Custom Arcade Topper Printing and Laser Cutting in Brisbane

At Prolab, we love helping clients bring unique display projects back to life. This custom Virtua Cop arcade topper gave us the perfect opportunity to combine artwork reproduction, specialist printing, spot white ink, clear acrylic, and laser cutting into one finished piece.

The client wanted to recreate a retro arcade topper for a Virtua Cop machine. Original arcade artwork can be difficult to source, especially when the original part is no longer available, so our team worked from the best available supplied images and online reference material to rebuild the artwork at the correct size. The final topper measured 761 x 400 mm, matching the original listed dimensions.

Recreating the Arcade Artwork

Before production, our team prepared a digital reproduction of the original Virtua Cop topper artwork. We rebuilt the design to suit the final output size and supplied artwork proofs for client approval.

This proofing stage allowed the client to check the artwork, confirm the layout, and approve how the print would be produced before we moved into final production.

Printing with Spot White Ink on Clear Acrylic

This project required more than a standard print. To replicate the original arcade topper style, we removed the white background areas so the finished piece would retain a transparent look.

We also prepared a spot white ink channel behind the printed areas. This white backing helps the colour artwork hold strength and opacity when printed onto clear material. Without this layer, colour can appear washed out or too transparent, especially on clear acrylic.

The client received two proofs before production:

The full artwork at final size
The spot white channel, showing where white ink would sit behind the printed image

This process gave the client a clear understanding of how the transparent and printed areas would work together.

Clear Acrylic for a Retro Arcade Finish

For the final substrate, we recommended clear acrylic as the best option for the arcade topper. Acrylic gives the piece the rigidity, clarity, and polished appearance needed for display use.

We discussed both 4.5 mm clear acrylic and 6 mm clear acrylic, depending on the required feel and stiffness. The final result produced a clean, professional arcade-style display panel that still retained the nostalgic character of the original topper.

Precision Laser Cutting

Once the artwork and print setup were approved, we produced and laser cut the topper to shape. Laser cutting allowed us to follow the custom profile of the artwork accurately, including the shaped top edge and cut-out areas.

This made the finished piece feel much closer to an original arcade component rather than a flat rectangular sign.

A Finished Custom Arcade Display Piece

The completed Virtua Cop topper came up really well. The colour print, transparent areas, spot white backing, and laser-cut shape worked together to create a bold retro gaming display piece ready for collection.

Projects like this show how Prolab can support clients with more than standard photographic printing. We can help with custom acrylic printing, display fabrication, laser-cut signage, arcade artwork reproduction, and specialist one-off print projects.

Need Custom Acrylic Printing or Display Fabrication?

Prolab works with artists, collectors, businesses, designers, and private clients across Brisbane and Australia. Whether you need a one-off display panel, replacement signage, custom acrylic printing, or a specialist reproduction project, our team can help guide the process from artwork preparation through to final production.

Contact Prolab to discuss your next custom printing or display project.