Just a quick video to show me using my wife’s scrapbook equipment to creatively move the cumbersome job of cutting Advanced Squad Leader overlays into this millennium. Progress!
I believe the piece of equipment is called “Brother ScanNCut”
Check out the cuttin’ video below.
GET TO THE CHOPPA…!!! 
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I’ve recently gotten back into ASL in a big way and have all of the core modules save for Doomed Battalions. I’m thinking about getting a scan-n-cut just to cut out all of the overlays. I can’t see myself doing this with scissors or a knife.
Any tips or hints, or is it pretty straight forward?
It’s pretty straightforward. The only two tricks are 1) setting the blade depth, 2) setting the offset edge after the scan. Other than that it’s just a matter of feeding tons of overlay sheets into it and let it do its work. If you get one, do some testing before starting real cutting.
Thanks Neal. I realized starting with a a fresh “standard tack” cutting mat was a bad move. To be fair, the instructions say not to use it for “printed paper”, though I thought I would be fine at it says good for “card stock”. I trashed one overlay as its stuck way too firmly. Think I can still scan it and reprint on cardstock then cut. The actual cut process turned out to work really well. Apparently some of the latest blade holders can auto-set the depth.
I’ll report back if it goes well with a “low tack” cutting mat.
Thanks for the idea! Its basically this or no paper overlays for me.
Just follow up here, my advice is to tread carefully :). The Twilight of the Reich Overlays really pull apart (tear) from their backing on the low-tack brother mat. I’m thinking a cutting mat that has been used some is probably more successful.
I know this is well after all the original comments and as such it might never be seen and/or generate a reply. Is this something that a local UPS/FedEx/Staples store might be able to do? Has anyone ever tried it? I have loved how they are able to take my Rules Book, Charts and Chapter H notes and coil bind them. Efficient and fast.
If anyone stumbles across this and replies, I thank you in advance.
Michael
If I were to take a guess, I would say most places don’t have this capability. Not that it’s difficult to do, but that it’s too specialized and wouldn’t make much money.
Thank yo sir. Always appreciate your prompt responses.
You’re welcome!