Modifying Steelbooks

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Converting Jumbos to Slimlines

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I've been thinking about modifying some of my steelbooks. Mainly because some came with two discs but only have one slot. The other disc comes in a paper sleave.

Two of the Pirates of the Caribbean steelbooks came like this and the Nightmare Before Christmas came in the opposite way, Case with two slots, but one bluray disc. It be great if I could switch them, then I got to find another plastc caseing with 2 slots for the other one. Also I wonder how I could switch the spine sticker labels without damaging them?

Does the bluray size steelbook of Michael Jacksons This is it have one or two slots. The American release came with 2 bluray so I may need to gut that too.

Should I do this or not? Or is there an easier way?

UPDATE!! I Figured it out!!!

I successfully swapped steelbook cases without using any boiling remedies or store bought label remover.

I became worried curious about the spine label and decided to scarifies one of my steelbooks and attempt to peel off the label by hand, and I mad a very promising discovery... THE LABEL IS MADE OF METAL!

I assumed this might be the case so that's what made me check.

I will show you step my step my modifying process. Try at your own risk

  Spoiler:  

1) Here are the two steelbook cases: The Nightmare Before Christmas and Pirates of the Caribbean Dead Mans Chest.



2) As you can see both have the wrong plastic inner casing Nightmare only needs one disc holder and Pirates needs two. Disc two of Dead Mans Chest comes in a paper sleeve. "Curse of the Black Pearl comes like this as well.



3) this pic is a little blurry but as soon as you open The Nightmare Before Christmas steelbook you'll see this little sticker that says " This Product Is Only Meant To Contain One Disc" so not to scare consumers thinking they got shafted by Disney or something.

My theory is that Disney decided to not include the digital copy that came with the original bluray case, But it was too late to change the 2 disc steelbook cases because they made the decision after they had already ordered the cases. If I'm wrong, doesn't matter I'm just thinking out loud

anyway im going off subject, lets continue



4) Cases with labels still attached.



5) Notice that the spine label is stiff DO NOT PULL ON LABEL!!! you'll risk putting a bend crease in the metal label. This is how I found out what the sticker label was really made out of and immediately stopped. luckily I didn't damage it.



6) Find something hard and thin. I happen to have a plastic sheet from a previous project but you could use a card or something.

(Beware you could Damage your Credit/Bank card so use something that you wont care about if it gets messed up.)

Put the plastic sheet under the label and gently pull down. slide the plastic sheet side to side if you have to.

After you got the label off you'll notice its still sticky. place it upside down on the table and repeat, peeling the label of the other case.

stick the labels on the opposite cases, careful not to put them on upside down. the adhesive is still sticky so labels should re attach no problem.

apply pressure and rub the label up and down until It feels secure.

(sorry i don't have any pictures of this I was worried that the adhesive would loose its stickiness so I did it quickly.)



7) Voila! pure miss match. Labels are now switched.

Time to switch the plastic internals.



8) Gently slide a card between the top part of the case. (Warning card may get damage use one you are not using.)



9) Slide it Towards the spine gently popping out the plastic.



10) continue to lift and shimmy out the plastic case. careful not to break the little plastic pieces that allows you to snap it in and out of the metal face



11) there you go, metal removed.



12) hopefully you got to this step without breaking anything.



13) follow the same process for the other case.



14) a completely dismantled set of steelbooks. Time to bring it all together.

Steelbooks Assemble!!!



15) Simply slide the metal facing back in place and snap in.



16) gently push down around the edges making sure everything has popped back in place.



17) done



18) and done



19) don't forget to rip off that damn sticker of doom.









20) Balance is restored.



21) But not complete



22) I still need to do "Curse of the Black Pearl". Problem is I don't have a 2 disc steelbook to switch with. so i may have to purchase a steelbook simply to use the inner plastic case. unless there's another 2 dics steelbook out there with this mix up?

Hope this helps anyone. it sure cleared my nit picking mind.

Templates

  Spoiler:  

A lot of people have been asking where the template files are, so I put them up on my DropBox. Just use your graphics software to insert your image into the template. Personally I use Photoshop. The power of Photoshop is unmatched by any other software that I know of. I use the small one to create my inside artwork, I've never used the large one.
Small


Large


-AcIdC0R3

Photoshop Instructions

  Spoiler:  

Open up Photoshop.
Drag or open your template into Photoshop.
Also open the photo or backdrop you want to use into Photoshop.
Go back to your template and select 'Magic Wand' and while holding Shift select each of the three black boxes.
Go back to your backdrop and click 'Ctrl+A' to select it and then 'Ctrl+C' to copy it.
Go back to your template and click on 'Edit' and drill down until you see 'Paste Special' and then select 'Paste Into'.
This will only use the selected regions to place the picture into them.
Next select the 'Move' tool and also tick on 'Show Transform Controls' and then drag and form your picture just how you want it inside the black area filling it completely.
Once you have it all set save it as a .PNG file.

