What Kind of Paper Should I Print On?

[Starwind Amada]

Obviously not regular copy paper but what?

[Mel]

It's too bad the Admins don't have topic like this sticky in the FAQS section of the board. You may find this topic helpful.  http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=18116.0

Here is TDIRunner's paper comparison picture.

Some of you might want to hit me for waiting this long, but I finally bought some good quality paper.  The difference really is amazing.  I'll probably replace all of my covers eventually, but I'm not in a big rush.  I'm mostly concerned with using the better quality stuff going forward.

Red River 50 lb. Premium Matte Double Sided 8.5x11



The new stuff is on the right (just in case you couldn't tell )


The difference in person is about a thousand times better than what the pictures are showing (and I think the pictures show a lot).

[TDIRunner]

If you ask 10 different people, you will get 10 different opinions, but Mel already listed what I'm using.  I recommend it.  However, just about any HIGH QUALITY paper will look good.  Avoid copy paper.  Unfortunately, most of your covers will be on Legal sized paper (or something similar).  It's slightly more difficult finding good quality paper in that size.  You will most likely have to order it online as I've never found anything in my local stores.

[Mel]

TDIRunner, I listed what you are using because seem like the only member that has taken a picture which clearly shows the difference between between copy paper and Premium Matte paper.

[TheAristocrat0]

I use Office Depot to make my prints.  It's more expensive than buying your own paper but I couldn't get my printer at home to produce the same quality I can get at Office depot. If you print using their online upload tool it is 25% cheaper. Once on the site, go to "copies and prints" ===> "My print center" ===> "Copies and Flyers." I use the 80lb glossy paper. Feels close to the quality of a real video game cover.

**NOTE** Be sure to leave a comment at the bottom of submission process where it says "+Add additional comments" and tell them to print your images at 100% actual size. One time the person working that day accidentally scaled all of my images down to 90% or so. They reprinted them from free but it was avoidable.

Below is an image of how I set up my Office Depot prints.  The price comes down to $0.96 per sheet after the 25% online discount and if you are smart about how you do your prints you can fit certain cover types vertically. That comes to $0.48 per print with 2 prints on the page, or $0.32 per print with 3 small prints on the page.

[gam3rz3r0]

Has Office depot ever given you any trouble about copyright? This seem like a better option for me because buying ink is cutting into my game budget. 

[TheAristocrat0]

Has Office depot ever given you any trouble about copyright? This seem like a better option for me because buying ink is cutting into my game budget. 

Nope! I've printed around 120 covers there over the course of 5 or 6 visits.

[gam3rz3r0]

I'll have to give it a go sometime. I don't have one close buy so I'll print off a crapload at one time.

[rockabilly1983]

The paper I use is Hammermill Color Copy Digital legal size paper. It's 28lb paper with 100 brightness. It's nice and thick and very close to the same thick paper that PlayStation 2 covers are printed on. It's not glossy. It has a nice smooth matte finish. The colors come out so beautiful on this paper. I get all my covers printed at FedEx Office. I use their self-service high end laser copiers that are made by Canon. These are the same copiers the employees have behind the counter. You will need a USB flash drive to print covers on their self-service copiers. Canon, in my opinion, makes the most accurate color printers. The price for each color print on letter and legal size paper is 53¢. Plus tax, the grand total is 57¢ each. You can load money as credit onto a FedEx Office card or use your ATM and/or credit card on the touchscreen that has the USB flash drive reader to pay for your prints. The card reader is located right above the touchscreen. You'll also need to put your covers into a Word document. I learned this the hard way when I just put the images on the USB flash drive. If you try to print the image on its own, the machine automatically stretches it. You don't want that. When inserting covers into your Microsoft Word document, you'll need to change the margins in Page Setup to 0.5" in all 4 boxes, set the paper size to "Legal", and set the orientation to "Landscape". You will need to set these options every time you start a new Word document. The laser copier can only print Word documents up to 50MB maximum in size. I usually put 5 covers on each Word document and title each one "Cover Compilation" with a number next to it. Another great feature about Microsoft Word is this. If you're printing covers that have white all around it such as Monopoly, Snoopy's Silly Sports Spectacular!, Anticipation, and 720°, you can put a border on it. Select your image first, then go to "Format" and select "Borders and Shading". On that screen, select "Box" and click "OK". It automatically puts a border around the cover you selected. This marks off the area where you need to cut. This way there's no guess work. This is a great way to print covers anytime you want because no one gives you crud about copyright.

[TheAristocrat0]

Rockabilly,  before I settled on Office Depot I alsotralso tried FedEx and had a problem with stretched images. Didn't realize a word document would fix it.

[wiggy]

I use this. It's archival (when paired with pigment based, and not dye based inks).

http://mobile.adorama.com/IESS041605.html

Seems pricey, but 100 sheets gets you 200 UGC covers or 300 DS case covers when trimmed down to 8.5x13.

[Einhander]

It's too bad the Admins don't have topic like this sticky in the FAQS section of the board. You may find this topic helpful.  http://www.thecoverproject.net/forums/index.php?topic=18116.0

Here is TDIRunner's paper comparison picture.

Some of you might want to hit me for waiting this long, but I finally bought some good quality paper.  The difference really is amazing.  I'll probably replace all of my covers eventually, but I'm not in a big rush.  I'm mostly concerned with using the better quality stuff going forward.

Red River 50 lb. Premium Matte Double Sided 8.5x11



The new stuff is on the right (just in case you couldn't tell )


The difference in person is about a thousand times better than what the pictures are showing (and I think the pictures show a lot).

So that is good for inkjet. But the one I'm using now is a laser printer. What's the best paper for a laser printer?

[rockabilly1983]

Rockabilly,  before I settled on Office Depot I alsotralso tried FedEx and had a problem with stretched images. Didn't realize a word document would fix it.

I'm very happy I was able to help you, TheAristocrat0! If you decide to have the employees print the covers for you, you can speed things up by inserting all your covers into Word documents before you go. Then, they can print all the pages at once.

[Starwind Amada]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00488HQSO/ref=ox_sc_act_title_1?ie=UTF8&psc=1&smid=A3NZR5PY384PKK

Will this work? I'd be printing with a Brother MFC-J475DW.

[Starwind Amada]

I was at my local Staples the other day and they have those large cutters where you pull the blade down like a lever. I may get a smaller one since I want to design my own covers.