$38?

I've recommended them before and I'll recommend them again..

http://www.bannersonthecheap.com

upload your Own picture (I used the same NASA photos that these guys have stolen)

3×3 vinyl is $15. Even with shipping to Canada it came to $23 much better deal and you have full creative control.

Now what proof do you have they stole anything. Before you go throwing around accusations so easily you should have some proof. I have played on them and they are ESA pictures in fact. It is even marked on the map. So they are not thieves but you sir appearto be a liar. Oh but I need no evidence to prove that. Right father911.

or does this make me a sock puppet that I dislike ignorant liars?

I don't like to argue online but my post was hostile so I Suppose you have the right to defend your friends honour. Not sure why you are though. The smart thing to do would have been to let this thread die. Now another entire round of potential Customers get to read why they should not back this Kickstarter. They had several reasons before my post now they will have more.

ok, I'll admit stolen was a tad strong, the pictures are offered for use as long as credit is given, which they did. "Borrowed" is a better word. They are from the ESA and not NASA, but that changes nothing. which space agency they "Borrowed" Them from is irrelevant. The relavent information is that they are not theirs. At least other mats I have seen use original art that they actually own.

printing pictures they found online and then charging people twice the price it would cost to print them themselves is not a good business model. People are not stupid.

$38?

I've recommended them before and I'll recommend them again..

http://www.bannersonthecheap.com

upload your Own picture (I used the same NASA photos that these guys have stolen)

3×3 vinyl is $15. Even with shipping to Canada it came to $23 much better deal and you have full creative control.

Nice find, that's slightly cheaper than the other site I saw recommended in another thread.

I also do not like arguing on line. It usually accomplishes nothing good. I do appreciate the change of wording. I take offense only that someone I know is being wrongly accused.

As for pricing... I can't disagree with you either but even though your option is less expensive and been available longer why haven't more people gone that route.... not sure. You are right people are not stupid but many like the"easy" route

in any case my friend's kickstarter will be what it will be. I like the product myself and the add-ons like the asteroids, planets, moons, and a couple of others they have not posted yet on the kickstarter.

There are lots of Hubble space photos in the public domain, meaning they are free for anyone to use. I don't know the terms of use for the specific images used for this Kickstarter's mats, but I've seen lots of other Hubble imagery used in commercial products without any problems.

$38?

I've recommended them before and I'll recommend them again..

http://www.bannersonthecheap.com

upload your Own picture (I used the same NASA photos that these guys have stolen)

3×3 vinyl is $15. Even with shipping to Canada it came to $23 much better deal and you have full creative control.

Nice find, that's slightly cheaper than the other site I saw recommended in another thread.

I also live in Canada. The 35 dollar shipping is ridiculous. I had a 6x3 map printed from Banners on the Cheap, came out to $32 after shipping and exchange. Shipping was 10 bucks. The item came in a 40" x 2" diameter tube.

Honestly I cannot stand these rip off Kickstarters.

How to produce an awesome play mat for under 35 dollars Canadian (convert to your own currency as you will).

Step 1: Take 15 minutes and find a nice resolution image that you like. Here are some very good sites:

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/nebula/results/100/layout/thumb/

http://www.spacetelescope.org/images/archive/category/nebulae/

http://www.eso.org/public/images/

Step 2: Take a few minutes in Photoshop to tweak the picture. I like to autobalance the light, then play a bit with the contrast and brightness. I make

Step 3: Design your play mat. You can add borders, logos, whatever.

Step 4: go to Bannersonthecheap.com and make a banner. If you used a larger picture, you can email it to them.

Step 5: wait about a week and then get your shiny new mat.

The other kickstarter I saw on here that really pissed me off was the asteroids for 40 bucks + shipping. Here is how to make asteroids in 30 minutes for a grand total of 5 bucks.

Step 1: go to Walmart and buy lava bbq rocks. I got a massive 2 kilo bag for 4 dollars Canadian. Buy some 3 inch construction nails.

Step 2: go home.

Step 3: Choose 6 nice lava rocks that look like the kind of asteroids you want to fly your ships into.

Step 4: Push a nail through the center of each asteroid template (be careful). You can add a drop of hot glue where the head touches the bottom of the template.

Step 5: get a drill and a bit the same size as your nails. Drill a 1/2 inch hole into your asteroids.

Step 6: add dab of glue to the hole and then impale your asteroids.

I used some old GW flying stands for mine, as I had them, but you can use the nails.

And there you have it, asteroids and a space map done for less that 40 bucks.