Help in correctly printing DVD covers (1 Viewer)

[Ronald Epstein]

Hello, gang!

You maniacs on this forum have started
me on a new obsession -- replacing ugly
studio DVD covers with original poster art
or better creations.

I just bought an Epson 785 EPX printer.
Love it! Best bang for $200 when it comes
to photo printing.

I bought stacks of 8.5"x11" Epson Glossy
photo paper.

I started playing with the James Bond covers
that have been circulating.

The problem I have is this....

No software program enables me to fill the
8.5x11 cover art with image. There always seems
to be a border around the edges despite the fact
I tell the software to fill the media.

Am I using the wrong paper size? What should
I be using and what software should I be using?

Thus far, I have tried: Photoshop 7, Paint Shop Pro,
ACDSEE, and Epson Film Factory.

Any help would be appreciated.

 

[TedD]

Most color inkjets can't print to the edge of the paper. I just a new dye-sublimation print the other day that can do that, but the consumables are about $3.00 / page.

Ted

 

[Adam Lenhardt]

the only thing I can suggest, Ron, is to measure the border of your print-outs. From there, scotch tape two strips of plain paper on the bottom of the paper on the top and on the bottom, whatever the border width is from the edge of the glossy paper. Even with the borders, the 8.5" width should be enough to print them without problem, assuming you're printing landscape view. Then reset the paper size to reflect the composite size. If the auto borders are .5", for instance, the new paper size would be 8.5"x12" Then print. Once it's done, simply remove the paper strips by pulling off the scotch tape. Alternatively, you could print them in two pieces, with an overlap at the spine.

 

[CameronS]

What Adam said.
You basically need to fool the printer to think you have legal sized paper. As noted above, tell your printer software that you have legal size paper and tape 2 small pieces to the sides of the page you are about to print.
I had this problem when trying to print the Wicker Man insert. Using Photoshop 6 and a Lexmark printer, I was getting a white border at the edges of the page which cut off part of the image! I need my inserts in their OAR!

 

[CaptDS9E]

There are some new printers that do print to the edge. But do like the others said. Or just get some bigger paper. I dont have problems printing out regular sized covers on 8 1/2 x 11 paper. Its only when i do the cases that hold more then 1 dvd so i bought Legal sized paper and it works perfectly

capt

 

[Jim Millar]

Ron -

I copied this from Epson's website and it should solve your problem (mainly you need to select no margins) -It says its for ArcSoft PhotoImpression but I think it should work.

Q: How do I print a BorderfreeTM or borderless print when using Epson Borderless specialty papers with my Epson Stylus Photo 785EPX printer using ArcSoft PhotoImpression?

A: This printer supports 4" x 6", 5" x 7", 8" x 10", and letter size (8.5" x 11") Borderless photos. Load your paper in the paper support tray. (Note: thicker media types, like photo papers are recommended for borderless printing. Thinner type papers, like Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper or plain papers, are not recommended for
Borderless prints).

- Load your paper in the paper support tray (Note: thicker media types, like photo papers are recommended for borderless printing. Thinner type papers, like Epson Photo Quality Ink Jet Paper or plain papers, are not recommended for Borderless prints).
- Within the Photo Impression application, after importing the picture / selecting the album / editing the picture, and you are
ready to print...
- Select the photo you would like to print.
- Click the "Print" icon button
- Click the "Image Printing" icon button located at the bottom of the screen. Then click the "Center Photo" check box located on the right side of the screen. Select the appropriate Landscape or Portrait orientation
- Click the "Printer Setup" icon button

In Windows:
- Click the Properties button. Select the correct Media Type. Then Select the Paper Tab and Click on the "No Margin" check box to select it, and Select the appropriate Paper Size.
- Click OK
- Click OK again in the Print Setup dialog box.
- Click the Auto Crop Function icon on the right side of the screen (guide the slider bar to the left if the image dimension is less than the paper size)
- Click the Print button in lower left-hand corner of the screen to start printing

Hope this helps - I've heard that this is a great printer!!

Jim

 

[MikeM]

I simply do this:

1. Open the image in Photoshop.
2. Select roughly half of it (by making a nice section break at the imaginary line between the back image and the back spine.)
3. Print that section, using standard letter sized photo paper.
4. Select "undo" in Photoshop. (so that the entire image is now visible again.)
5. Crop the front "half" of the image, (and include a very slight overhang.)
6. Print that section.
7. Use an X-acto knife to trim the sections together.
8. Tape the back so they are complete.
9. Enjoy.

The reason I do it this way is because letter sized photo paper is much cheaper than legal sized paper. Also, when trying to print without margins on a standard letter size, it appears like everything will fit, but there's ALWAYS some weird funky print error or problem that arises.

