Classics in Two sided

[Art Sonneborn]

I'd love to put some lighted posters going up to my theater but I want posters of films that I like that I would leave up not change out. But Films like The Day the Earth Stood Still, Goldfinger, 2001 ASO don't exist as double sided or do they? Does anyone know? Any thoughts on alternatives if they don't ?

Art

[rboster]

Art: If my memory serves me, I don't think two sided posters were used until the early eighties. At times, I have seen classic films re-released on DVD and they will send out double sided posters to video stores for promotional purposes....also classics that have been re-released in Theaters have generated double sided theatrical posters....SW trilogy comes to mind.

Ron

[Art Sonneborn]

Thanks for that historical perspective. I thought ( read hoped that ) they went back further or perhaps reproductions were done that way. I guess a giant phototransparency might be my only solution but ug, the cost would have to be pretty high.

Art

[rboster]

Art: You would be surprised how many classics show up in ds poster searches on ebay. I recently ran across Wizard of Oz and Gone with the Wind that were DS Video/Theatrical posters.

Ron

Use 2-sided, two sided, double and double sided (all with the word poster). Also, some show up under lightbox poster (very few).

[rboster]

Here's an example of OZ ds poster used for the theatrical re-release:

Item number: 3863961294

[rboster]

Art:

You mentioned "The Day the Earth Stood Still," an AVS sponsor is deveolping an HT intro around this concept (last post pics):

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=472770&pagenumber=2

THis might be something to keep your eye on...


Ron

[docquest]

i was also on the lookout for classic films that were two sided.
one that i see every now and then on ebay is a 1997 release of the hitchcock classic "Rear Window". they made a new poster to try and "modernize" its look.

[rboster]

Doc: That is a pretty cool poster...would love to grab a ds of that one.

Ron

[Art Sonneborn]

This may be reaching, and perhaps expensive, I don't know but couldn't one of these one sided posters be scanned then printed as a transparency on a large format printer ?

Art

[CptnRandy]

Art,

The answer is as follows: yes, it could be scanned and printed.

And yes, it would be very expensive. Especially as a "one off". I'd say several hundred dollars, at the least.

The real question is, where are you planning on putting the lighted poster box?

Randy

[dwightrahl]

I'm just wondering...

If you were to take 2 single sided posters and stack them, would that minimize the "wash-out" effect on the colors? Or, do you think that the double thickness of the paper would block too much light altogether?

Certainly, allignment might be a bit challenging - especially if the two posters didn't get printed EXACTLY identically...

Just a thought - I may go over to Wall-Mart and buy 2 copies of a cheap poster and give it a try...

Dwight

[_Arklyte_]

I tried in the store :D doesn't look very good, just a really thick single side

[Art Sonneborn]

Originally posted by CptnRandy
Art,

The answer is as follows: yes, it could be scanned and printed.

And yes, it would be very expensive. Especially as a "one off". I'd say several hundred dollars, at the least.

The real question is, where are you planning on putting the lighted poster box?

Randy


Randy you may remember my old theater. There is a hall outside leading up that used to have my ticket window and collage. The stairs were redone to raise the entrance to the new theater so the old collage is too big but there is room for two or three lighted boxes. I could build all of that if I can be enticed by a few classic posters that can be back lit.

http://www.bluemarble.de/artsonneborn/

[CptnRandy]

Art,

I remember it well - I studied your old theater in detail before planning my own!

I just wasn't sure with the rebuild that you had space for the frames. If you have the space, go for it - you'll just have to hunt for a while to find the right posters.

I have 4 non-illumated frames where I switch out posters - 1 that's permanently mounted and 1 huge display from a 40's era theater. That might be more to your style: Art Deco Theater Poster Display (http://homepage.mac.com/cptnrandy/.Pictures/Photo%20Album%20Pictures/2004-02-29%2009.05.14%20-0800/Image-6F472C646AD811D8.jpg)

It's amazing what you can find on eBay - and it was delivered free!

