what you use to make slim line dvd covers?

[janeydoll]

I am using expressit to make my dvd covers. I have the label creator that came with my roxio software, but it prints so that the cover does not go to the very end of the case, the template is short on the front and back and its way long on the top and bottom. I hope I explained that right.

anyway, the expressit template goes to the very end from front to back and is the perfect size from top to bottom, but it does not have a slim line dvd case template and I need to find one.

what do you all use to make your covers and do you have the same problem with them fitting like I do in the roxio label creator? do you all make slim line covers?

thanks

[LloydAZ]

Neato offers free templates for their products (of course you can also just print them on plain paper if you want and cut them out.) Check this link and download the appropriate templates that you'll need. They offer them for both the PC and Mac for Photoshop, Illustrator, and MS Word.

http://www.neato.com/Support.aspx

I'm pretty sure there is a template in there somewhere for slimline cases.

[Mudbug]

Any program that allows you to set a specific size will work. I use ACDSee and set the size to 10.5 (W) x 7.25 (H). I use nothing but slim line cases.

[DarrellS]

I use Expressit also to make my CD and DVD inserts.

I also use Photoshop to get my inserts ready and to make custom covers or slimline covers for friends.

Here is a template I made for Photoshop. If you don't have Photoshop, you can use a free program called the Gimp that lets you work in layers. Any graphics program should work though since you'll be copying and pasting images into sections and probably using text.

dvd-insert.psd

dvd-regular-insert.bmp

dvd-slim-insert.bmp

Once you've finished with the graphics, then you can save as BMP or JPEG and use in the Expressit program. You can also print straight from the graphics program but you may have to use 8.5x14 legal paper depending on the graphics program and your printer.

[ultraman36]

I use this
http://www.northcardinal.com/productdvdf.html

dvd and cd cover print It allows me to make my own cover is one of the templates is to short

[dun4cheap]

I use the Nero Label designer and regular laser paper 60# with borderless printing. They come out nice and I have a paper cutter so I can do a couple at a time. When I do large projects say like 40+ of the same dvd then I will print them and office depot cuts them all for a $1 at one time. Stay away from the peripherated ones.

[fjmr]

I use Nero Cover Designer that is part of Nero 6

[ROF]

I use Surething CD/DVD Labeler for all my label and case needs.

[janeydoll]

are there any other programs that do slimline?

Is the one in nero 6-7 any good? can you use slimlines in it?

I really need to find a program that does slimline but i need it where i can put individual pictures in it instead of using one "background" that covers the whole insert, i want it like expressit where you can form any background or picture into any size.

please help me

[DarrellS]

The Expressit program that you have does slimline just fine. You need to use a graphics editing program to make the picture that you want to use. Any graphics program will work or you can also drag the pictures you want from the image brower in Expressit and adjust the size to get the effect you want.

I noticed from reading your original post that you were having problems printing your DVD inserts.

If you use 8.5"x14" legal paper, they will print just fine. Some printers have a problem printing to the edge like my old HP 812c but my new HP Photosmart 8600 does not have that problem.

I use 8.5"x11", 90 and 110 pound Exact Bristol for my traditional and slimline inserts and either 8.5"x14" legal or 24 pound 8.5"x11" regular printer paper for DVD inserts.

[mrtunes]

i'm fairly clueless about print in general but i'm trying to figure this problem out. I designed a dvd cover for my demo reel which comes out at 1618 x 1087 96 DPI 24bit depth(not slimline). I import the design into the Acoustica DVD/CD labelling program but my Dell printer has trouble printing it (my Epson R200 doesn't have a problem in here). The Dell cuts the side off and even though Acoustica has an offset function it's not registering here.

The problem i'm having is that if I use the Windows Picture Print software built into windows, it scales the image down a tad too small for the DVD case whereas Acoustica would've maintained it at the right size. And Fireworks does not scale it of course making it too large to print. I'm confused at how to print this image nicely!

[Skith]

You should size your image before printing. At 1618 x 1087 @96dpi you have a document that is approximately 16.85 x 11.23 inches. You need to know what dimensions you want to print to (your template). Just as an example, the Amaray Premium cases would be:

front/back	5.09375 in.
spine		  0.5625
Total (W)	10.75 (+0;-0.03125)
(H)		   7.1875 (+0;-0.03125) 

1032 x 690 @96dpi
1613 x 1078 @150dpi
3225 x 2156 @300dpi

Use your graphics software, your best bet would be to (if possible) not resample the image, change the dpi to 150 (assuming your target output size is for a standard dvd case), apply, then resize the image (with resampling) to the desired physical dimensions. Import the final image into your printing program. Note: it is best to work with the raw/original material if possible, and avoid multiple saves in .jpg format to avoid degredation of image quality. It is always good to save a uncompressed .bmp or better yet a .tif/.psd (including layers).

