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SkYlyn3
Warrior
222 Posts
    
Williamsburg, Virginia
 | | 02/05/2007 1:04 PM |
| | Does anyone here laminate their maps, so that they don't get ruined as easily? I know it makes them bigger and more of a pain to carry around, but the good has to outweigh the bad, right? Staples does the lamination for around $15, which is a little pricey, but if you want to keep the map forever, it's the best protection. | |
Champion of Mohrg
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Temysry
Sergeant
523 Posts
| | 02/05/2007 1:54 PM |
| I have all of my maps laminated and it's well worth doing. I just carry them rolled in a poster tube or simply with elastics. As long as you store them flat they won't curl up on you. I've also found that the colours really stand out a lot more once they've been laminated which makes them look even better.
I would suggest, however, that you go somewhere other than Staples. I managed to find a local copy store that does lamination and his prices are about $5 a map (Canadian). Besides, when you go to a real copy store, you'll have 'pros' doing it rather than high school kids. | |
A Proud Gelatinous Dude
www.gelatinousdudes.com
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 02/05/2007 2:36 PM |
| There are many ways to make sure that you have your maps for a good, long time...
#1.) Buy mulitples. This is the easiest way to insure that you'll have the maps available. If you stash the extras in a safe place, they'll be there for you if the first set gets damaged. Regardless of whether you laminate or otherwise protect you maps, I suggest doing this for any maps you really like. I obtained an extra copy of Drow Outpost that is safely stashed away so that I will have an available copy, no matter what happens to my 'original'.
#2.) Lamination. There are two types of lamination.Â
The first is a thick style of lamination that can be purchased at many copy stores (such as Copy Central or Kinkos) or office supply stores (such as Staples). This type of lamination is very strong protection. However, it does have some drawbacks. It tends to be unforgiving when rolled. Once rolled, it is very, very hard to get the map to lie flat. I laminated a battle map in this fashion, and I need to use 8+ lb weights (which I create using water filled containers) to get it to lie flat when I take it someplace. In addition to the rolling issue, the process is expensive, usually costing ~ $12.00 to $15.00 per map. Finally, this lamination tends to be light sensitive. If it is not protected from the light, it will tend to yellow over time. It may take a few years, but it will happen.
The second type of lamination is much thinner. It is usually obtained at a teacher supply store, although certain copy or office supply stores also provide the service. This thinner lamination will not offer the same level of protection as the thicker lamination, but it is much more forgiving of rolling. I can usually get the maps to lie pretty flat with very minor weighting at the four corners. This lamination will not help as much when a small child starts to pull on the map, but it will provide fine protection from the elements. In addition, the lamination can be trimmed to be very close to the original size of the map. This type of lamination also yellows.
#3.) Top loaders. These are clear plastic cases for maps. They are usually used for posters. An alternative to these would be a picture frame capable of holding the map. I don't like these bulky options, as they are hard to transport and I do a lot of travel to play DDM, but they do a fine job.Â
#4.) Protective Plates. I experimented with protective plastic sheets that would lie over a map when it was played. I had a series of 4 plates made that could (toegther) cover a Fantastic Locations or Drow Outpost map. However, the 4 maps were not large enough to cover the 4 maps in the starter sets. Regardless, I found the 4 'sheets' to be too bulky. They were also fairly expensive, and showed signs of use almost immediately. I would not suggest this tactic.Â
#5.) Don't use maps.ÂThe best option might be to avoid using maps unless absolutely necessary. It is rather simple to mock up a map using gridded easle paper. Sure, you'll miss out on the artwork, but you'll also avoid putting wear and tear on the maps, and you can take notes on the 'maps' to help you keep track of interesting location based tricks, such as tricky lines of sight. | |
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Bert the Troll
Commander
3964 Posts
Adelaide
| | 02/05/2007 2:47 PM |
| Laminating will extend the life of your map. You still need to care for it.
It also depends on what you are using the maps for, just skirmish once a week or heavy RPG use too.
I prefer to use laminated (thin style as above) maps with a heavy perspex sheet over the top when in use. This lets me draw over the top during RPG, though most often I use a grid not decorative map when RPGing. Not all my maps are laminated though ):
You can get perspex cut to size, and to cover the maps with overhang cost me about $20 AUD. It does show signs of wear and tear, scuffs mostly, but when it gets too bad, I'll buy another slab. It is about 5mm thick.
