This is something that I did today that turned out well, thought I would share for anyone who is interested.
So, I've got some Nieuport 11's that I bought from Shapeways... Or at least I will have them when they arrive next week. I thought I would get a head start on the Maneuver Deck while I await their arrival.
I looked up the Nieuport 11 and read that it uses an E Maneuver Deck. I found an E Deck PDF here: http://www.wingsofwar.org/forums/dow...p?do=cat&id=43
I tried printing the deck out on card stock, through my ink jet printer. I didn't like the weight and feel of the test card. On top of that, the colors were flat and lifeless. I considered trying it on inkjet photo paper, but I didn't have any on hand. I would have to make a run to the local Wal-Mart to buy some.... Then it hit me...
Why not just have them printed in the Wal-Mart's 1-Hour photo lab on real photo paper?!
So, after a little thought, I opened up Photo Shop and built the templates that I wanted printed. I put a single card and it's back on a 4x6. Put it in the middle of the 4x6, more or less. There will be some variation as they are printed and you don't want your photo lab trimming anything off.
I also laid in a square of black under the card. There is precisely 1/4 inch of black on the left and on the right of the cards. You will also notice that I put a bit of space between the card front and back as well. This space between is important, and I'll explain it later. Anyway, once printed they look something like this:
I suggest that you use a lab that can print a satin finish, rather than glossy. The satin doesn't finger print so easily.
The next step is to carefully trim the excess white off of the left and right sides, but leave the white on the top and bottom.
Next carefully fold it in half. You can use the black to help line everything up square.
Crease it as much as you can.
Next, use a clamp to hold the card on the excess white while you spray the unprinted side with adhesive. The clamp allows you to avoid getting any adhesive on your fingers, but keeps you in control.
EDIT TO ADD: The use of a clamp to hold your card as you spray the adhesive is important. I originally tried just laying the card in the cardboard box to spray, but the force of the spray moved the card around and just enough adhesive made its way to the front of the print to cause a sticky problem and a ruined card. By using the clamp to hold the card, I was able to get the adhesive ONLY where I needed it and NOT on the face of the print OR my fingers. The folding was much simpler and the card remained clean and free of sticky goo.
This is the adhesive that I used, but I expect that most spray adhesives would work.
Continued below
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