Some notes about printers: Every printer has a set of built in limitations with print margins, and there is no standard between models/brands. Usually the side margins are uniform, but the top may be much smaller than the bottom. (Note: Paper orientation does not seem to matter, the margines apply in portrait orientation, even when printing in landscape. At least, that is how it is with my epson stylus photo 1280). If your image size exceeds the printable area, and bleeds into the margines, that part of the image will be cropped off. Legal size paper avoids this problem.

Some printers allow borderless printing, though there can be some disadvantages. Borderless printing allows the use of letter size paper without any cropping of the image (and the resulting smaller than desired cover). It should be noted that many consumer class boarderless printers have built in drivers that automatically enlarge images a small amount beyond the dimensions of the paper. This is known as bleed, and its purpose it to endure that the image fills the entire sheet of paper. The result may be an image that does not quite fit the DVD case (the spine may be to big). The worst part is, this "enlargement" feature is built into the drivers of most printers, so consumer have no way to turn it off. The final option is making a custom template (for each DVD case manufacturer) that will scale properly, by shrinking then adding a white (or what ever color) boarder around the image. Once you know how much to shrink a particular template, problem solved... until you get different cases.

[comment]
I can't believe I just typed all that...

oh yeah, I attatched a .rar with some template files for Amaray Premium cases. There are documents with the bare dimensions, as well as those layed out on a legal size document. There are two versions of each .png -one with a white backround and the template outlined on it, and one with no backround, just the template outlines. I also included the layered .psd files. All files are 96dpi but could easily be resized and used at higher resolutions.

amarayp_template.rar

[rlasleson]

I use Surething Labeler to make all my case labels. I have used it quite a while and am happy with it, although the only other one I ever used for comparison (and that was long ago) is EZ CD Creator. Surething contains templates for both full size case labels (including printing on the splines) and slim line case labels as well as the CD/DVD labels, if you use them. I guess it can also print directly on CD/DVDs also if you have a printer to support that. You can import and then scale any picture or graphic by dragging the edges of it until it fits the case template in the program. When done, the program prints the label in the center of a normal sheet of paper so there is no issue with the printer margins. You cannot change the aspect ratio of the picture or crop it, however, so you have to use another graphics program to do that first.

[dfisher052]

The BEST label program for slimline & regular CD cases is "cdrLabel", by far.
http://www.cdrlabel.com
For DVD cases I use Neato.
For CD disc labels (never dvd) I use Roxio.
I've tried a lot & these are what I have found work the easiest & best.

[mrtunes]

You should size your image before printing. At 1618 x 1087 @96dpi you have a document that is approximately 16.85 x 11.23 inches. You need to know what dimensions you want to print to (your template). Just as an example, the Amaray Premium cases would be:

front/back	5.09375 in.
spine		  0.5625
Total (W)	10.75 (+0;-0.03125)
(H)		   7.1875 (+0;-0.03125) 

1032 x 690 @96dpi
1613 x 1078 @150dpi
3225 x 2156 @300dpi

Dude thanks for such an informative answer to my question. If we had a post rating system i'd give yours a 5/5

Also thanks for attaching some files. Good man!

[Skith]

When done, the program prints the label in the center of a normal sheet of paper so there is no issue with the printer margins.

That would depend entirely on the capability of the printer. The printable area of a normal sheet of paper may be smaller than the image, regardless of the program or whether the image is centered or not, as a result the image will be cropped and the printed image will have physical dimension slightly smaller (width) than the desinged document. Some printers may allow margines small enough on all four sides to print the full image, while others will not. Such limitations are probably built in at either the driver or firmware level.

Dude thanks for such an informative answer to my question. If we had a post rating system i'd give yours a 5/5 biggrin.gif

Also thanks for attaching some files. Good man!

You are welcome, just be aware that not all DVD cases have the same dimensions, even the standard sized ones. For example, The NexPak® NexCase (Amaray II) cases (single and double) look the same, but have a slightly different cover insert size.

Amaray II - Nexcase specifications Scroll down and you will see the links to the cover insert specs (pdf files).

If you buy new cases, your best bet may be to print an black box (outline) template (like the one in the attachment I posted above) and use it to measure/refine your dimensions until you find the right size. Do this before you start designing your cover. You can save lots of time, work and ink with such a method.

[edit: fixed quite tags]

[GilbyGood]

http://www.undercoverxp.tk/

Above is a link to Undercoverxp a program that prints out several different covers and I find that it suits my needs very much.

[lordsmurf]

Photoshop and a ruler.