It adds considerable to my 'travel kit' when i play away from home. But it also weighs down laminated maps nicely. | |
"Mutton yesterday, mutton today, and blimey, if it don't look like mutton again tomorrer." Bert the Troll - The Hobbit
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Champion of Epic Lolth, Orcus, & Demogorgon and bring us Asmodeus! | |
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Faragdar the Wise
Commander
3547 Posts
Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | 02/05/2007 4:35 PM |
| | I laminate all my maps. I get it done at a teacher supply store. I like the thin laminate. (I have a couple that were done with a relatively thick laminate that do tend to want to stay curled.) It costs me ~$3 per map. Be sure to look around, too, if you have multiple teacher supply stores. Some places will only have a cold laminate machine, which is generally hand-cranked and works by just glueing two laminate sheets together around your map (you might even have to do it yourself--which, admittedly, might be better for peace of mind). It works, but it's hard to do without leaving at least one wrinkle in the map or in the laminate over the map. Better if you can find a store that has a hot laminate machine. They're generally automatic and will press the map flat before adhering the laminate around the map. Unless operated by a complete bonehead, those machines will do an excellent job of lamination with virtually no wrinkles, bumps or bubbles. In my experience, there wasn't even a difference in price between the hot laminate at one place and the cold laminate at another: $0.95 per foot. | |
"Before God we are all equally wise - and equally foolish." - Albert Einstein
Champion of Myopic Half-Orcs
Winner, WBC X | |
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BoloBaby
Sergeant
640 Posts
Fort Mill, SC
| | 02/05/2007 6:04 PM |
| The top-loader option is king in my book. I use one and I can't complain. It only cost $8 and I can slide any map I want to use into it when I want to use it.
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Champion of the Cleric with Raise Dead | |
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SkYlyn3
Warrior
222 Posts
Williamsburg, Virginia
| | 02/05/2007 7:11 PM |
| | Where can one find the Toploaders for the maps? I imagine they are pretty big, like map-big. | |
Champion of Mohrg
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Dordledum
Commander
3463 Posts
Netherlands
| | 02/06/2007 2:04 AM |
| Posted By SkYlyn3 on 02/05/2007 7:11 PM
Where can one find the Toploaders for the maps? I imagine they are pretty big, like map-big.
And know any internet company willing to ship these to Europe?
D.
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Member of the Bearded Devils
Champion of the Huge Spider (WotDQ 46/60), A New Umber Hulk (DoDe 57/60), and the Orog Fighter! | |
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orcdoubleax
Sergeant
694 Posts
| | 02/06/2007 2:12 AM |
| | If you want to laminate you have to go thin. Myself I perfer top loaders. Unlike most people I have 1 for every map and I leave them in there.
They are not easy to carry around, but are very durable. It is less of a problem for me because they do fit in the station wagon fine. | |
Yes I am Gelatinous.
www.gelatinousdudes.com
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10493 Posts
United States
| | 02/06/2007 4:59 AM |
| I have found that there are a couple of my maps that are laminated that didn't laminate very well, and there are air bubbles and ripples on the maps and so that's a bit of a pain. Of the ones that were laminated properly, I have no problems.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
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Kat_Dawg33
Warrior
291 Posts
USA
| | 02/06/2007 10:13 AM |
| I got my toploaders at tcbulk: http://www.tcbulk.com/scripts/default.asp
Sorry Dordledum, I don't know if they ship to Europe, but you can check the link and try to find out.
Good luck,
Gary | |
Champion of "Ember, Monk Champion"
Vindicated Champion of the "Mounted Dragon Knight" | |
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Dordledum
Commander
3463 Posts
Netherlands
| | 02/06/2007 11:07 AM |
| "At this time, we currently do not ship products outside of the United States."
too bad, 
D. | |
Member of the Bearded Devils
Champion of the Huge Spider (WotDQ 46/60), A New Umber Hulk (DoDe 57/60), and the Orog Fighter! | |
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Rockmar
Skirmisher
10 Posts
| | 02/06/2007 3:02 PM |
| I laminated my maps and then put them on the "top loader". I purchased my top loader at a local gaming store. They called them Poster Sleeves. Cost me about $6.
