Share how you modify your Steelbooks here.
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Modifying SteelBooks
- Thread starter Stuntastik30
- Start date
Where can I find A4 sized glossy paper in the USA? I went to b&m stores like Office Max, Office Depot, and Staples and couldn't find any that size, and Best Buy doesn't list anything that size on their website...
Do I have to import this kind of sized paper or something?
Do I have to import this kind of sized paper or something?
Amazon is your friend bro. Try THIS paper. I use something sort of like this but mine is either Kodak or Epson. HP make paper just as good though so no worries.
How is that paper A4 if it's still 8.5 x 11? When I print out test images on my A3 8.5 x 11 paper, the image gets cut off because the paper isn't long enough *shrugs*
Your looking for inserts for the shells of the steelbook correct? I use a 8.5" x 11" and mine are perfect fit. Make sure that you don't 'Fit Picture to Frame' and you 'print with borders' and they come out exactly the correct size. Use the template in THIS post to get everything ready.
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.
First have your blank template, you can take this one if you like.
Next you load your photo into the template. I will not go into how this is done as there are already instructions earlier in this thread on how to do so.
Next open up your loaded template 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. On the Main tab make sure 'Borders' is ticked on. 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.
If you have any questions feel free to ask.
First have your blank template, you can take this one if you like.
Next you load your photo into the template. I will not go into how this is done as there are already instructions earlier in this thread on how to do so.
Next open up your loaded template 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. On the Main tab make sure 'Borders' is ticked on. 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.
If you have any questions feel free to ask.
Re done, properly this time
nice work mate, think i might have to add this to my wants list.
P.S. can you send me a link to the original art work?
Thanks for the posts AcId! I'm a photoshop user, so I'm having problems figuring out the Gimp program.
I'm just running in to roadblocks on all ends, whether it be finding A4 sized paper to use with the Photoshop template from Germany or understanding Gimp to use with your tutorial =/
I'm just running in to roadblocks on all ends, whether it be finding A4 sized paper to use with the Photoshop template from Germany or understanding Gimp to use with your tutorial =/
Why use Gimp when you have something as powerful as Photoshop? I use nothing but Photoshop and it gets me everywhere I need to go. Not everybody has Photoshop so a lot of users use Gimp. But if you have it, use it. My instructions above were for a finished template dealing with just printer settings and such. What are you having trouble with and I'll try and help?
Heh, ok. I thought your instructions were for Gimp specifically, so I was confused trying to go through it while at the same time trying to figure out how to use Gimp. I'll try using Photoshop now and seeing what I can do, and I'll ask here if I get stuck
Okay, so a few days later and I've done five custom interiors =) At first I was prepping the cases by using Goof Off to remove the glue, but that messed the spines and cases up a little, so I started warming the glue up longer in front of my space heater and simply peeled off the older adhesive. Then I was using glue sticks to paste on the spine artwork, but it altered the color of the paper compared to the inserts on the panels without glue, so I ended up using roll on glue tape.
So, in order from my first to last, top to bottom, you can see the rough start I had to the final one and what I'm thinking looks pretty nice. Still, I'm having problems really getting the center spine image aligned correctly and I can't figure out why the images look off like they do *shrugs*
Using Goof Off and glue sticks
Using glue sticks
Using roll on glue tape
So, in order from my first to last, top to bottom, you can see the rough start I had to the final one and what I'm thinking looks pretty nice. Still, I'm having problems really getting the center spine image aligned correctly and I can't figure out why the images look off like they do *shrugs*
Using Goof Off and glue sticks
Using glue sticks
Using roll on glue tape
Actually I think you did a fantastic job. They all look really good. As for placement of the spine art try using double sided clear tape. Once you get it placed lay another layer of tape over the back of your spine artwork and then place the outside hard spine over it. I find that this works very well and you don't have to mess with all that messy glue. You can get that tape at Walmart. Once again nice work. 
Also this is just me but it's not always possible but I try finding artwork that has the majority of art on the left and the other on the right. Whole pictures still but with minimal art work along the spine this way your not cutting through the major artwork for the spine.
Also this is just me but it's not always possible but I try finding artwork that has the majority of art on the left and the other on the right. Whole pictures still but with minimal art work along the spine this way your not cutting through the major artwork for the spine.
I agree. I also try to get the main artwork on the left (doesn't really matter if its a three disc insert)
I think it looks a little messy when the artwork is cut in half by the spine.
Having said that, good on you IdeaOfEvil for having a go Its a good effort.
