Share how you modify your Steelbooks here.
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Modifying SteelBooks
- Thread starter Stuntastik30
- Start date
Got a little production line going and finished off the last of mine 
I wish one of you guys would do a step by step guide on how to do this especially the spine. Even better a video
Coronado left some simple step by step instruction but they were over in 'The Thing' thread. Here they are here.
Once again the credit goes to Coronado for the awesome step by steps.
Also, I go The Movie Picture Db to get stills. There are other sources out there but the pictures here very high quality and size.
Thanks jbsolo.
It is a simple step by step.
Other people have different variations of modifying their SteelBooks, and you will find a way that suits you best. If you need specific help when you do your own artwork, I'm sure that myself or any other of the team will help you out.
Good Luck!
It is a simple step by step.
Other people have different variations of modifying their SteelBooks, and you will find a way that suits you best. If you need specific help when you do your own artwork, I'm sure that myself or any other of the team will help you out.
Good Luck!
jbsolo - If we do end up doing any trades im sure some pre-installed artwork could be arranged 
First i should say thanks to however it was that posted the Gimp link and template for the print outs made life so much easier, Thank You
As said in my last post ive done all mine now but saying that i should have In Time arriving at work tomorrow so may be able to do some more pics
I pretty much did exactly as Coronado7 says but just to add a little from my experiences:
Ive found the best place to remove front and rear covers is the parts very closest to the spine, as shown in pic being pointed to by the thin edged wallpaper stripper that i used both to take the covers off (and remove the spine after boiling but we'll come to that!)
You can see in the pics the plastic clips on the inner of the steelbook case, these are what holds the outer and inner together and once you clear the first ones, top and bottom, the outer case tends to clear the rest itself then simply push it outwards from the spine to clear the other end and the metal cover is off Just to add some cases are alot harder to remove than others. Keyword Patience
As for the spine i used the same 'boiling' method but again to add a little, don't be impatient, if the spine isnt loose enough when you first take it out the water put it back in for longer, better than having a bent spine
i tend to leave mine in overly long but when i get them out a simple finger nail beneath one edge then the aforementioned wallpaper stripper slipped under and gently pulled along seems to have worked for me (seems obvious but have a towel ready, these are hot when coming out of simmering water!). I tried the sawing method but it seems to leave lots of little creases for me but that couldnve been not leaving it long enough in the water and being impatient, it only happened once
Also when you remove the spine the glue holding it should simply peel off if not stick it back in the water to loosen it its very important to get all this off especially from the plastic inner casing, if you dont youll see it when you put your new spine back on
Putting the metal outers back on is very simple, slide plastic into casing opening end first then reclip over the plastic clips running along the sides.
Hope that helps and didnt go on to long just remember the key word patience
First i should say thanks to however it was that posted the Gimp link and template for the print outs made life so much easier, Thank You
As said in my last post ive done all mine now but saying that i should have In Time arriving at work tomorrow so may be able to do some more pics
I pretty much did exactly as Coronado7 says but just to add a little from my experiences:
Ive found the best place to remove front and rear covers is the parts very closest to the spine, as shown in pic being pointed to by the thin edged wallpaper stripper that i used both to take the covers off (and remove the spine after boiling but we'll come to that!)
You can see in the pics the plastic clips on the inner of the steelbook case, these are what holds the outer and inner together and once you clear the first ones, top and bottom, the outer case tends to clear the rest itself then simply push it outwards from the spine to clear the other end and the metal cover is off
Just to add some cases are alot harder to remove than others. Keyword PatienceAs for the spine i used the same 'boiling' method but again to add a little, don't be impatient, if the spine isnt loose enough when you first take it out the water put it back in for longer, better than having a bent spine
i tend to leave mine in overly long but when i get them out a simple finger nail beneath one edge then the aforementioned wallpaper stripper slipped under and gently pulled along seems to have worked for me (seems obvious but have a towel ready, these are hot when coming out of simmering water!). I tried the sawing method but it seems to leave lots of little creases for me but that couldnve been not leaving it long enough in the water and being impatient, it only happened once
Also when you remove the spine the glue holding it should simply peel off if not stick it back in the water to loosen it its very important to get all this off especially from the plastic inner casing, if you dont youll see it when you put your new spine back on
Putting the metal outers back on is very simple, slide plastic into casing opening end first then reclip over the plastic clips running along the sides.
Hope that helps and didnt go on to long just remember the key word patience
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I don't know if my pics will help anyone, but this is the aftermath of me trying to disassemble my first steelbook. I didn't soften the glue, I used a credit card to remove the spine panel, and a letter opener and pocket knife to remove the main panels from the top right (of the front panel) and bottom left (of the back panel).
After the spine was removed, these "breaks" appeared from sawing the credit card down an inch at a time. These bends in the spine can not be flattened out =(
After removing the spine and putting it back on, the original glue couldn't hold it in place and the spine would pop out like this.
When removing the front panel, the area I slipped the letter opened through bent the steel a bit. I was able to bent it back in place with my thumb, but it's still noticeable.
For the back panel, I tried using a thinner pocket knife, but this left a small scratch on the inside and still bent the steel a bit.
After the spine was removed, these "breaks" appeared from sawing the credit card down an inch at a time. These bends in the spine can not be flattened out =(
After removing the spine and putting it back on, the original glue couldn't hold it in place and the spine would pop out like this.
When removing the front panel, the area I slipped the letter opened through bent the steel a bit. I was able to bent it back in place with my thumb, but it's still noticeable.
For the back panel, I tried using a thinner pocket knife, but this left a small scratch on the inside and still bent the steel a bit.