Randy

[schlitzie]

I have exhausted myself looking for a source for DS posters from the 30's thru the 60's, especially things from classic monster or sci-fi like Creature from the Black Lagoon or Day the Earth Stood Still. I thought I had hit paydirt a few months ago when I found a graphics artist that had digital scans of dozens of classics.... I asked her to blow them up to full size (26 X40) to fit my backlit frames, and then reverse the image and print it on the opposite side - She agreed to try it. Problems arose in trying to locate acceptable paper to print on, as it needs a glossy finish to print correctly for sharp text and images... the glossy paper she had could only be printed on one side, as the ink would not dry on the reverse. OK, so I had her try it on matte finish. The end result looks just OK, with the before mentioned hazy edges due to the ink soaking in to the paper "unevenly" on the microscopic texture (Does that make sense?) Anyway, more problematic is the fact that the reverse image has to be hand aligned on the printer, meaning that is is extremely difficult to get the images to synch up perfectly with each other. Any misconvergence is readily apparent as soon as the backlight goes on. This whole process took months of back and forth ( and granted I didn't put alot of pressure on her because they were around $20.00 apiece and she was going above and beyond). I'd love to try it again if anyone has a source for two sided printable stock becuse they would be really cool things for many of us to have... If you would like her contact info let me know.

[Art Sonneborn]

I would be OK with paying for the process if it is high enough quality ( up to a point:D ).

Can anyone lead me to a place or places that will do this kind of work ?

Art

[Tom Harness]

Art

I have never done anything like this myself, but transparencies for trade shows and such are made by companies like the one in this link:
http://www.color2000.com/Photo_Services/Transparencies/transparencies.html I'm not recommending them because I've never done any business with the firm.

Duratrans is a common transparency product. I see this company also makes large inkjet transparencies from user supplied digital files at cheaper rates. Prices, especially in quantities of one item, are pretty steep, but wouldn't require a second mortgage.

Finding a good high quality digital image of a classic poster might be pretty tough to find. If you had a standard poster you might be able to shoot a picture of it with a high quality digital camera and use that for source material to make a transparency.

Good luck with your quest

Tom

[Art Sonneborn]

Thanks ! That looks like it. With good even lighting a 5 -6 MP camera I'd be set. Except $1500 - 2000 per poster is perhaps a little high for me.:(

Art

[Tom Harness]

Yep, $1500-$2000 is way out of my comfort range :D

However, I was thinking about shooting a picture of a good quality reprint poster -- if such things exist. I see places on-line selling inexpensive reprints. Some are apparently original size and many are smaller such as 11 x 17. If you could get a good digital image file from these copies you could have a large transparency made for about $200. That's still a sizable price for a poster - at least it is in my neighborhood. But that might be the only alternative available if no doublesided posters are commercially available.

Tom

[schlitzie]

Folks - the issue is not finding someone with access to the digital scans of the classic posters or taking digital photos of reprints (you end up with a copy of a copy of a copy), but finding the right stock to print it on, as I mentioned a few posts ago.... You need glossy stock that can be printed on both sides - I know it exists; neither I or my contact could locate any. If I could find the stuff, I am quite sure that the posters could be printed in high quality for around $30 apiece, not the hundreds you are talking about.

[CptnRandy]

Not in low quantities. IF you want full size, double sided and good quality, you'll need to print several thousand to get the prices down to affordable. I've done print purchasing for many years as a part of my job - it's jut expensive.

If you can sacrifice quality, especially the double sided, you can get one-offs for a couple of hundred bucks.

Randy

[Art Sonneborn]

Here is an example of one of the posters that I'd love to see backlit in my home.

[Art Sonneborn]

Here is another one.

[docquest]

when you put a regular 1-sided poster in a light box the image is very washed out due the amount of light coming through the poster. myabe you could put multiple copies of the same poster to limit the light coming through but still illuminate the poster. this would require identical multiple copies of a poster and they would need to be aligned precisely on top of one another.
i would try it in my light box but i don't have two identical posters. i used a similar idea with my skybox beverage dispenser in my lobby. the front door has a backlit display area and i printed a custom marquee for it. the first attempt looked very washed out due to the amount of light passing through the image. i them made a second black and white image of the marquee and put it behind the original marquee. this allowed the light for the colored areas to still come through but blocked the black areas in the image. the resulting image looked much better. still not as good as an original duratrans or translite but still good.

