Share how you modify your Steelbooks here.
Last edited by a moderator:
Modifying SteelBooks
- Thread starter Stuntastik30
- Start date
My one is a crap £25 from tesco's so no you don't but it dose help to get a good one so the photos look better
I need help finding the correct paper size to use. Here's my problem:
I have two templates, one U.S. sized and one U.K. sized. The U.S. template squeezes the three panel pieces (left, center, right) closer together because the paper size is smaller at about 8.5x11. The U.K. template size is a tiny bit larger and can fit the image with the proper gap proportions because their paper sheets are 8.5x12.
Since I'm in the U.S., the only paper I can find are A3 8.5x11 sheets that are just a smidge too short to print out correctly sized panel pieces. What's going on is that the U.S. template is off by about 2/16ths of an inch on the center spine gaps because the template squeezes the panels together to fit everything on the 8.5x11 size paper. So when you print it out and cut it up the image the lines don't match up because the 4/16th gap of the actual steel book was shortened by the printer to 2/16ths.
(I know I'm posting idiots math, but I'm doing it to hopefully make things clearer to anyone outside the U.S. that might not know fractions of inches clearly)
Case in point:
Batman Begins design, first the U.S. template and then the U.K. template:
You can see the gap difference between the two. Now, if you can see (with the crappy photo below) how the print out actually came together using the U.S. template, the ear in the center panel section doesn't line up with the left panel section. It's because the U.S. template shortens the gap to fit all the panels on a 8.5x11 sheet of paper while the steelbook has a wider gap which the U.K. template correctly accounts for:
So, I need longer U.K. paper that can fit the larger template image so that my print outs won't be misaligned. Does anyone know where I can find longer 8.5x12 A4 paper for sale that will ship to the U.S.?
I have two templates, one U.S. sized and one U.K. sized. The U.S. template squeezes the three panel pieces (left, center, right) closer together because the paper size is smaller at about 8.5x11. The U.K. template size is a tiny bit larger and can fit the image with the proper gap proportions because their paper sheets are 8.5x12.
Since I'm in the U.S., the only paper I can find are A3 8.5x11 sheets that are just a smidge too short to print out correctly sized panel pieces. What's going on is that the U.S. template is off by about 2/16ths of an inch on the center spine gaps because the template squeezes the panels together to fit everything on the 8.5x11 size paper. So when you print it out and cut it up the image the lines don't match up because the 4/16th gap of the actual steel book was shortened by the printer to 2/16ths.
(I know I'm posting idiots math, but I'm doing it to hopefully make things clearer to anyone outside the U.S. that might not know fractions of inches clearly)
Case in point:
Batman Begins design, first the U.S. template and then the U.K. template:
You can see the gap difference between the two. Now, if you can see (with the crappy photo below) how the print out actually came together using the U.S. template, the ear in the center panel section doesn't line up with the left panel section. It's because the U.S. template shortens the gap to fit all the panels on a 8.5x11 sheet of paper while the steelbook has a wider gap which the U.K. template correctly accounts for:
So, I need longer U.K. paper that can fit the larger template image so that my print outs won't be misaligned. Does anyone know where I can find longer 8.5x12 A4 paper for sale that will ship to the U.S.?
Did teo more today the first was Lopper Uk and the other The Fast And The Furious. I think i'm geting better at it next step the better steelbooks
Ha, love the F&F one!
I need help finding the correct paper size to use. Here's my problem:
I have two templates, one U.S. sized and one U.K. sized. The U.S. template squeezes the three panel pieces (left, center, right) closer together because the paper size is smaller at about 8.5x11. The U.K. template size is a tiny bit larger and can fit the image with the proper gap proportions because their paper sheets are 8.5x12.
Since I'm in the U.S., the only paper I can find are A3 8.5x11 sheets that are just a smidge too short to print out correctly sized panel pieces. What's going on is that the U.S. template is off by about 2/16ths of an inch on the center spine gaps because the template squeezes the panels together to fit everything on the 8.5x11 size paper. So when you print it out and cut it up the image the lines don't match up because the 4/16th gap of the actual steel book was shortened by the printer to 2/16ths.
(I know I'm posting idiots math, but I'm doing it to hopefully make things clearer to anyone outside the U.S. that might not know fractions of inches clearly)
Case in point:
Batman Begins design, first the U.S. template and then the U.K. template:
You can see the gap difference between the two. Now, if you can see (with the crappy photo below) how the print out actually came together using the U.S. template, the ear in the center panel section doesn't line up with the left panel section. It's because the U.S. template shortens the gap to fit all the panels on a 8.5x11 sheet of paper while the steelbook has a wider gap which the U.K. template correctly accounts for:
So, I need longer U.K. paper that can fit the larger template image so that my print outs won't be misaligned. Does anyone know where I can find longer 8.5x12 A4 paper for sale that will ship to the U.S.?
I don't seem to have that issue and I use regular 8.5x11 too. See...
Look at the angel in the center. With the two voids on either side of the spine if they were to be filled they would line up correctly and proportionally.
It must be a setting on your printer.
That's so weird. Every printout I've done came out with uneven line-ups. Maybe your template is correcting for the gap issue that mine isn't?? I really don't know. I guess I could try modifying the template, but that's going to be such a pain of trial and error prints that's gonna cost me a lot of ink =/
Where did you get your templates from? Try downloading the ones from the OP that I've provided for everyone.
I'm not entirely sure the problems you are having with the paper size, here is a print out using the US template.
