The Cover Project

General Category => General Discussion => Topic started by: Malus_X on July 18, 2017, 10:56:22 AM

Title: I Need A Hand
Post by: Malus_X on July 18, 2017, 10:56:22 AM
Hi everyone.

Back in late June, I was hired on as a designer for boxes and manuals for repro games. So far, boxes seem super easy, though by no stretch of the imagination am I really any good at Photoshop. Some vectors here, and few images there... so far nothing TOO taxing. But lately though, my boss has kinda disappeared on me. Haven't heard from him in about a week and I need both his input and some files, if they exist.

Like I said before, I design and make manuals.

Can anyone help me or point me to anything that can help me make an NES manual? I'm only really any good if I have a template on a PSD file. I can get by with a PDF file, but that just a pain in the ass to me.
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: segamer on July 18, 2017, 11:42:58 AM
There's a universal size for NES manual but in terms of look, there's nothing that really unified manuals. You can't just scan a manual to get the proper dimensions.
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: Azarkhel on July 18, 2017, 12:13:05 PM
Hi everyone.

Back in late June, I was hired on as a designer for boxes and manuals for repro games. So far, boxes seem super easy, though by no stretch of the imagination am I really any good at Photoshop. Some vectors here, and few images there... so far nothing TOO taxing. But lately though, my boss has kinda disappeared on me. Haven't heard from him in about a week and I need both his input and some files, if they exist.

Like I said before, I design and make manuals.

Can anyone help me or point me to anything that can help me make an NES manual? I'm only really any good if I have a template on a PSD file. I can get by with a PDF file, but that just a pain in the ass to me.

Flashback?
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: tylerbgood on July 18, 2017, 12:35:18 PM
Mel uploaded this manual cover for Castlevania some time ago, it should at least give you an idea of dimensions: http://www.mediafire.com/view/efi7b1kjafe251t/Castlevania_front.png

And don't forget that if you are designing the manual for print, the pages shouldn't be ordered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 but instead they should be 1,8,2,7,3,6,4,5 for when they are collated for stapling. Good luck!
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: Malus_X on July 18, 2017, 04:23:25 PM
Hi everyone.

Back in late June, I was hired on as a designer for boxes and manuals for repro games. So far, boxes seem super easy, though by no stretch of the imagination am I really any good at Photoshop. Some vectors here, and few images there... so far nothing TOO taxing. But lately though, my boss has kinda disappeared on me. Haven't heard from him in about a week and I need both his input and some files, if they exist.

Like I said before, I design and make manuals.

Can anyone help me or point me to anything that can help me make an NES manual? I'm only really any good if I have a template on a PSD file. I can get by with a PDF file, but that just a pain in the ass to me.

Flashback?
Not sure if I'm actually allowed to say since I'm seeking some outside help. :P
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: ShoothimNow on July 18, 2017, 05:22:53 PM
(https://i.imgflip.com/12a6tu.jpg)
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: Azarkhel on July 19, 2017, 03:09:52 AM
Hi everyone.

Back in late June, I was hired on as a designer for boxes and manuals for repro games. So far, boxes seem super easy, though by no stretch of the imagination am I really any good at Photoshop. Some vectors here, and few images there... so far nothing TOO taxing. But lately though, my boss has kinda disappeared on me. Haven't heard from him in about a week and I need both his input and some files, if they exist.

Like I said before, I design and make manuals.

Can anyone help me or point me to anything that can help me make an NES manual? I'm only really any good if I have a template on a PSD file. I can get by with a PDF file, but that just a pain in the ass to me.

Flashback?
Not sure if I'm actually allowed to say since I'm seeking some outside help. :P

Fair enough mate. PM me, think i know whats going on.
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: wiggy on July 20, 2017, 01:00:37 AM
Mel uploaded this manual cover for Castlevania some time ago, it should at least give you an idea of dimensions: http://www.mediafire.com/view/efi7b1kjafe251t/Castlevania_front.png

And don't forget that if you are designing the manual for print, the pages shouldn't be ordered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 but instead they should be 1,8,2,7,3,6,4,5 for when they are collated for stapling. Good luck!

using the correct software (i.e. InDesign) will solve this problem for you. It will allow you to print as a booklet and do the collating automatically.
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: Azarkhel on July 20, 2017, 02:48:58 AM
Mel uploaded this manual cover for Castlevania some time ago, it should at least give you an idea of dimensions: http://www.mediafire.com/view/efi7b1kjafe251t/Castlevania_front.png

And don't forget that if you are designing the manual for print, the pages shouldn't be ordered 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8 but instead they should be 1,8,2,7,3,6,4,5 for when they are collated for stapling. Good luck!

using the correct software (i.e. InDesign) will solve this problem for you. It will allow you to print as a booklet and do the collating automatically.

Best feature ever.
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: tylerbgood on July 20, 2017, 09:41:09 AM
You're totally right, I should have mentioned that. InDesign is streets ahead in regards to desktop publishing compared to something like Photoshop. I used to use it to do layout for my high school newspaper years ago and it's a fantastic piece of software. It was still called PageMaker back then though. Thanks for reminding me of that wiggy.
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: wiggy on July 21, 2017, 08:27:33 AM
Sure thing.

I was taught page layout using Quark Express, which was the absolute standard in digital publishing for a LONG time. Luckily InDesign really wasn't very difficult to learn.

Though I do need to confess that I only use InDesign for print purposes. I do all of the actual layout in illustrator since the tools that I use most often either don't exist in InDesign, or don't function in the same manner :-\
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: Malus_X on July 22, 2017, 10:28:26 AM
I just design everything, I don't have to worry about printing any of it. :P
Title: Re: I Need A Hand
Post by: Azarkhel on July 22, 2017, 12:14:02 PM
I just design everything, I don't have to worry about printing any of it. :P

Not how it works bud!