Posted by Carl_Brisgamer

If you want to see some printed maps in action check out these AARs, all examples are B0 size. I have never had any issues with the surface warping. I have the maps printed on heavy paper and do not laminate them - it make the surface too shiny and slippery for the cards.

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...light=photomap

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...id-Malaya-1941

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...ghlight=sollum

http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/sho...ghlight=darwin

Those look great. Where did you get the images from? I need to look for some place to print something like that. Maybe a blue print place.

Any idea for WW1 images?

**Carl_Brisgamer** · 03-31-2017 05:38

Originally Posted by Ken at Sunrise

Those look great. Where did you get the images from? I need to look for some place to print something like that. Maybe a blue print place.

Any idea for WW1 images?

Hi Ken,

The images are Google Maps, I posted a 'how to' thread back in 2013 - http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/con...printing-time). WW2 is quite easy, a patch of desert, a Pacific island coast, look pretty much the same today as they did in the 1940's. WW1 is harder but you just need to find some rustic patchwork countryside with small villages for the Western Front. If you look in the files section of the forum there are already some images you can use.