As you see it is not edge to edge on the page and I use the template from the OP. But honestly I do think there is a computer to computer or printer to printer issue as my biggest problem with the template is that the spine was always short so I modified the template myself to maake it a little larger
As you see it is not edge to edge on the page and I use the template from the OP. But honestly I do think there is a computer to computer or printer to printer issue as my biggest problem with the template is that the spine was always short so I modified the template myself to maake it a little larger
Last edited by a moderator:
So, try this out. Line up the print out image with an opened steelbook lying just above it. Are the gaps between the spine image and the left and right panels the same distances from each other? If you cut the print out up, you'll be spreading the spine and the left/right panels farther away from each other than how it was printed because the actual steelbook gap is larger. So horizontal elements of your picture, say like the right shoulder of the Spartan connecting the spine and right image, are going to be misaligned because you had to distance the pieces from each other that the template didn't account for.
not really for me, you can se some actuals of mine on page 33 and 34 of this thread, they line up, look at the dark KNight especially and the sign in book of eli.
There is give in the templates to properly align them
There is give in the templates to properly align them
I know it's not much of a modification, but bear with me. It's my first success with a spine (or in this case, two spines) involved.
I really like both the Lion King and Tron Steelbooks, but they each had an issue that, for me, called for a swap.
(pre-swap)
(after the swap with the spines affixed)
(inside post-op)
The reason I did it is that Tron came with a digital copy disc. I hated that 3rd disc and it also have the undesired effect of leaving all the inside artwork covered. SO, I junked it and swapped with Lion King.
Why Lion King? Well, as you can see in the photos, I wanted to add the disc for 1 1/2 in there as I don't see it ever getting a steelbook release. At first, I was just going to get rid of one of the LK discs, but it was hard to choose which. In the end, I solved the issue with a case swap!
FYI - for the spines, I used a hair dryer on high to heat up the steel portion and then it just peeled right off. Also made reapplication onto the other case a breeze as the glue was still really nice and soft!
I really like both the Lion King and Tron Steelbooks, but they each had an issue that, for me, called for a swap.
(pre-swap)
(after the swap with the spines affixed)
(inside post-op)
The reason I did it is that Tron came with a digital copy disc. I hated that 3rd disc and it also have the undesired effect of leaving all the inside artwork covered. SO, I junked it and swapped with Lion King.
Why Lion King? Well, as you can see in the photos, I wanted to add the disc for 1 1/2 in there as I don't see it ever getting a steelbook release. At first, I was just going to get rid of one of the LK discs, but it was hard to choose which. In the end, I solved the issue with a case swap!
FYI - for the spines, I used a hair dryer on high to heat up the steel portion and then it just peeled right off. Also made reapplication onto the other case a breeze as the glue was still really nice and soft!
Quick question as I'd like to start printing my own inside artwork... what weight paper do people use for printing their inside and spine artwork on?
I'm assuming as thin as possible - certainly for the spine anyway? But is there a certain weight in particular that people are experiencing good results with?
I'm assuming as thin as possible - certainly for the spine anyway? But is there a certain weight in particular that people are experiencing good results with?
hey guys. this is my first time attempting at customizing. I have a few questions that I hope you can answer.
I have the template ready on gimp, as I do not have photoshop. Now, where should I take it to get it printed in the USA? I've never printed anything at a printing store so I'm kinda clueless. What should I tell them once I get there (what kind of paper, printing style etc). Should I convert it to pdf and bring in a flash drive? Lastly how much would one print cost?
I have the template ready on gimp, as I do not have photoshop. Now, where should I take it to get it printed in the USA? I've never printed anything at a printing store so I'm kinda clueless. What should I tell them once I get there (what kind of paper, printing style etc). Should I convert it to pdf and bring in a flash drive? Lastly how much would one print cost?
Can you buy different plastic inserts?
Sorry if this has been asked/answered here before, but I am wondering if it is possible to purchase different inserts for the steelbooks (ie. that hold different numbers of discs).
Reason being, I've got a few steels that are single disc, but I have the 3D disc separate, for example, and would like to have it inside the steelbook.
I know it is possible to possibly swap holders between cases, but this presumes you have the right combination of holders; and you risk damaging more steels by having to swap out more inserts.
For steels that have both blu and DVD, I just remove the (useless) DVD and put in the 3D disc, but one-disc holders obviously don't provide this option.
I considered buying the stick on center wheels to put in the one-disc cases, but there seem to be varying opinions on the quality/durability of these. Is this the only alternative? Does nobody make the full inserts with varying numbers of disc slots?
Sorry if this has been asked/answered here before, but I am wondering if it is possible to purchase different inserts for the steelbooks (ie. that hold different numbers of discs).
Reason being, I've got a few steels that are single disc, but I have the 3D disc separate, for example, and would like to have it inside the steelbook.
I know it is possible to possibly swap holders between cases, but this presumes you have the right combination of holders; and you risk damaging more steels by having to swap out more inserts.
For steels that have both blu and DVD, I just remove the (useless) DVD and put in the 3D disc, but one-disc holders obviously don't provide this option.
I considered buying the stick on center wheels to put in the one-disc cases, but there seem to be varying opinions on the quality/durability of these. Is this the only alternative? Does nobody make the full inserts with varying numbers of disc slots?
I inserted some inner artwork for my US batman begins and dark knight bestbuy steelbooks:
Batman Begins:
The Dark Knight:
Batman Begins:
The Dark Knight:
I need a bit of help please. I'm trying to do some of my own inside artwork, I downloaded the trial version of photoshop from here https://creative.adobe.com/products/photoshop?promoid=GWQTB and installed it. It opens up on the creative cloud but I can't actually launch photoshop. I click on the editor logo but it just takes me back to the website. Any ideas as to why this is happening and if I'm doing something wrong?
Edit: Sorted it
Edit: Sorted it
Last edited:
Wow, awesome thread! Great pics!....
Similar threads