My poster sleeve is beginning to crack in the corner. I don't know what I did to it, but it's falling apart already. I don't get out much to game (just a couple of times a month) so transporting the maps isn't a big issue for me.
Having the poster sleeve helps the maps to lay flat without any folds in the middle. | | | |
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Brimulk
Sneak
162 Posts
| | 02/07/2007 9:06 AM |
| I also use toploaders. I will agree, they are bulky to transport, but I don't travel much to play, so I'm good with just using them at home. I got mine for the $6 as well, at a local sports card store. They are poster size, 24x36 I think. They protect the maps very well, and you only need to buy one for all your maps. If you are like me, you'd buy a couple of them and keep your favorite maps in them. | |
Vindicated Champion of Green Slaad
Champion of the Feyr
Correct Unhallowed Called Shot - Bone Naga
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Teflon Jeff
Warlord
7908 Posts
Sector 2814
| | 02/07/2007 9:46 AM |
| I laminate all mine at a teacher supply store. $.70 per linear foot. I like it, and leave a very liberal edge on them, to protect against drinks and moisture. They also tend to be a little better for doule sided maps, as the thicker lamination tends to be somewhat opaque on one side.
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Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
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Autoxdsm
Sergeant
814 Posts
Myrtle Beach, SC
| | 02/07/2007 9:52 AM |
| | SkYlyn3 and I went to Staples today and got 1 map Laminated for $3.50, it came out great. I will probably getting most if not all my maps done there from now on. It is the thin type and I think as long as you can keep the laminate from getting creased it will last a long time. | |
Champion of the Brainstealer Dragon
Desert of Desolation Called Shot: Medium Brown Dragon
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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 02/07/2007 12:04 PM |
| A note on thin lamination:
While it can protect the map, it can also lead to damage to the map. There are three primary methods of this occuring that I've noticed:
1.) While laminating the map, it is easy for a crease to start which will put a permanent fold in the map. There is no way to fix this AFAIK, so you can ruin a map while laminating it.
2.) Is something (such as a hair) gets on the map while laminating, it will be there forever. That can be rather annoying.
3.) Once laminated, the edge around the map that consists of extra lamination is very prone to bending and creasing. This type of abuse can make it difficult to store the maps, as the 'bumpy' edges to dnot want to lie flat. I advise carefully cutting this trim down to 1/4" or less. | |
Champion of Meepo _*_ Myztek on the Wizards Boards. _*_ (2206 DDM on 03/06/06)
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CTSparky
Sneak
128 Posts
| | 02/13/2007 7:04 AM |
| | I also have started laminating my maps. I love it. Then you get get an oldposter tube and roll them up in it. I've seen at gencon people having a backpack with the map tube put into one side. I think that laminating is the way to go. For right now I've just laminated the ones that are in use most frequently, but I will do more whe I get the chance. I think the thing to do is to laminate them once you get them. Just make sure wich side you want opaque. | |
I have yet to be Guyf'd. But I have been f'ed. | |
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Teflon Jeff
Warlord
7908 Posts
Sector 2814
| | 02/13/2007 9:40 AM |
| Posted By jgsugden on 02/07/2007 12:04 PM
A note on thin lamination:
While it can protect the map, it can also lead to damage to the map. There are three primary methods of this occuring that I've noticed:
1.) While laminating the map, it is easy for a crease to start which will put a permanent fold in the map. There is no way to fix this AFAIK, so you can ruin a map while laminating it.
2.) Is something (such as a hair) gets on the map while laminating, it will be there forever. That can be rather annoying.
3.) Once laminated, the edge around the map that consists of extra lamination is very prone to bending and creasing. This type of abuse can make it difficult to store the maps, as the 'bumpy' edges to dnot want to lie flat. I advise carefully cutting this trim down to 1/4" or less.Â
1) yeah, one of my maps got a tear, there's a small hollow diamon right in the middle. Kind of a bummer. I make sure to flatten mine really good before I take them in
2) Yeah, I haven't had that happen yet, but it is a risk.
3)The nice part about the thin laminate is that it tends to crease less. But definitely store them flat. They will stay rolled if stored that way.
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Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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