Paper

[BigJohn26]

Hey

I was just wondering what the best type of papper to use to print out the covers is.  

Have found meny youtube videos,  and some have said just ragular paper is ok.  But some say if you want it wo look more profestional use a semigloss or better.

So I ask what dose everyone hear suggest.

[ShoothimNow]

Paper  (this thread was originally called "papper")

[Arseen]

SCISSSORS!!!

Lava rock

-------------------------------

I use Semi-gloss HP everyday photo Paper.

[zakurowrath]

Be sure to get LEGAL (8.5x14) paper not LETTER (8.5x11) paper what ever you decide to use. It also depends on what kind of printer your going to use as well. Inkjet will give the best results.

Semi-Gloss is nice it has the look of DVD case covers. But it's expensive in legal size, so high quality brand name regular paper is the next best thing and looks find in cases.

And one more thing to help ya in the long run, Firefox and Chrome have built in spell check so you can learn words along the way, trust me I used to misspell as well, computers now days make it easy.

Of course if your using Internet Explorer still, well sucks to be you 

[wiggy]

Paper

Come on now, that's not helpful.  This isn't Digitpress.  We're a small community and we do a good job of actually helping everyone that has legitimate questions.

Hey

I was just wondering what the best type of papper to use to print out the covers is.  

Have found meny youtube videos,  and some have said just ragular paper is ok.  But some say if you want it wo look more profestional use a semigloss or better.

So I ask what dose everyone hear suggest.

Ok, with that out of the way, this is what I've always used.

http://www.amazon.com/Epson-S041605-Matte-Enhanced-Paper/dp/B0006ZSR6S/ref=sr_1_5?ie=UTF8&qid=1343159420&sr=8-5&keywords=epson+matte+enhanced+19

When trying to achieve high quality prints, paper is very, if not THE most important item to consider.  I've recommended this paper to at least a half dozen people who've actually followed through and tried it.  Not a single one has been disappointed.  It's not cheap, but if you're gonna spend the time, effort, and money to print and case games, then why buy something cheap. 

It's also archival when paired with OEM inks (pigment-based, not cheap-o dye-based inks).  That means that your prints will last a long, LONG time without fading, even if they're in a room with a lot of natural light. 

I prefer matte paper over glossy for the purpose of these covers for a few reasons.  1, why pair shiny with shiny?  The plastic sleeves on the cases are glossy in the first place, so why add something that'll just reflect more light?  2, matte paper more easily reproduces blacks.  This is really important if you're planning on a lot of SNES covers (which seems to be the focus for a great many folks here, including myself).  3, like photographs, glossy paper is really easy to much up with a touch from your finger or a straight edge pulled across the surface.  The matte surface will take a LOT of abuse and handling before you damage it.

The last tidbit is the size.  I like 13x19 because it affords a LOT of printing options.  If you ever want to do double or triple cases, then you'll need a long piece, and you can easily cut the paper down to 8.5x19 if your printer doesn't accommodate 13x19.  If you're just doing regular covers, then you get 2 UGC covers out of one sheet and 3 DS cases covers. 

Hope this helps!

[ShoothimNow]

I use paper, not papper =D  It's a step in the right direction!  And it is EXTREMELY helpful when you are first searching for papper   

[zakurowrath]

Paper

Come on now, that's not helpful.  This isn't Digitpress.  We're a small community and we do a good job of actually helping everyone that has legitimate questions.

I know the feeling Wiggy, I try my best to help people over there.

[ShoothimNow]

Legal sized original paper is what I use on a laser printer.  Looks good enough for me.

[wiggy]

Legal sized original paper is what I use on a laser printer.  Looks good enough for me.

What's "original" paper?  A link or SKU for the product that you're recommending would be helpful.

[madrocsz]

Since I mooch work's ink, we have a pretty good laserjet there, I figured I would step up on my end and buy some decent paper.

Essentially, I just buy Legal with a high brightness 96+ as well as ensure its paper designed for laserjets. While expensive, I pay about 17$ for 500 sheets of it at Office Depot, but its leaps and bounds better print quality than other paper I have bought.

[ProfessorDog]

I did a test print of Kirby Superstar on straight up full glossy photo paper, letter size, and it looked wonderful.

I later went to see about getting prints done at FedEx Office and OfficeMax alike, and while they were very cooperative and fairly cheap, their laser printer didn't seem to really be all that much better than my own. Their paper selection was small, especially when I had to print oversized...nothing was avaliable in Legal, I had to go up to Ledger.

So now I'm back to buying my own paper. I don't think gloss beneath that plastic sleeve matters either way, it's so damn shiny that I don't notice a difference between matte and glossy covers side by side. There's no instance where I've gone "Oh, that one is DOUBLE shiny" or anything, or seen shininess that's not just the sleeve.

But I think the glossy holds ink way better, and maybe I just haven't seen a good heavyweight matte yet but the photo paper did blacks extremely well. The matte paper I had was 20 lb and just didn't get colors as vibrant as the glossy, they came out looking dull.

So I definitely need a bright heavy-weight semigloss. Anyone reccomend one? There's a lot of options strewn about like 5 other threads...

[scaredtowake]

i've been using letter-sized Epson Matte paper (often branded "Presentation Paper" if you buy it at Staples or something) with good results from my Epson inkjet.  we just got a new-to-us HP Color LaserJet at work so I'm going to try and see how this paper works through it.  If anyone has any tips on using a duplex printer to print front/back and get them to line up nicely, i'd definitely appreciate them.

also, while we're at it, wiggy, what process do you use to make those awesome boxes?  (like, the ones that house your GBA mario games)

[mojoeskateco]

Would this be a good printer?

It's an inkjet.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/canon-canon-pixma-all-in-one-inkjet-printer-mg2120-mg2120/10181755.aspx?path=ffb1bfbcaa9cb33ab62e267d567ef6bben02

I'd like to get one that scans as well so that I can start scanning boxes if I come across any that the site doesn't have.

[wiggy]

i've been using letter-sized Epson Matte paper (often branded "Presentation Paper" if you buy it at Staples or something) with good results from my Epson inkjet.  we just got a new-to-us HP Color LaserJet at work so I'm going to try and see how this paper works through it.  If anyone has any tips on using a duplex printer to print front/back and get them to line up nicely, i'd definitely appreciate them.

also, while we're at it, wiggy, what process do you use to make those awesome boxes?  (like, the ones that house your GBA mario games)

Does that printer printer both sides with one feed?  If so, it should line up nicely on its own.  Even so, I'd add a bleed to each side just in case.

First, thanks for calling them awesome.  For the Mario box I just used the paper that I print on since it's fairly beefy stock.  The file is in my GBA covers thread.  It's just folded and adhered with permanent spray adhesive (two sided tape or glue stick would do the job just fine as well). 

You can see here it's just a large folded sheet.

Would this be a good printer?

It's an inkjet.

http://www.futureshop.ca/en-CA/product/canon-canon-pixma-all-in-one-inkjet-printer-mg2120-mg2120/10181755.aspx?path=ffb1bfbcaa9cb33ab62e267d567ef6bben02

I'd like to get one that scans as well so that I can start scanning boxes if I come across any that the site doesn't have.

That'll get the job done

[Moviefan2k4]

I go with legal paper when I can find it, but 11 x 17 is what FedEx uses for most of my covers. Standard color-laser paper has turned out fine, since the plastic overlay completes the "shiny" illusion.