Tuesday 24 January 2017

Homemade GM's Screen

I'm showing something a bit different this week, my 'cheap and easy' homemade DM's (or GM's) screen.
The body of the screen is two A4 ring binders.  Find the thick card ones rather than the plastic coated ones, I got two for 75p each at Wilkinsons, shop around.
Choose a colour you like, there will be a thin margin of it showing around each panel.  Two binders gives you enough material for a four panel screen, and the card is nice and tough.
You also need gaffer tape of an appropriate colour to match or contrast the board colour, A4 transparent pockets (two per panel for a double sided screen) and double sided tape (clear if you can find it).  A4 card is also useful to help apply the pockets smoothly and easily.



Cut each binder into three along the spine, this gives you the four panels.  The card is thick, so several gentle cuts rather than trying to sever it in one (unless you have a +5 craft knife of sharpness).  Cut just beyond the fold, as below.



Take two boards to make the centre panels.  I found it useful to line the boards up on the lines on my cutting mat, it makes the whole thing a lot easier.  I made my screen landscape, but if you prefer portrait, just set the panels vertically, I'm sure you can work it out.

With the outside of the panels upper most (they usually have a shiny and a dull side, choose which you want facing you or the players) butt them together and fasten with gaffer tape.  Smooth the tape for a good join, then trim the edges.

Turn the constuction over and fold together.

Apply gaffer (duct) tape to one board.

Then run it round the fold and smooth over the other board.

And trim.

The outer panels are attached the same way, but the folds, or hinges, work the other way so you can fold it up. So apply the tape to the inside of the screen first.

Once you've finished with the gaffer tape it should look like this; the world's quietest concertina.

Take one of the A4 pockets.

Trim off the stip with the holes in it, being careful to cut the outside of the seam that holds it together.

Stuff card into the pocket (pink to show up the tape) and apply two strips of double sided tape.

Stick to one of the boards.  I lined the non seamed edge up with the edge of the inner lining of paper on the board, but you will find where you want it yourself.  I chose the freshly cut edge to be the top of the screen, so it doesn't fray with wear against the tabletop.  The card inside the pocket makes it much easier to get the pocket on straight and smooth.

Continue to apply pockets to complete the screen (this is the prototype, and not as neat as the one I now use).

There are plenty of inserts available online, just choose what is useful for you.  For the outside, simply print of nice artwork of photos.  I use maps of the regions where the adventurers are exploring, changes as necessary.

I hope this is useful, any questions, just ask.
Oh, if you're interested, the whole lot came in at under £2.50.

2 comments:

  1. Nice to see this is so popular.
    One extra bit of finishing off would be to run a strip of Gaffer (Duct) tape around the edges to protect the cut edge of the board; makes it look neater too.

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