Custom Cover Art Thread

[jk1138]

Originally Posted by binarymelon

I use HP brochure paper.

Where do you buy it?

[Trean]

Originally Posted by dv8pdx

ditto

Well that should end that discussion on paper type, now for some more specifics.


dv8 or binary:
Could you get more specific for those looking to purchase paper? Is it glossy or matte? What letter size of paper? Maybe a link to it at Amazon.com or another office supply store?

If I had to guess I would say, HP Brochure Paper, Glossy, Letter A Size.

[KingLeonidas300]

What type of printer will produce the best results?

[YodasFootPowder]

I prefer any kind of semi-gloss paper. Flat paper is, well, too flat, and glossy paper is just too shiny. I find that semi-gloss looks closest to the real Blu-ray covers. At least for me.

I have a Lexmark X7675 that prints out fantastic covers. The only problems are when I print out a cover with heavy ink, such as a really dark cover. Sometimes the ink will be so thick and wet that when it comes out of the printer the rollers that slide the paper through will smear the picture. When that doesn't happen though I get perfect looking covers. For those trouble covers I just have to go print them at Kinko's.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by Trean

Well that should end that discussion on paper type, now for some more specifics.


dv8 or binary:
Could you get more specific for those looking to purchase paper? Is it glossy or matte? What letter size of paper? Maybe a link to it at Amazon.com or another office supply store?

If I had to guess I would say, HP Brochure Paper, Glossy, Letter A Size.

I use Brochure plase glossy, letter size(8.5"x11"). Photo paper was too thick and non photo paper resulted in a lower quality image, IMO(made it harder to read the writing on back covers).

Originally Posted by jk1138

Where do you buy it?

I found it at Staples.

[kpkelley]

Originally Posted by KingLeonidas300

What type of printer will produce the best results?

I use an Epson Artisan 810. It prints out excellent covers and wirelessly connects to my home network.

[swarez]

Well I finally finished my Night of the Creeps cover.
PM me with your email if you want it.

[jamclaur]

since we're talking paper and printing I NEED one of you fine fellas (or gals) to finish this sentence for me.

Hello Mr. Kinkos employee,

I want to print out this file, I need it printed on _________ and ________.

I have the semi-gloss part down, but what about size? Will they ask me about resizing the picture? I know I don't want that to happen for quality purpose, so what size paper do I tell them.

I want to get the cases listed on the OP of this thread if that helps.

[jamclaur]

Originally Posted by stoplis

I'm working on a cover for 'New Moon', like Twilight I've chosen to use the books cover. I think the covers are much better looking than any of the posters.
It's mostly finished, just requires the specs and specifications when they are released.
Preview:

Hope you like.

I AGREE! I like these book covers A LOT better. Thanks! I look forward to the final outcome.

[YodasFootPowder]

Originally Posted by jamclaur

since we're talking paper and printing I NEED one of you fine fellas (or gals) to finish this sentence for me.

Hello Mr. Kinkos employee,

I want to print out this file, I need it printed on _________ and ________.

I have the semi-gloss part down, but what about size? Will they ask me about resizing the picture? I know I don't want that to happen for quality purpose, so what size paper do I tell them.

I want to get the cases listed on the OP of this thread if that helps.

You can use their computers yourself. Bring your covers on a USB stick. You can load your own paper into their printers and let 'er buck!

This thread will explain it all.

https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=95555

[RIKANA]

Originally Posted by benricci

I made this for April Fool's Day last year.

Oh if only that were true! I'd buy it in a heart beat!

RI

[gunnar harris]

I am curious how I could obtain the custom covers made by dv8pdx. Please respond if someone knows. Thanks.
--gunnar

[Aholland06]

Originally Posted by gunnar harris

I am curious how I could obtain the custom covers made by dv8pdx. Please respond if someone knows. Thanks.
--gunnar

You have to send a PM to dv8pdx.

[Trean]

Originally Posted by Aholland06

You have to send a PM to dv8pdx.

At the moment, yes. He was working on reactivating his download links, as per his statement a page or two ago.

[Trean]

Originally Posted by YodasFootPowder

This thread will explain it all.
https://forum.blu-ray.com/showthread.php?t=95555

I have read this thread more than once to see if there have been any updates. I have it linked in the OP.

All that said, it does not say specifically what to do at Kinkos. I personally have never used any 'in-store' computer at Kinkos.

Most people want a simple answer. So they can go to a place like kinkos and say X,Y and Z and they will get there custom artwork printed out and ready to be sliced to proper size. If someone has this specific kind of answer I am more than willing to put it in the OP and hopefully BPM can put it within his thread as well.