It should come out looking like this but only with your image.


-AcIdC0R3

Printing Your Template

  Spoiler:  

I don't know how others prepare to print there loaded templates but this is how I prepare mine. In case anybody else wants to follow suit feel free to do so.

Now that you have your template image we can proceed on how to print it using just the Windows Photo Viewer.


Next double click the template and open it into Windows Photo Viewer and select 'Print' and then 'Print' again in the upper left corner.


In the window that opens uncheck 'Fit Picture to Frame', this way it won't stretch your template and maintain aspect ratio. Next click 'Options'.


In the window that opens click 'Printer Properties'.


This should bring up your printer properties. Depending on the brand of printer that you own they may look slightly different. On the Main tab make sure 'Borders' is ticked on. We don't want Borderless Printing. Also choose your photo paper quality, size and landscape mode. Choose either 'Photo' or 'Best Photo'. I found that Best Photo used too much ink and produced streaking so I went with Photo. If you have a lower resolution image like if your image is under 120dpi I would check on 'Fix Photo' as this will optimize color levels making your print more vivid with color and detail. Next click 'OK' and then click 'Print'. Your resulting image should now print with the parameters you chose.


Some setting may be a little different than these depending on what type of printer and version of printer properties you have. By choosing similar options depending on your printer type should yield you the same results if not very close to what these are. You may need to print a few copies until you get your setting just the way you want them.

If you have any questions feel free to ask.

-AcIdC0R3

[PS3_Kiwi]

Great work guys. Love that Smokin' Aces Zesty

[posty01]

yeah i like that smokin aces,lets keep um comin guys! ive still got a few to do and will post them when there ready.

[posty01]

looks like its been a bit quite on the custom inside art lately so ive done a few more!Im quite fond of the VAN HELSING + done something a little different for TOP GUN but see what you think!!

[Astaldo]

Looks great posty01, really tempted to try for myself..

[AcIdC0R3]

Here's two I just did this past hour. I guess it takes about 30 minutes a steelbook.

Casino


The Fast and the Furious

[zesty]

Nice work AcIdC0R3

Guess this means your printers turned up and we can expect a few more

[AcIdC0R3]

Yep, I already have a couple more printed up, I just have to wait until after work today to remove the spine and then get them set in place.

[posty01]

Originally Posted by Astaldo

Looks great posty01, really tempted to try for myself..

thanks mate,you should give it a go all you need is a bit of patience!! It really is worth transforming those boring blank steels. All the info you need is on here on how to do it. Make sure you post your end results on the forum and join the gang!!

[AcIdC0R3]

Here's a couple more. Man that steelbook plastic insert picks up my tripod reflection. Need to find a better angle.

2 Fast 2 Furious


Gladiator

[cooey]

I dunno if I could ever try this..... I could just guarantee I'd break something

[Exciter3780]

Here's maybe a dumb question... does anyone know the cheapest SB to purchase with either 2 or 3 disc holders, so that i can just use the inner casings for replacements?

[bcdavis9958]

Originally Posted by AcIdC0R3

Here's a couple more. Man that steelbook plastic insert picks up my tripod reflection. Need to find a better angle.

2 Fast 2 Furious


Gladiator

Really nice job on Gladiator!

[AcIdC0R3]

Originally Posted by bcdavis9958

Really nice job on Gladiator!

Thanks bro.

[Drum18]

Those looks awesome! Way to go Acid! `

Would like to see the entire F&F franchise next to each other!

[AcIdC0R3]

Originally Posted by Drum18

Those looks awesome! Way to go Acid! `

Would like to see the entire F&F franchise next to each other!

I'm in the process of working on that. I'll display them all together when I finish them.
Thank for compliment.

[posty01]

Originally Posted by Exciter3780

Here's maybe a dumb question... does anyone know the cheapest SB to purchase with either 2 or 3 disc holders, so that i can just use the inner casings for replacements?

i think you can still get the expendables uk SB which is a 3 disc holder for £7.99 off amazon + play.com (i used this to do my jurassic park trilogy)

[Exciter3780]

Originally Posted by posty01

i think you can still get the expendables uk SB which is a 3 disc holder for £7.99 off amazon + play.com (i used this to do my jurassic park trilogy)

yeah, i saw that on amazon. seems to be the cheapest one to get at the moment. definitely more feasible to to get several in order to save on shipping! thanks.

[Jadakin]

that's awesome