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Making a Board

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abdantas
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Joined: 11/13/2012

What's the best material to make a nice looking prototype board? I use cardboard right now but i feel it really turns people off cause it looks so bad.

Dralius
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Joined: 07/26/2008
The kind of cardboard used in

The kind of cardboard used in most game boards is called chipboard. You can get it at most art supply stores.

ninjaneer
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Joined: 03/11/2013
For a quick prototype

For a quick prototype, I like using card stock/poster board or a cereal box.

KrisW
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Joined: 01/15/2013
Prototype Boards

When making durable boards for play testers I re-purpose old board games I pick up at garage sales for pennies.

For nice looking sales demo boards I like foam board. They are much lighter weight to carry and look nicer, but can get dinged up easily.

In both cases I print out the graphics from my home computer onto paper, use spray glue to fasten it to the board, then cover with a stick-on laminate. I use Light Weight Laminating Film from GRAFIX. It's sometimes hard to get, so I'm looking for other options.

I've also run tape around all the board edges before putting the graphics or laminate on, to give it a 'finished' look. My one try didn't turn out all that well. Anyone else have advice on that?

- KrisW

Knicksen
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Joined: 05/18/2011
My Experience

Kris suggestion is a good one and eco-friendly.

I found foam board really easy to use, especially for cutting (my current game board is elliptical), but as Kris says, easy to dent. Also, lightness is good for transporting, but means that the board is easily nudged leading to spontaneous and unintended action on the board.

For the current playtest board, I used drawing card scavenged from work (we are now all digital). This is very rigid and sturdy. My mate laminated the printouts and I then hand cut it, going through several scalpel blades in the process!

Card Board:
See this photoset - http://www.flickr.com/photos/knicksen/sets/72157632473248330/

Kris - on the lamination, there's a real knack to doing it that comes with experience - my mate showed me how to do it.

silasmolino
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Joined: 02/01/2013
I use..

I use chip board for something I would show to friends. The aformentioned, print, spray, and cut method worked great, although not perfect (my hands are not very sturdy and neither are my tools).

For soloing games and family, I just print on 110lb card stock and cut.

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