TE2 / TE2+ Artwork Installation Instructions

Whew! It's been a WHILE since I last posted here! Busy, busy, busy with art commissions and job searching. This is a post I should have made a LONG time ago. Most of the folks that work with me have TE2s/TE2+s and still need instruction on what to do next. I usually supply them with an instructional PDF, but I think it'll be best to have a blog post for mobile users and for folks that don't wanna keep looking at the PDF over and over. Feel free to favorite this on your web browser!

Anyway, I'm assuming that if you got this far, you've already got your artwork from me, from someone else or you made it yourself. Thus will help you with the actual modding of your stick.

PRINTING

There are two files in your zipped folder (this is if you bought your artwork from me). One is named "For Art's Hobbies". Of course, this is for if you want to get your work done by Arthur Hong of Art's Hobbies (tek-Innovations.com). I HIGHLY recommend Art's Hobbies. His work is flawless and worth the price and the wait. To match his art cuts, you should get a new plexi. Since the MadCatz plexi goes around the buttons and his artwork goes underneath the buttons, I don't think it's absolutely necessary to get his plexi, but I the buttons may grind on the artwork since they turn sometimes. That's not an issue for the stock art, but since your custom art will most likely be printed on paper or cardstock, there may be visible wear over time. Art's plexi will protect your artwork since it fits under the buttons and not around them.

EDIT (5/2/16): I recently cracked open a TE2+ for a friend and art modded his stick. It seems that MadCatz has these little plastic washers that helps push the buttons up over the plexi. They're ALSO printing the artwork on cardstock. The Killer Instinct TE2s didn't do this! It was printed on a heavy-duty vinyl or something. Anyway, if you're getting your artwork from Arthur, be sure to also buy a plexicover from his site.

EDIT (6/3/16): Ok, so I had a customer that got the art printed by Arthur, but didn't buy a plexi from him. The customer told me that as long as you keep the plastic washers that are on the buttons that separate them from the panel, you should be good. I haven't verified it myself.

Getting your art from Art's Hobbies costs extra, but I can't stress how AMAZING your art will come out if you do everything with him. Here's an example of a project I've recently done using his services:

If you believe that price may be an issue, go to this link on his site and add both the “Mad Catz TE2 Cover” and the “Artwork Print and Cut – TE2” items to your cart. After adding the first item to your cart, the site will ask you for what state/country you're in and will calculate how much it will cost to ship to you. Add the other to see the exact amount art from Art's Hobbies will cost you.

Also (if you decide to go with Art), when selecting the “Artwork Print...”, be sure to select the appropriate hole cutouts depending on whether or not you're using Sanwa or Seimitsu clear buttons. With this you can get fancy with your designs and have the art come through the buttons.

Of course, this can also be done without Arthur cutting the art for you, using alternative methods, but I can't stress how easy this is with his artwork print and cut service. If you aren't doing this, I don't believe it matters which you choose. You'll have 30mm holes which can be used for any button type (Sanwa, Seimitsu, Gamer Finger, etc.) as long as they're 30mm buttons.

The alternate route is the DIY method. If you want to print it yourself at a print shop, use the PDF file (labeled "For DIY"). IMPORTANT: Be sure to tell them print it at actual size without resizing it. 11 x 17 inch paper is what's needed for artwork this size. You'll notice on the PDF file that there are no borders or holes for the stick and buttons. Once printed, you need to use the plexi to cut the holes by laying the art flat on it and tracing it with an XACTO knife or an ink pen (a video below shows the ease of the ink pen method). The holes on the art are only there to give you an idea of what it will look like and also serves as a guide for the designer so that he/she doesn't block a character's face or something when creating the art. It's a general idea, but not exact.

If you leave the guides on there when you print it, you run the risk of THIS happening:

INSTALLATION

Here are two vids that can help with artwork installation:

Part 1: File Prep

Part 2: Artwork Installation

For the DIY method, follow the vids and you should be good. If you've never done anything like this before, don't worry about messing up on the cuts. The TE2 is cleverly designed so that imperfect cuts are hidden. The outer cuts are hidden by the plastic bezel and like on most sticks, the buttons and dustwasher on the stick hide THOSE cuts. If you're still not sure, get two or three prints. They don't cost that much extra and you get to practice. If you can get it on your first or second try, you have an extra! This is great in case you spill or something and need a new one, but don't want to run to the print shop.

As for installation with the Art Hong print out & plexi, from bottom to top the layers are...

- bottom panel/stock art

- your art

- plexi

- buttons & dustwasher

For the mod with Art's plexi, you will need to remove the buttons completely and unplug them from the quick disconnects, remove the plexi and frame after removing the necessary screws, lay the custom artwork down and put everything back in place following the order above. You won't be able to slide the art under the buttons like KrizmKazm did in that second vid, especially since Arthur prints on cardstock.

That's about it! Let me know if you need any more help. 

Take care, happy gaming and God bless,

Big E

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