You can take it to Kinko's or similar service. Many have the ability to print on large format printers.

So I would take in my 8 sheets of paper and ask them to put them all on one and laminate it? The boards that you download on BGG are on 8 sheets of paper. Plus I want to be able to fold it up like the regular boards. Have you done this before?

Look here: http://www.bgdf.com/tiki-index.php?page=Making+Game+Boards

Might I recommend http://www.theposterplace.com/ just send them a pdf/jpg of the board that you want and they will print it on a poster. I've used them to upgrade maps for other games before. What is nice is that you get to pick the size, so if you need extra space (fat fingers ).

Thank you for that website. the one without gutters has great pictures to help me out. Now I just have to find out where I get the chipboard. I do not have enough vises for it but I"ll have to see what kind of weight I can use for it. Thanks so much for that site. I am wondering the best way to go around laminating the board. I see how they used an iron but the heat says it should be really hot so I am new to the laminating system. Thanks for your help. This will be an adventure to figure out how to do the board without cutting it into more pieces than they advised I am a little confused about what is scored and what is cut on the
http://www.bgdf.com/tiki-index.php?page=Making+Game+Boards+W...
Maybe I just need to read through it again.

Thanks again for your help. I would love to see how others have made their boards.

Sith Lord the poster board would be great but the boards that are listed come in 8 sheets of paper so I do not know how that company would put all 8 sheets together on one poster. Any ideas?

Jennifer,
Don't know exactly what the board look like (that you want to print out) but maybe 8 different maps and you could slid them together to make one? At $1.95 a board that price wouldn't be too bad. Then you could always do what the wargamers do, put plexglass over it. Not the perfect solution I know but...

You're welcome!

You can get various kinds of boards at Michael's or ACMoore (craft stores). If you want to do it real cheap-like and portable, you could simply use cardstock although that won't be nearly as nice.

A relatively nice (and simple) alternative to what's shown there: make 4 different pages, one for each quarter of the board; easier to work with. If you'll be doing this (or other crafty stuff for games or other uses) a lot, consider buying a Xyron -- they are fantastic. They have easily exchangeable cartridges that do all kinds of stuff. The relevant cartridge here is the lamination/adhesive one: one side gets laminated, the other is turned into a sticker. So you make your 4 pages, run them through the machine, trim them down to size, then just stick onto your board (taped as shown at the bgdf site) -- voila!

Re: scored vs. cut. Look at a game board if you need to; should help figure out where the backing is cut apart.

The idea of using the Xyron is a great idea. I do not have the 8 1/2 inch one so I would have to go out and buy a bigger size but I think it would be worth it in the long run. Thanks for that idea. I am sure I can use the coupon at the craft store for it. The idea of using card stock is a great idea. I didn't think about that. I could always just print the boards on the card stock then use the xyron. I will give it a try as soon as I get the funds for the xyron. Is there a way to post pictures of my completed board so people can see it later?

I bought my wife the bigger Xyron for a present (birthday?) some time ago for scrapbooking. Lately, though, I've been using it a lot more than she has! It's not terribly expensive, but definitely worth using the 40% or 50% coupons Michael's puts out weekly.

Re: printing right on cardstock. That will work, but the problem will be in creating the hinges: you'll have to tape on the back for all 3 edges instead of front on 2, back on 1. Unless you're willing to tape over your art. Also, you won't be able to laminate and have decent hinges.

Re: pictures. Look in the My Geek tab, at the top of the page. Click Gallery -- you can upload pictures there, then include them in messages (use the image tags) you post.

BTW where in MI are you?

IF I printed on cardstock why wouldn't I be able to laminate it? I thought with the laminating that I could do both sides by running it through the Xyron twice wouldn't that work? Right now my MIL has a laminator so I would just go over there and borrow hers. If I buy a Xyron it will be the one that will hold 9 inch so I can get the entire 8 1/2 x 11 sheet of paper in it. I am still not sure how to do the entire board game with the hinges and stuff I will have to mess around with it.
Thank you for your advice. I hope to be able to run to the craft store soon to try out some of the techniques.

I live in the Grand Rapids are in Michigan. Where are you from?

Yes, you could laminate. And if you get the double-sided lamination cartridge you could just run it through once. The problem is with the hinges: if you laminate, it'll be difficult to stick tape to it (unless you have some really good tape?). Also, tape will cover part of your board. It'll work, just won't be as pretty as if you'd made a board with just the cardstock, then stuck artwork onto it.

I grew up near Detroit.

Update: I just put a board together last night. On cardstock, it doesn't seem to matter -- you CAN tape on one or both sides of the material. Since the cardstock is so thin, the board still folds up relatively well. If you were using something thicker, though, you'd have to tape as shown on the bgdf site.