The statement should consist of paper size, glossy/non/semi, paper stock/weight and paper letter grade. Obviously this would only be a starting point, if someone gets all that and doesn't like it then each person can adjust to his or her own needs. But everyone wants that starting point and I have seen more than enough people ask for it to know it is a major issue without a simple answer; its akin to buying a computer versus building your own.

[BDestroyer8418]

Originally Posted by Trean

I have read this thread more than once to see if there have been any updates. I have it linked in the OP.

All that said, it does not say specifically what to do at Kinkos. I personally have never used any 'in-store' computer at Kinkos.

I agree if someone would be kind enough to list the steps on what to do at Kinkos would be nice. I just got my empty Blu Ray cases in from Vernon yesterday started to swap cases and make trilogy's out of my singles movie purchases and so on.

Now I just need to copy the cover art files to a thumb drive to bring with me to Kinkos.

As someone mentioned to me a few pages back that Kinkos will charge you time spent on the computer but once you sent your prints through the system you can log out and your time will end at that time.

Thanks

[Mac Norton]

Originally Posted by BDestroyer8418

I agree if someone would be kind enough to list the steps on what to do at Kinkos would be nice. I just got my empty Blu Ray cases in from Vernon yesterday started to swap cases and make trilogy's out of my singles movie purchases and so on.

Now I just need to copy the cover art files to a thumb drive to bring with me to Kinkos.

As someone mentioned to me a few pages back that Kinkos will charge you time spent on the computer but once you sent your prints through the system you can log out and your time will end at that time.

Thanks

+1, I actually asked this earlier in the thread as well.

[YodasFootPowder]

I went into Kinko's myself going off the info found here and was able to print everything with minimal trouble. But...

1. There are two types of service you can use when you go into Kinko's and use their computers yourself. A 25 cent a minute service which gives you basic access to printing functions and a 40-45 cent a minute function that lets you use Photoshop for printing if you so choose. I would simply recommend bringing your covers into Kinko's in JPEG format and simply using the basic 25 cent a minute service. Both will get the job done in the same way.

2. You pay right at the PC with a credit or debit card. There will be a timer on the screen that shows how much time you've been on the PC and what your current charges are. It typically takes me 5 minutes or so to print off 10 covers. Which equates to $1.25 for the time usage. Beyond that it is 99 cents per page that you print. But, that is obviously, totally worth it when you consider the cost of ink cartridges for printing them at home.

3. First, you put in your credit card. You do not get charged until you have access to the PC, so the whole booting up and logging in process does not count toward your time.

4. Once you are at the desktop and ready to go, put your thumb drive in the PC. Open the thumb drive and folder containing your pictures. Whether you want to print just one picture or multiple pictures simply open one of the pictures you wish to print, you'll have the option to check or un-check certain ones later in the printing process. Once your picture is open choose the print option on the JPEG picture menu. This will bring you to the printer screen, which gives you the option to click "next" or something like that. Choose the advanced options when you see the button for it and make sure you have selected "landscape" for printing. This will ensure the picture comes out side to side like it should and not up and down.

5. Once that is done it should move you onto a section that lets you click if you want to print multiple pictures. Check the boxes for which pictures you want and un-check the ones that you don't want. At this point or after clicking "next" you should get some more picture options. Make sure you are printing to their color printer, which they will have labeled as the color printer near their computers. Also, make sure that the box labeled "fit picture to frame" is unchecked. Otherwise the image will print out too large and most likely not fit. Use paper size option "letter". Make sure that paper type is set to "sensed" or "auto" the printer will know what kind of paper you put in. I prefer semi-gloss, but you can certainly use whichever kind you think looks best. Their printers are awesome and thus, will do a good job regardless of which paper type you choose. Which paper to use simply comes down to which you like the look of most.

6. Finally, you should be using 8.5x11 paper, which is standard size paper. Put your paper into their color printer before you hit print. Once you've loaded your paper you may hit the print button. It usually takes a minute or two for the printer to warm up. So rest assured your pictures will print, but they typically don't come out for a minute or so. Once your pictures have come out you may log off the computer and it will spit your card back out at you. (You can certainly log off once you've told the PC to print your pictures, but I prefer to wait until they've actually come out so I can see that they all came out normal).

7. Lastly, I use their paper cutter to cut the covers. I also bring empty Blu-ray cases in so I can put them all in right away and make sure everything has printed out and been cut correctly.

I've never had anyone question what I was doing or tell me I couldn't. As long as you're off in your own world and not asking them questions about potential copyrighted material, they don't care.

Keep in mind, most Kinko's are probably the same, but obviously, they may vary a little bit. However, all my steps should be basically the same Nationwide.

[Roger Clemente]

Anyone know if there is Kinko's-like store in Canada for printing off covers? Anyone know about the Copy Centers at Staples/Business Depot?

[Mr. J]

^^^Nice write up!