Hope that helps. Good luck!

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Oh my God!

This is so much more of a hassle than I
thought it would be.

You know, I really don't want to get into
taping borders or using x-acto knives.

I'll try doing it using the Epson website
instructions below.

Thanks for the help, everyone.

 

[Jay Mitchosky]

Ron

I don't see how you'll be able to avoid some cutting. A keepcase cover is not a perfect 8 1/2" x 11" sheet. I've used the tape-on technique before and it works perfectly with minor hassle. You're just fooling the printer into thinking there's more of a border (even though the image doesn't go that far). Your best bet is to buy a good Xacto style knife with a cutting board (they heal themselves), as well as a long ruler. You'll be in business. Just make sure you let the sheets dry thoroughly before sliding them into the keepcase.

 

[Jeff_HR]

Is it necessary to use Photoshop(I CANNOT afford it) or Paintshop Pro(More affordable, but still a bit expensive) to print out DVD inserts? Is there a more affordable application that will work?:frowning:

 

[Ronald Epstein]

Jay,

And what sheet size do I use, Jay?

 

[John_Berger]

Although others have already mentioned this, I use legal sized paper on my HP DeskJet 970cxi with an exacto-equivalent knife and a ruler/straightedge. I've been using this method for CD cases for a few years now (with regular letter size, obviously). I've finally gotten my template configured to fit perfectly inside the DVD case.
I can get the frame dimensions for you if you want to create one in whatever program you use. I use Lotus WordPro, so I can provide the SmartMaster template if anyone else is in the very small minority who use it.

 

[Jay Mitchosky]

Use an 8 1/2" glossy photo sheet, then tape another 2-3" at the back edge. Tape it from underneath, not on top. Of course you could simply use a legal sized sheet but you want the best quality print and as such use photo paper. I've never seen legal photo paper and, regardless, would be a fair waste compared to using standard letter size. Make your margins as small as possible and let 'er rip. The image will print quite close to the last edge of the photo paper but not onto the taped on flap (given that your margins are small enough).

 

[John_Berger]

I've never seen legal photo paper and, regardless, would be a fair waste compared to using standard letter size.

Well, yes, it would be a waste unless you come up with some way to recycle what's left. Just out of curiosity, I did a search for 8.5x14 glossy photo paper and I actually found that this paper is not as rare as I would have thought.
Here is the Yahoo link that I used to search:
Link Removed

 

[MikeM]

Just a few more thoughts on this:
1. Photoshop is NOT required. Any image editor that can open JPG files, and has a simple "Crop" function will do the trick.
2. Glossy photo paper is also not required. I like using the photo quality matte paper myself. It's much cheaper, and when slipped into the keepcase cover, it looks great.
3. Photo quality legal paper is out there, just not nearly as available at the B&M stores, and not as cheap as standard letter sized paper.
I know all of this seems like a lot of work, and it is. However, if you give this special treatment to a few DVDs that really need cover replacements...*cough* "Murder By Death", "Real Genius", "Better Off Dead"...*cough* then it's all worth it when there's not that ugly studio "big head" cover looking back at you on the shelf.

 

[Matt DeVillier]

Ron,

the easiest way to print the bond covers on 8.5"x11" paper is to tape a 2" strip to the "back" end of the photo paper, then set up photoshop to start printing .1" from the "front" end. It's not complicated at all.

I explain this in more detail on dvdcoverart's help page, so check that out if what I said above isn't 100% clear

-Matt

 

[Bob McElfresh]

My CD burning software has label designer pages for both the CD label and jewel cases. I have been looking for new software that also includes a template for the Amaray case. But nothing I have found yet includes a DVD-sized label.

I emailed Avery to see if they had stock/templates for the Amaray case and got a form letter response about "..Please submit your drawings in detail and we may consider your request".

By the way: somewhere through INETDvd is a diagram of a Amaray case with dimensions that can be used for the cover-art.

 

[Jeff_HR]

I've already submitted an "official request" for Avery to produce DVD inserts. I would suspect that the more persons who contact them about this issue, the better!

 

[David Lawson]

Just how large are the margins on these printers we're talking about? A DVD cover is 7.1875" x 10.6875", 5.094" for the front and back panels and 0.5" for the spine.

I don't think it's absolutely necessary to buy photo paper; I've printed a number of covers on 28# text and 60# cover stocks that are extremely bright. It might be difficult to locate these at local office stores, however; since I work at a print shop, I've never had to go to Staples for one ream of paper. See if they offer "finch fine" (or simply "finch") stock, as this will be a much brighter white that your run-of-the-mill bond papers.

8.5" x 11" could be a tight fit on some printers, I suppose. Is legal size really that much more expensive?