The first step in constructing your model is to print it out. This can be achieved in one of two ways:
Use the instant print buttons provided on the CCD drawing sheets, or
Select File >> Print, and manually set the printing options you require (e.g., scaling)
The instant print buttons provide for the five most common miniature scales used within role-playing and war-games.
To use the instant print buttons, simply click on the button showing the miniature scale you wish to print to. You will be prompted to confirm whether you actually want to print or not.
Instant print buttons on the CCD drawing sheet
When you choose the paper or card upon which to print your CCD drawing, you must take into account two factors. First, the material needs to be strong enough so that your models will not collapse when you place miniatures upon them. Second, the material needs to be flexible enough to not impede construction.
Unfortunately, that which provides strength (thick card) is too unwieldy for the type of construction we require for our CCD models, and, in any case, most printers will not accept card of such thickness.
For use with metal (or substitute metal) miniatures, we have found that 160gsm card provides the perfect trade-off solution between printability, strength, and ease of construction.
Of course, if your model only needs to support paper or cardboard miniatures, such as those that can be created using Character Artist, it is perfectly adequate to construct your CCD models from standard 80gsm paper. However, such models, if they are to be kept, will need to be stored carefully to prevent crushing.
Some printers have the unfortunate tendency to print pages that are easily smudged - which, of course, is a disadvantage for CCD purposes. While most printed pages can avoid the smudging issue by simply allowing the ink time to set and dry, some inks are still prone to smudging even then.
So how to avoid having your masterpiece ruined by great smudge smears obliterating the detail? Several options are open to you, but the ones we have found to work best involve priming, or varnishing, the surface of your print before you begin construction.
The cheapest method of priming a drawing uses common garden spray furniture polish. Because such polish tends to be quite wet (and thus has the potential to turn your print into mush), you need to be very conservative with its application. Lightly spray the printed sheet with the polish from a distance of approximately 18" to 2’, then leave the sheet for a couple of hours to allow the polish to dry. If you don’t allow the polish to dry, you will find the smudging problems are increased, rather than eliminated.
The best, but more expensive, method uses acrylic matte transparent model varnish, which can be purchased from most hobby and modeling stores. Again, apply the varnish conservatively and wait until it is fully dry before beginning construction.
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