IdeaOfEvil said:
- This is why you need to soften the glue with a heat gun or use the boiling as described in the walkthrough. You should also use something that's narrower than a credit card & take it real slow.
- Then you must remove the glue residue & reapply new; I use clear drying rubber cement, but some just use a glue stick.
- It's not advisable to ever remove something metal with another metal object; it scratches. Try using something that's plastic & flexible.
- Lastly; patience is key with any modification. If something is causing you problems then stop to think & try a different mode of attack rather than continuing stubbornly.
:eek: think those pics emphasise the need to soften the glue and my keyword patience
Still sorry to see that IdeaOfEvil
Still sorry to see that IdeaOfEvil
I don't mind this being my first trial and error steelbook, especially since the spine had the French wording that was flipped around and not matching my other steelbook spines.
What has me worried is that I'm trying to learn how to do this to give my Drive steelbook interior art, but I definitely won't want to ruin that one and I don't have any other steels in my collection to practice on...
What has me worried is that I'm trying to learn how to do this to give my Drive steelbook interior art, but I definitely won't want to ruin that one and I don't have any other steels in my collection to practice on...
I made my Matrix Blu-ray Steelbook a Trilogy:
Blu-devil, that looks awesome. Which steelbook did you cannibalize to get the incert? I just might try this.
I don't know if my pics will help anyone, but this is the aftermath of me trying to disassemble my first steelbook. I didn't soften the glue, I used a credit card to remove the spine panel, and a letter opener and pocket knife to remove the main panels from the top right (of the front panel) and bottom left (of the back panel).
After the spine was removed, these "breaks" appeared from sawing the credit card down an inch at a time. These bends in the spine can not be flattened out =(
After removing the spine and putting it back on, the original glue couldn't hold it in place and the spine would pop out like this.
When removing the front panel, the area I slipped the letter opened through bent the steel a bit. I was able to bent it back in place with my thumb, but it's still noticeable.
For the back panel, I tried using a thinner pocket knife, but this left a small scratch on the inside and still bent the steel a bit.
Leave the case with spine in very hot soapy water, that will loosen the glue holding the spine.
Never force a panel off. If you feel that it really wont come off, leave it on.
---------- Post added at 09:00 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:57 PM ----------
Blu-devil, that looks awesome. Which Steelbook did you cannibalize to get the insert? I just might try this.
I have half a dozen spare frames laying around from various damaged Steelbooks received over time.
Very nice Blu-devil makes me wish i had them to do it!
Anyway ive been asked how i use the templates, thanks to whoever uploaded it in the first place but heres my little tutorial
Ive uploaded the templates
standard is here: http://wm58.inbox.com/thumbs/41_21d04a_4b8f5a64_oP.png.thumb
double size is here: http://wm58.inbox.com/thumbs/40_21d04b_ca1f3b46_oP.png.thumb
Open template and pic for inside in gimp
On pic if you need to crop it select top left button in toolbox and drag over area to trim. Then go to image tab at the top and 'crop to selection'
Next you need to scale the pic to fit the template. Select the scale tool on the toolbox (4th down on the left) and click on the pic. It will open a new box. You need to make the image the same size as the template (783x483 for standard template 1566x966 for double size)theres a little lock icon next to the pixel numbers in the box click on this to 'unlock' it so as you can scale it both ways. I tend to use the double size template to keep the resolution then print at 50%.
When scaled go to the edit tab and click 'copy'.
Change to the template and go to the select tab and click 'by colour' and left click anywhere on the black area of the template (it will start having a dotted line moving all around the black area)
Go to the edit tab and click 'paste into' and you should see your image then replace the black area.
Then its just a simple case of saving as a jpeg ready to print, standard template at 100% double at 50%.
PS. did my in time yesterday, wasnt going to post it here (already on the boards twice! but i like it)
Anyway ive been asked how i use the templates, thanks to whoever uploaded it in the first place but heres my little tutorial
Ive uploaded the templates
standard is here: http://wm58.inbox.com/thumbs/41_21d04a_4b8f5a64_oP.png.thumb
double size is here: http://wm58.inbox.com/thumbs/40_21d04b_ca1f3b46_oP.png.thumb
Open template and pic for inside in gimp
On pic if you need to crop it select top left button in toolbox and drag over area to trim. Then go to image tab at the top and 'crop to selection'
Next you need to scale the pic to fit the template. Select the scale tool on the toolbox (4th down on the left) and click on the pic. It will open a new box. You need to make the image the same size as the template (783x483 for standard template 1566x966 for double size)theres a little lock icon next to the pixel numbers in the box click on this to 'unlock' it so as you can scale it both ways. I tend to use the double size template to keep the resolution then print at 50%.
When scaled go to the edit tab and click 'copy'.
Change to the template and go to the select tab and click 'by colour' and left click anywhere on the black area of the template (it will start having a dotted line moving all around the black area)
Go to the edit tab and click 'paste into' and you should see your image then replace the black area.
Then its just a simple case of saving as a jpeg ready to print, standard template at 100% double at 50%.
PS. did my in time yesterday, wasnt going to post it here (already on the boards twice! but i like it
)
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Here are a few i have done recently.
Jumbo's to normal size:
Up (FS)
Monsters, Inc (BB)
JP (GER)
Fight Club (DE)
Cars 2 (UK) swapped over to single case.
Jumbo's to normal size:
Up (FS)
Monsters, Inc (BB)
JP (GER)
Fight Club (DE)
Cars 2 (UK) swapped over to single case.
Here are a few i have done recently.
Jumbo's to normal size:
Up (FS)
Monsters, Inc (BB)
JP (GER)
Fight Club (DE)
Cars 2 (UK) swapped over to single case.
The colours on those is amazing! Loving the Pixar ones especially
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