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Tranquocjones
Hireling
Joined: 02/17/2005
Posts: 8
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| Posted: 02/26/2005 at 10:44am | IP Logged
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I've seen some of you talking about sending maps to Kinko's to be printed. How do I go about this? Is there a size limit (in terms of mb)? Does Kinko's require a certain format (.bmp)?
I want to make some "generic" style maps that I can re-use for random encounters. What would you recommend that they be printed on? Is there any surfaces available that can be drawn on with wet-erase pens that won't ruin the map afterwards?
thanks in advance 
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Lathanm
Hero
Joined: 12/31/2003
Location: United States
Posts: 60
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| Posted: 02/26/2005 at 11:18am | IP Logged
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Kinkos has an application on their website that will convert the image to a printable format. Export the map as a bmp then corp and size it in you favorite graphics app first. Kinkos and most other print services will not resize your images for you so make sure the map is exactly what you are wanting before sending it to them.
Kinkos can and often is expensive to have prints done at. Check you local phone book for large format printers or sign shops. Most are about half the cost and they are a little more knowledgeable so they can help you get exactly what you want. Also you can try doing a Google search on large format printing. I just sent a design off as a test to http://www.imagers.com/ and the print is costing me $40 including shipping for a 24x36" laminated print. The same thing at Kinkos was $80. For the 4 days it takes to get the print I think the $40 savings it worth it.
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benwax
Legend
Joined: 12/11/2004
Location: United States
Posts: 2406
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| Posted: 02/26/2005 at 11:29am | IP Logged
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Hey man! Glad to have you onboard!
What I do (and it's just one way of doing it) is to print my files to adobe acrobat format from within Dundjinni (you can use Adbobe 6.0 or the free CutePdf program) Make sure you set the page margins to 8.5 x 14 inch legal (that way you can print out fewer sheets, and get more margin space). Use print preview to see how much margin space you have, and move / shrink / tweak / rotate your image to get it on as few sheets as possible.
Save the files to somewhere safe where you can find it later, and then go to Kinko's site and download their free file prep tool. Then, open the acrobat file, and choose print again, and this this time choose as your printer the Kinko's file prep tool. This will convert the adobe file into an uploadable Kinko's format. Choose your page range to send (which may require that you send a large map in separate chunks since some pages may be blank)and this will upload to Kinko's.
You then choose where to print, the paper type (28lbs is best) and color/single sided. Pretty self explanatory from here. Pick up pages, ensure they were printed right, cut with a sharp blade, tape, done!
I then place my DJ color maps on the table, and place a thin piece of plexiglass over the top. I got mine off of ebay, but I'm sure it's available from OfficeMax or the like. I make sure a grid is on my maps, so I don't need it on my plexiglass. You could do it vice-versa though. You can draw on plexiglass with water soluble markers, but beware dry erase pens which usually don't work. A fine tip sharpie or an etching tool can put a grid into your plexiglass.
That's it in a nutshell...somewhat convoluted, and I'm sure it can be done more easily. You could upload a large bmp file or bring in one to Kinko's on disk, and have them print it out on a large plotter, but that is VERY expensive, can't be done at all stores, and can take days to have done.
Good luck!
BenWax
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Kepli
Djinni (Admin)
Joined: 01/04/2005
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 16797
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| Posted: 02/26/2005 at 11:47am | IP Logged
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Why oh why did you have to ask that Tranquocjones ... Didn't you know that BenWax would get nuts about this and start ranting about KINKOS again ... Just do a search on "KINKOS" and you know what I mean ... 
On the subject ... exporting the DJ drawing to PDF seems like a good idea in any case. I can probably find a printshop like Kinkos here, but I'm not ready for that yet. It is however nice to know there is that option. Using a piece of plexiglass is also a very good idea.
I still don't know for sure how I want to play, but a friend has bought a beamer, so ...
__________________
You can never have enough vines - Vines are good - Vines help you - Vines are cool ...
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benwax
Legend
Joined: 12/11/2004
Location: United States
Posts: 2406
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| Posted: 02/26/2005 at 10:23pm | IP Logged
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It's funny that everyone has picked up on my obsession with Kinko's. In college, a lady at the local branch in Houston, Tx was very...let's just say "unpretty".
My wife and I used her as a reference point on comeliness from then on....whenever we say an unflattering thing about someone, we always ask, "was he/she as ugly as the Kinko's lady?" Not the nicest thing to say, but I save my niceness for the DJ forums, not real life.
An inside joke, and one that makes me smile whenever I walk toward my branch here in Minneapolis.
But I promise, with all the gods of Hackmaster as my witness, that I will never utter the word "Kinko's" again
 
BenWax
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Halebop
Legend
Joined: 06/07/2004
Location: New Zealand
Posts: 3688
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| Posted: 02/26/2005 at 10:54pm | IP Logged
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LOL. Cool. From now on if I want an indication of someone's looks I'll ask "How Kinko are they?"!
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Kepli
Djinni (Admin)
Joined: 01/04/2005
Location: Netherlands
Posts: 16797
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| Posted: 02/27/2005 at 1:47am | IP Logged
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If someone reacts to that, you know it's a fellow Dundjinneer ... (or they know BenWax and you run away immediately ). I don't think it will work here ... 
__________________
You can never have enough vines - Vines are good - Vines help you - Vines are cool ...
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Larksmann
Henchman
Joined: 05/08/2005
Location: United States
Posts: 31
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| Posted: 09/11/2005 at 5:45pm | IP Logged
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Quote:
| Is there any surfaces available that can be drawn on with wet-erase pens that won't ruin the map afterwards? |
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I got a sheet of plexiglass. I put the plexiglass on top of the grid, then use dry erase markers to draw the hills, cliffs, walls, trees, water, blah blah blah... then erase it when I'm done with a tissue.
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Doomstar
Henchman
Joined: 02/15/2006
Posts: 10
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| Posted: 02/16/2006 at 10:58am | IP Logged
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I have a Kinko's at my school that does all the kinko print services for 50% of the cost(large format stuff gets sent out...and takes a few days). If there is a college near you, check out if they have their own print service. The Kinko's I go to doesn't ask for ID so even if you are not a student there you might be able to make use of the print service.
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Dundjinni Mapping Software - Forums : Maps
Topic: Printing Maps