Actually I think you did a fantastic job. They all look really good. As for placement of the spine art try using double sided clear tape. Once you get it placed lay another layer of tape over the back of your spine artwork and then place the outside hard spine over it. I find that this works very well and you don't have to mess with all that messy glue. You can get that tape at Walmart. Once again nice work.
Also this is just me but it's not always possible but I try finding artwork that has the majority of art on the left and the other on the right. Whole pictures still but with minimal art work along the spine this way your not cutting through the major artwork for the spine.
Thanks for the good comments and all the help you've given out in this thread alone
It'd be great if the OP would edit the first post and collect specific post's "How to's" so people don;t have to sift through all 450+ posts in this thread to find out what they need to do if they want to try making their own inserts.Also, when I say I'm having issues with the spine art, it's not that I can't get it on straight on the case, it's that the art doesn't align with the other panels even though I've cut them pretty exact out of the paper.
Look at Batman Begins' spine. His ear is out of alignment with the left panel's head, and there's no reason why it should be. The image was aligned before being printed, the image was aligned after it printed, and yet when I put it all together it's raised too high and I have no idea what went wrong. If I woulda dropped the spine art down there would have been a gap left at the top and excess left at the bottom. It's odd, but now that I don't have any more blank steels (anymore blank steels that I'm willing to open) I have nothing to practice with anymore =/
In any case, I like the images I used a lot EXCEPT for the Matrix one. I couldn't really find a cool image to use, so I tried combining two and I'm 50/50 on if I like it or not. I kinda like keeping the art more centered just cuz you can only really see it all without the disc inside and once that happens things start looking off balance when you;ve got everyone on one panel and not the other... That's just me
As for lining up left and right art with the spine art is a little tricky and takes a few goes at it to find a technique that's right for you. I've found that if I leave about 1 mm play on the top and bottom of the picture so they have a little room to move up or down within the shells that I have enough to shift to where I need them to go and the plastic insert covers the gaps at the top and bottom.
Work left to right, placing your left side picture first then the center and finally the right side. This way helped me to line them up just right. If you place your left and right first and then try lining up your spine your going to have a very difficult time trying to line things up.
As for the Matrix, hrm... I wouldn't use Matrix code as it's way over done as artwork for just about everything. I would instead use the scene where Morpheus is handing the red and blue pills and you can see Neo in his glasses. I would use the bridge of his nose as the spine work.
Another couple of scenes I might use would be the Trinty Kick at the beginning of the movie or even a few scenes from the sparring session between Morpheus and Neo after he says 'I know Kung fu'.
Another good scene would be the fight between Neo and the agent on the rooftop where Neo is bending backwards trying to avoid being shot.
Just kind of throwing stuff out there in case you want to redo it.
Work left to right, placing your left side picture first then the center and finally the right side. This way helped me to line them up just right. If you place your left and right first and then try lining up your spine your going to have a very difficult time trying to line things up.
As for the Matrix, hrm... I wouldn't use Matrix code as it's way over done as artwork for just about everything. I would instead use the scene where Morpheus is handing the red and blue pills and you can see Neo in his glasses. I would use the bridge of his nose as the spine work.
Another couple of scenes I might use would be the Trinty Kick at the beginning of the movie or even a few scenes from the sparring session between Morpheus and Neo after he says 'I know Kung fu'.
Another good scene would be the fight between Neo and the agent on the rooftop where Neo is bending backwards trying to avoid being shot.
Just kind of throwing stuff out there in case you want to redo it.
Nice work IdeaOfEvil
With your lining up problem, when you do your templates are you cutting the spine from the pic then moving it across for the spine or are you cutting some of the pic away?
You need to cut some of the pic away to make it 'look' correct as there is a gap between the spine and the case and that needs to be removed from the pic. Thats what it looks like to me anyway you can get an idea from the pic below (its also what AcIdC0R3 was refering to I think) feel free to use it it was one of my options when I did mine
Damn just realised Ive ruined my perfect post/thanked ratio!!
With your lining up problem, when you do your templates are you cutting the spine from the pic then moving it across for the spine or are you cutting some of the pic away?
You need to cut some of the pic away to make it 'look' correct as there is a gap between the spine and the case and that needs to be removed from the pic. Thats what it looks like to me anyway you can get an idea from the pic below (its also what AcIdC0R3 was refering to I think) feel free to use it it was one of my options when I did mine
Damn just realised Ive ruined my perfect post/thanked ratio!!
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