[rboster]

Well Done Docquest. Great idea....plus, I love you Skybox marquee. Very impressive work!


Ron

[Art Sonneborn]

I'd really like this to be something that is top notch. I have posters in frames with the now showing or coming soon beneath but they are lifeless in the dark hall. This is the perfect place for very high quality backlit DS or transparencies. I'm hoping that one way or another I can make this work. I'm holding off on putting my ticket window back up until I see what I can do with this.

Art

[Clarence]

Not DS, but it might be worth a try...

http://www.posterprintshop.com/prices.htm
Backlit Film $8/sq'
$24 (18x24)
$48 (24x36)
$96 (36x48)
UPS Ground $10

or

http://www.youhuge.com/large_format_posters.htm

24" x 36".................$ 54.00
36" x 40".................$ 92.00
36" x 48".................$108.00
42" x 60".................$162.00
60" x 80".................$350.00

Lexan Film (Reverse Print):
A tough polycarbonate film that opens the door to inkjet floor graphic displays. Reverse printing technology will allow floor graphics applications to be easier than ever. Surface texture is appealing for creative display applications.It is ideally suited for floor graphics, light box application, tradeshow graphics, gaming machine display, retail displays and others.

[Art Sonneborn]

Wow Clarence, that looks really like that is it ! I guess I need to call to see about what they will do if I provide them with a 5MP Jpeg will they print a movie poster.

Art

[Clarence]

I thought you'd like those, Art.

I've been looking at DS posters and lightboxes for my HT, so I've got lots of links. I think I'm going to try building a Weilandfilm lightbox (http://www.weilandworks.com/summerland/lightbox_overview.html):

http://www.weilandworks.com/summerland/images/lightbox/lightbox_large1.jpg (http://www.weilandworks.com/summerland/lightbox_overview.html)

but adapt it with rope lights like this (http://hovanic.homeip.net/gallery/MoviePoster) and this (http://white.hometheatertalk.com/tips/posterbox.htm).

Here's another one you might want to check into... if these prices include printing your media and the backlit frame, it looks like a nice deal...
http://www.photoglow.com/Frames are ready to hang with matte (in five colors), glazing and power supply!

24 x 36 PhotoGlow
28 x 40 frame matted to 23 x 35
Colors: Silver, Gold, Black
Mattes: White, Antique White, Black, Grey, Navy
$429.00

24 x 36 Blank Media
5 Piece Count
$59.99

FAQ:
Can I send a print to be made into a PhotoGlow?
Yes! We do free scanning of prints when purchased with a PhotoGlow and a PhotoGlow print. Email us for details.
For 24x36 prints, 100 MB files are not atypical.
The files can be uploaded to our FTP site.
Changing the image is easy and takes just minutes. One side of the frame is removed and the matte is slid out.

[Art Sonneborn]

Thanks again ! A fair amount to ponder. Are you getting from this that they would make a transparency from a poster you provide ?

Art

[Clarence]

Originally posted by Art Sonneborn
Are you getting from this that they would make a transparency from a poster you provide?That's the way I read it, but a quick call to them would be the best way to find out. You might have to buy the blank transparencies, but 24"x36" for $12, big deal.

[jayluft]

Not sure if this would help or not, but I own a video store and needed a custom made poster 27 x 46" to go into one of my lighted marquees for that is placed in one of my windows. I designed the artwork in Adobe Illustrator saved it as an eps file and took it to Kinkos for a shot. For $108 they printed me out a high resolution print on "backlight" film. It turned out real good. High quality printing and has held up well for being lit 12 hours a day, for 3 months now. They take high resoultion pdf's also.

[coolhand]

Lawrence of Arabia DS is on eBay now. Item 3866213462. They are out there...