We'll always have cake
May 31, 2011 3:07 PM Subscribe
I have been filled with an overwhelming desire to decorate my concrete loft as a level in Portal. While the Valve store was awesome for some artwork, I really want to have a personalized instruction guide for my level (see example here). I'm not a graphic designer, and I don't want to spend a fortune on this, but it's well outside my capabilities- particularly since I'd like to have it large enough to make an impact. So, my questions are 1) how do I find someone who can design this for me? and 2) am I going to run into copyright issues commissioning someone to do this?
Best answer: I wouldn't worry about copyright issues.
What you're asking for is pretty damned simple, a few hours worth of work total by the lowest bidder on craigslist will be sufficient. If you want something more clever/personalized (like custom art, not just a recreation of what appears in the game), you'll want to get someone more expensive, and/or come up with ideas for exactly what you want beforehand.
ALSO it'd be a lot more awesome if you backlit your print this using an EL panel or build a fluorescent lightbox or something. The EL solution has the advantage of looking recessed into the wall without actually having to make a hole in your concrete, and will be much easier (lighter) to hang.
posted by danny the boy at 4:02 PM on May 31, 2011
What you're asking for is pretty damned simple, a few hours worth of work total by the lowest bidder on craigslist will be sufficient. If you want something more clever/personalized (like custom art, not just a recreation of what appears in the game), you'll want to get someone more expensive, and/or come up with ideas for exactly what you want beforehand.
ALSO it'd be a lot more awesome if you backlit your print this using an EL panel or build a fluorescent lightbox or something. The EL solution has the advantage of looking recessed into the wall without actually having to make a hole in your concrete, and will be much easier (lighter) to hang.
posted by danny the boy at 4:02 PM on May 31, 2011
To help you out some, you can get custom vinyl banners printed pretty cheaply. This is the kind of thing that gets used for trade shows, so very straight forward from a production standpoint. You could size it to a large size poster frame and call it good.
If it were me, I'd consider trying to find an acrylic sign production place (google found this one) and do an 1/8" sign and make a light box for it. That will probably cost around $500 if the box is DIY.
As far as using their artwork, why not? This is personal use. If you did an especially good job, they'd probably like to see it when you're done.
posted by plinth at 6:47 PM on May 31, 2011
If it were me, I'd consider trying to find an acrylic sign production place (google found this one) and do an 1/8" sign and make a light box for it. That will probably cost around $500 if the box is DIY.
As far as using their artwork, why not? This is personal use. If you did an especially good job, they'd probably like to see it when you're done.
posted by plinth at 6:47 PM on May 31, 2011
Valve is pretty kosher about fan art, as long as it's not a profit venture. It's not like they're going to send turrets through the air vents. Yet.
posted by dejah420 at 7:43 PM on May 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by dejah420 at 7:43 PM on May 31, 2011 [1 favorite]
Response by poster: Thanks for the fantastic suggestions! I love the backlighting idea a lot. I'll throw pictures up in the thread when I get this out of the conceptual stage.
posted by Zophi at 8:03 AM on June 1, 2011
posted by Zophi at 8:03 AM on June 1, 2011
Your local FedEx-Kinkos has a poster printer (or plotter) and your local university probably does, too. The work of designing a poster wouldn't be too difficult for even a beginning Illustrator user to put together. Sketch it out first.
Backlighting it may be a greater technical challenge.
Maybe black paper or vinyl cut out and attached to frosted plexiglass that's put over a wooden frame that surrounds a light fixture?
Neat idea!
posted by jander03 at 9:55 AM on June 1, 2011
Backlighting it may be a greater technical challenge.
Maybe black paper or vinyl cut out and attached to frosted plexiglass that's put over a wooden frame that surrounds a light fixture?
Neat idea!
posted by jander03 at 9:55 AM on June 1, 2011
Oh BTW, I would experiment with what you get it printed on, for the right look. Vinyl should be ok, but I think you can probably even just get it done on regular glossy or even matte stock, and it'll look great.
Here is how color glossy prints look against EL. Scroll down, you'll see what I'm talking about (it's the only piece in that gallery that's glowing).
posted by danny the boy at 1:38 PM on June 1, 2011
Here is how color glossy prints look against EL. Scroll down, you'll see what I'm talking about (it's the only piece in that gallery that's glowing).
posted by danny the boy at 1:38 PM on June 1, 2011
This thread is closed to new comments.
But you might want to start thinking about the sort of instructions you want. That might be the tricky part.
Any sign shop can cut black vinyl, probably for quite cheaply. You'll be on your own to stick it to your surface though—unless its something portable you could bring in.
IANACL but I can't imagine from what I know of VALVe that they would not love this. And they seem quite free with their IP for non-financial gain use. I can't cite this though.
posted by Brainy at 3:14 PM on May 31, 2011