Free Simple to Use Photobook Creator
Have you seen those cool PhotoBooks and memory books that are produced by some of the big online photo printing companies? How would you like to be able to produce something like that yourself? Plus you can customize the front to add a full color photograph or title sheet that will really make your books stand out. This is actually something that isn't all that difficult to you. Here is a quick set of instructions for creating your own fully customized hard cover documents.
First, you will need some materials. Here is what you will need.
* A binding machine capable of binding a hard cover book.
* A cold process laminator / sticker maker (such as the Xyron Creative Station)
* The printed pages to bind into your book.
* A printed page for the cover of your book
* A hard cover case to bind the pages in
Once you have collected these items, you are ready to create your own photobook, memory book or hard cover presentation. Here are five simple steps to finishing your book.
1. Assemble all of the pages of your book and make sure that they are in the correct order. Take the pages and make sure that they are completely square and flush and add end leaves if that is something that is important to you.
Free Simple to Use Photobook Creator
2. Insert the pages for your hardcover into the hard cover case that you purchased (probably a Unibind Steelbook, Unibind Photobook or a thermal binding hard cover). Take the cover with your pages in it and place it in the binding machine. The binding machine will heat up the spine of the book and bind your pages in place. If you are using Unibind you are ready to proceed to the next step. If you are using thermal binding you will need to place your document into a special crimper before it is completed. Let the document cool while you proceed with the next step.
3. Now that your document is bound, you need to create the sticker for the front of your cover. At this point you will take your printed page for the cover of your book and run it through your sticker maker / cold process laminator. You are going to want to make sure that your laminator is equipped with a cartridge that adds permanent adhesive to the back side and it is recommended that you add a laminate to the front side (this will prevent peeling or damage).
4. After you have run the document through the laminator, it will have a peel off liner on the back of it much like a sticker does. You will want to peel this liner off and carefully apply it to the front of your book. It is very important to make sure that the sticker is square on the front of the book since the permanent adhesive will make it nearly impossible to adjust later.
5. Once you have applied the sticker to the front of the book you will need to be sure to smooth out the sticker to ensure that there are no air bubbles underneath. After you have done this your customized hard cover book is completed.
For the best results with this type of hard cover binding, I recommend using a glossy white hard cover or trying to match your printed coversheet to the color of your cover. Using this style it is also possible to wrap your printed cover around the spine of the document to add a spine print. You would want to do this after the binding process was complete so that the printing will not be discolored by the heat from the binding system.
Jeff McRitchie is the director of marketing for http://www.MyBinding.com and lives in Hillsboro, Oregon. He writes extensively on topics related to Binding Machines, Binding Supplies, Report Covers, Binders, Index Tabs, Laminators, Laminating Pouches, Roll Film, Shredders, and Paper Handling Equipment.
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