aaron infante-levy's page

Interesting, yeah 1.5 mil seems perfect. Now I just have to find a lamination service here in the islands and I'll be set. Thanks for posting the results of your footwork Mosaic! :)

Yes, it can be folded, I'm just not sure how "tight" a crease will work.

It's pretty thin, actually, but very sturdy. At a totally arbitrary guess a piece of paper sandwiched between two sheets of contact paper is about as thick as gluing two sheets of paper together.

Yes, it does stick to itself, very nicely. But as I mentioned, the stick is not so harsh that you can't repair a misaligned piece. Eventually the stick becomes permanent, but it is easy to work with.

I'm going to give contact paper a try over the weekend and see what happens. Thanks Gamer Girrl! :)

I may go by Lakeshore tomorrow to laminate some posters. I'll try to laminate some taped-together index cards and see how it works. And ask about thickness.

Look forward to hearing how it goes for you. Being in Hawaii we don't have a Lakeshore type store - one of the few mainland amenities we lack, along with In-and-Out. But I think there is a new laminator that I can use (or talk my way into using) as an architecture student.

I'm thinking of doing 2 double-sided conversions: Ancient Forest/Countryside & Fortress/Tournament. I'm planning on using 16 cards from each pack in a 4 x 4 card layout, so the converted flip map should measure 20" by 32" (maybe with an added inch to account for fold lines), comparable to the Paizo flip maps of 24 x 30, and it will fold down to the size of one 8 x 5 card. Ideally this will allow them to be used in various configurations, so you could just use the ruins or the fairy circle if you wanted.

Just a thought ... use clear packing tape on the back of the cards, then run it through a big laminating machine. If you want it to fold nicely, leave 1/8-1/4" between the cards where you want it to fold (still use clear packing tape on the back, just leave a little gap), and laminate. The laminate ought to be thin enough for it to fold nicely if there isn't anything under that spot. Disclaimer: I'm not actually sure this would work.

Great idea! I'm not sure how packing tape stands up to hot lamination? Since I can't use 3 mil laminate (see below), then I'd have to bring the set up (taped together cards) to the local laminator and that sounds like a headache. I don't even know if it's possible? Still, you've made me curious to want to try it! :)

As far as laminating goes, I usually go to teacher supply stores (like Lakeshore). They tend to have bign self-serve laminators for like 25¢ per foot. Not sure how thick the laminate is, but it's pretty thin and rolls nicely.

It's the standard 3 mil stuff which rolls great and folds terrible (even when just sticking to itself); hence the proprietary process to make laminated menus/roadmaps.

Been thinking about it, what about using clear shelf paper? I've used it for lots of different projects, it's definitely sturdy, cleanable with water, and remains sealed once you put it together. Also, you can pretty easily peal it apart until you get it just the way you want it.

I've never worked with contact paper, but it sounds like a good idea. Can it be folded? How thick is it? And can it be stuck to itself?

I learned that the process to create foldable laminated products like menus/maps is patented, so family business laminators & office stores (even chains like kinkos) don't have the technology/legal rights to create such products. At least, that's my understanding.

So I'm going to have to simulate what the pros can do. :)

I found 2 ply black mat board, and I'm thinking of using the thinnest (3 mil is best I can find so far) self-adhesive laminating pouches to stick map pack cards to it. The plan is that where the board folds is where the edge of the lamination meets. If necessary I can lightly score along that edge.

It won't be as clean-looking as I was hoping, but I think it's the cheapest method and one which it will be pretty easy for other folks interested in doing a similar conversion.

Well, I'm definitely interested in finding out if you figure out a way to do it. The best I've been able to do is gluing them to posterboard with spray adhesive, but the edges keep curling up.

actually, i can help you on that one, being an architecture student i do tons of spray adhesive to posterboard, however i wouldn't recommend it for something as bulky as the cardstock used for the map packs. i think self-lamination is the way to go with what you're doing.

i've been considering using 2-ply mat board (comes in 32x40"), and lightly scoring it, but it only comes in white and it doesn't have a glossy finish (i think a glossy black would look best).

I haven't been able to find what I'm looking for at any copy centers yet, but I know it's got to be out there. Theoretically it should be possible even with hot lamination as (I'm assuming) the map pack cards aren't printed with an inkjet, so there's no worry about hot lamination destroying the ink.

I talked with a local laminator and he said he can do 3mil on a 48x36" map, but that's still bulky. However, if it's under 25" he could do 1.7 mil, which is way better. Still, it's a single sheet lamination so the folding will be not so great. I'm thinking my best bet is going to be finding a pre-laminated folding sheet (say, all black), and then using self-adhesive lamination to stick the map pack cards to it.

I just think the flip maps are superior to the map packs in everyway, and can't wait to convert mine over.

My quest continues. Wish me luck.

Most of the people with Korean, or Chinese, ancestry that I know are into the card games but that could just be the people I know and not indicative of a people as a whole.

I hear Jackie Chan has an explanation for why Chinese people are more into card games than rpgs. ;) (sarcasm)

Seriously, one member of our gaming group is Chinese (born in China) and her sorcerer launched 7 fireballs into a crowded room, toasting 8 hill giants. I have never felt so ineffective playing a fighter, but the look on her face was sooo worth it. She likes her fireballs. :)

Are the original hex/grid flip-mats still out there? I just saw a picture of one on-line and they *look* quite attractive.

LOL! I've gotten so used to so many folks being from Europe, Canada and South America, I don't assume (ass+u+me <G>)a fellow American any more :)

I am a fellow North American. Living in stolen lands just like the rest of us. ;)

Not sure where you live, but I'd try Kinko's or the like. I've laminated full maps, and cut up things, but I seem to recall they had a "softer" lamination that might work for this.

Hey, we have Kinko's over in Hawaii too. :) I think I know the soft lamination you're talking about, maybe that could work. I was thinking of something like a segmented lamination so you could fold it up; as far as I know Kinko's doesn't do that. I'll double check though.

I want to convert my map packs to flip maps, probably something more akin to a laminated roadmap. Has anyone attempted this?

I was researching pouch laminators, cold lamination presses, and self-adhesive lamination but couldn't find anything on the web.

I think this would be a great way to (a)Keep the map pack in good shape, (b)Make it easy to set up, and (c) Prevent the cardstock panels from sliding around.

Thanks,

Aaron

Didn't know where else to post this, but I have a question pertaining to all the map packs.

Does anyone know a way to convert a map pack into a flip-mat type map? I'm thinking there must be a printer who can do some type of segmented lamination with the individual map cards?

I will buy these cards as soon as that elusive combine-shipping code gets written... hint-hint

I would love to order these cards now and they would simply be added to whatever subscription ships in October.

Ditto about ordering the cards! I can't wait!

I've been trying to figure out how to print my own trading cards for NPCs for a while and none of the software is good for RPG type cards. Actually, if paizo or another 3rd party were to release a nifty software package for creating your own cards (item/face/place?) I would get that..in...a...heartbeat!

Looks neat! Are there plans to do more NPC packs?

We're transitioning to using trading card albums for treasure with the item cards - awesome! :) I'm wondering if there'll be enough NPC cards down the pipe to do the same thing?