Do I really need autocad?

[HalifaxPinball]

I am trying to learn the best method of creating playfield overlays for pinball machines. After many years of pounding by a steel ball, the playfield often looks like junk. An overlay can make a tired old game look like new.

So, I have been working on the artistic side of the overlay for quite some time. I am learning that there is much more too this than I originally thought. The majority of the art can be done in Photoshop, but the lettering has to be done in Illustrator to make it look just right.

Where does AutoCAD fit in? Well, if the holes and edges of the overlay don't line up just right, the overlay won't sit over the original playfield correctly. I need to make one layer that gives exact measurments of these things. AutoCAD seems pretty hefty and complicated for doing this job. Is this the way to go or perhaps there is a better tool for the job??

Greg

[rkmcswain]

I am trying to learn the best method of creating playfield overlays for pinball machines. After many years of pounding by a steel ball, the playfield often looks like junk. An overlay can make a tired old game look like new.

So, I have been working on the artistic side of the overlay for quite some time. I am learning that there is much more too this than I originally thought. The majority of the art can be done in Photoshop, but the lettering has to be done in Illustrator to make it look just right.

Where does AutoCAD fit in? Well, if the holes and edges of the overlay don't line up just right, the overlay won't sit over the original playfield correctly. I need to make one layer that gives exact measurments of these things. AutoCAD seems pretty hefty and complicated for doing this job. Is this the way to go or perhaps there is a better tool for the job??

Greg

Hopefully you found an answer by now. So what did you use?

[f700es]

Well Greg, since you already use and know Illustrator you could always try to CAD Tools plug-in for Illustrator from Hot Door products - http://www.hotdoor.com/CADtools/ . I have an older copy that I played with for a while and while not as easy to use as Acad (IMHO) it does bring a new level of precision to Illustrator. They have a demo so might be worth looking into. Best of luck

[WannaBeCader]

Don't mean to be "stick in the mud"....but this post is almost 3 years old.
??

[f700es]

Don't mean to be "stick in the mud"....but this post is almost 3 years old.
??

Man, I gotta start looking at those "posted" dates

[rkmcswain]

Don't mean to be "stick in the mud"....but this post is almost 3 years old.
??

Hey man, it's only 2.5 years old...

[WannaBeCader]

No sweat and no criticism intended, it just rose from the grave.
I just noticed H...pinball>guest>date

<edit>
2nd edit In Civil work 2.5 is 3

[rkmcswain]

No sweat and no criticism intended

Here either. I was just making a sarcastic come back. :-) Have a good one.