SW1 from France

[Pray59]

Hey Mike, it sounds like your PPD-LTD etcher is geared towards modelers like the Excella site says they are. Since you already have experience with them, we don't need to Guinea Pig around.

Can you outline for us how the whole shebang went?
 Example:
You drew up your artwork in XXX format with X colors, mirror image artwork with backside etch, emailed it to them, they quoted you $XXX for this, and $XXX for that, and it ended up costing $XXX for to many sheets sized XY, etc?

I want to know how the newbie, (me) gets started with etching services, and does it with minimal reworks, so I can get it right the first time.

Thanks,

[Chris333]

Hobo Tim could tell you a little about pricing. I believe he used Indiana Micro Etch. It is cheaper the more you do. If you get a whole big sheet done for around $300 there may be 72  2"x2" pieces on it so each piece only costs $4.16. Just an example using guesses though.

[Chris333]

Also different places probably want different things, but most use a one sided drawing with top and bottom color coded. I have a list next to my screen now:

White        0
Dark blue    Back
Light blue   Back hatch/fill
green         Back ties
green         Back ties filled
red            Front
pink           Front hatch/fill

each color is it's own layer so you draw the lines (red) and fill it in (pink) now they shut off the red layer and leave the fill only. I've done artwork this way just to try and got it right, but never sent it out to have done.

Red front:

green ties:

blue back:

blue filled:

etc...

[Sokramiketes]

Hey Mike, it sounds like your PPD-LTD etcher is geared towards modelers like the Excella site says they are. Since you already have experience with them, we don't need to Guinea Pig around.

Can you outline for us how the whole shebang went?
 Example:
You drew up your artwork in XXX format with X colors, mirror image artwork with backside etch, emailed it to them, they quoted you $XXX for this, and $XXX for that, and it ended up costing $XXX for to many sheets sized XY, etc?

I want to know how the newbie, (me) gets started with etching services, and does it with minimal reworks, so I can get it right the first time.

Thanks,

I could, but the PPD site has all of your questions answered, I think.  Check out the boxes at the top of the homepage which will tell you the format and layers required, and give general costs.  

http://www.ppdltd.com