Hey all:
This is probably going to sound wierd to some (and borderline blasphemy to others), but I recently came into possession of copies of The Temple of Elemental Evil and Scourge of the Slavelords. The textblocks (the physical pages) are in good condition, but the covers have definetly seen better days. I was thinking of taking the two books to my local CopyMax and have them rebound in new covers.
A couple of related questions:
1) Would CopyMax be the best route, or are there better (or cheaper) alternatives? Is it even worth the time and money to get them rebound?
2) If I own the book, and a legit PDF of same, can I use the cover images fromt he PDF to recreate the book's cover on the new binding with the old pages (knowing that this is for my own personal use, and would neither sell it nor try to pass it off as a genuine, mint-condition cover)?
Thanks.
To make the new covers you legally cannot ask copymax or any such place to photo copy the covers for you. If you choose to do this yourself, here is my recommendation.
You might go online and find a picture of the module covers (front and back) and print them out. You'll want a full size picture. If you have a program that allows you to stretch (increase the dimensions of) the picture without losing its quality that will work as well and you won't need a full page size picture. Either way, use a picture that provides you with the highest quality possible.
Take the picture to your office supply store. Take the time to fully explain what you want and stick around while they do the work so if they have questions you can answer them.
Have them laminate it on to a cardstock backing. These backings come in different colors. Basically they are flexible yet durable. Use the heaviest lamination they allow and don't trim the excess all the way down to the cardstock. You will want to leave about a 1/4 inch or so of lamination sticking out on all the edges. This will help keep the lamination seal in place and avoid splitting open.
Now have them punch holes into the left side of the covers. The holes you are going to want are rectangular in shape and go all the way up the side of the cover. It will look kinda like a notebook except the holes are rectangular.
Here's the tricky part. You'll also need to punch holes into the module pages themselves or on your own time, make photocopies of the pages and have them punched with holes just as you did with the cover.
A plastic spine called a comb is then placed through the holes you punched into the side of the cover and module pages. The combs come in different sizes, some allow a few pages, others easily a couple of hundred.
The end result allows you to add pages of information as well as increase the size of the comb later on as a page count increases.
The cost for the cardstock, hole punching and lamination for front and back covers should be around $5-7 per module. How much you spend on copies is pretty much up to you.
Expensive.....probably by most people's standards. The end product will retain the condition of the module and you'll have a slick plastic laminated, glossy looking cover which allows extra pages to be added at your whim whenever you want. If you acquire or create related adventure material you could add it as well (for example, if you acquire the rest of the slavers series, you could put them all under one cover). In the event that it wears out, you can easily replace the cover you made by repeating the procedure.
I have done this with gaming materials and it has lasted for several years. By several years I mean at least 5-8 years.
Eileen:
I took your advice, with the exception that I did a spiral bind instead of a comb bind. It turned out extremely well.
Thanks!
Here is a question for people:
If I wanted to go about getting a book bound as a hardcover, what sort of avenues could I pursue? I want to make it look like a proper book, and this is a one-off binding (although might do 4-5 depending on what is available).
That's a good question... I'd thought of that route at first (but it seemed too much trouble for just two books), and the advice that I'd gotten was to check with the local library -- they often send out their books for hardback rebinding. They might be able to tell you their contractor. I dunno if they'd do a small amount of books, but they might.
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That's a good question... I'd thought of that route at first (but it seemed too much trouble for just two books), and the advice that I'd gotten was to check with the local library -- they often send out their books for hardback rebinding. They might be able to tell you their contractor. I dunno if they'd do a small amount of books, but they might.Here is a question for people:
If I wanted to go about getting a book bound as a hardcover, what sort of avenues could I pursue? I want to make it look like a proper book, and this is a one-off binding (although might do 4-5 depending on what is available).
Well, I better get on that before my local library gets closed by the stupid city my town is now a part of!
Eileen:
I took your advice, with the exception that I did a spiral bind instead of a comb bind. It turned out extremely well.
Thanks!
Your Welcome, glad it worked out for you!
I also prefer spiral binding to comb binding. I've had comb binding fall apart on me and crease pages before. Not a big fan.
I also prefer spiral binding to comb binding. I've had comb binding fall apart on me and crease pages before. Not a big fan.
What exactly is the difference between spiral and comb? The combs I have are shaped like spiral (sort of). The person at the store told me they are called combs. Haven't had any problems yet other than needing to upgrade to a larger size. So what is the difference?
I also prefer spiral binding to comb binding. I've had comb binding fall apart on me and crease pages before. Not a big fan.What exactly is the difference between spiral and comb? The combs I have are shaped like spiral (sort of). The person at the store told me they are called combs. Haven't had any problems yet other than needing to upgrade to a larger size. So what is the difference?
Spirals are more like the ones you'd find on noteboks -- rather than the loose combs, spirals are tight, one-piece constrictions that snake round the holes in one continuous loop from top to bottom.
Spirals are more like the ones you'd find on noteboks -- rather than the loose combs, spirals are tight, one-piece constrictions that snake round the holes in one continuous loop from top to bottom.I also prefer spiral binding to comb binding. I've had comb binding fall apart on me and crease pages before. Not a big fan.What exactly is the difference between spiral and comb? The combs I have are shaped like spiral (sort of). The person at the store told me they are called combs. Haven't had any problems yet other than needing to upgrade to a larger size. So what is the difference?
Well that's what I thought you'd say. I guess office max didn't have them or something because nobody mentioned them to me when I did my binding. Are they just as easy to insert new pages with, like the combs are?
Well that's what I thought you'd say. I guess office max didn't have them or something because nobody mentioned them to me when I did my binding. Are they just as easy to insert new pages with, like the combs are?Spirals are more like the ones you'd find on noteboks -- rather than the loose combs, spirals are tight, one-piece constrictions that snake round the holes in one continuous loop from top to bottom.I also prefer spiral binding to comb binding. I've had comb binding fall apart on me and crease pages before. Not a big fan.What exactly is the difference between spiral and comb? The combs I have are shaped like spiral (sort of). The person at the store told me they are called combs. Haven't had any problems yet other than needing to upgrade to a larger size. So what is the difference?
I'm afraid they're not -- once the binding's on, you can't add pages without trashing the binding.
I'm afraid they're not -- once the binding's on, you can't add pages without trashing the binding.Well that's what I thought you'd say. I guess office max didn't have them or something because nobody mentioned them to me when I did my binding. Are they just as easy to insert new pages with, like the combs are?Spirals are more like the ones you'd find on noteboks -- rather than the loose combs, spirals are tight, one-piece constrictions that snake round the holes in one continuous loop from top to bottom.I also prefer spiral binding to comb binding. I've had comb binding fall apart on me and crease pages before. Not a big fan.What exactly is the difference between spiral and comb? The combs I have are shaped like spiral (sort of). The person at the store told me they are called combs. Haven't had any problems yet other than needing to upgrade to a larger size. So what is the difference?
Ah, thanks, sounds like a good option if you don't need to do any editing or adding of pages later on then. Thanks much!