Modding My Mag (spine removal)

[shadowlight]

So I want to scan in some of the full page maps from my latest issue of Dragon (to photoshop out some of the numbers and use for player handouts). I'd like to cut off the spine so I can scan the full page with my scanner flat.

Has anyone done this before (I'm sure a ton of you have)? How would you recommend cutting off the spine?

Thanks!!

 

[storyguide3]

Barring access to the power cutter at a commercial print shop (insert Tim Taylor grunting), I suggest a steel straight edge and a fresh blade in an x-acto or utility knife. Make multiple, very shallow cuts as close to the spine as possible, rather than trying to cut through too many pages at a time. This keeps the pages from nunching and shifting while you cut, making the cuts straighter.

By the way, don't you know that cutting off Dragon Magazine spines makes collectors cry, they feel a disturbance in the Force.

 

[frankthedm]

Arrrr Matey many a dragon and dungeon magazine can be had on the high seas of fileshare. The S.S. kazaalite should be usable for such an excursion. It may save you the trouble of having to gut your own dungeon mag without reason.

Or ye might just email dungeon magazine about the pics you need

 

[shadowlight]

...I suggest a steel straight edge and a fresh blade in an x-acto or utility knife...

Yargh! I thought it would probably come down to this.

By the way, don't you know that cutting off Dragon Magazine spines makes collectors cry, they feel a disturbance in the Force.

Yeeeeaaaahhhh..... I used to collect them (keep them nice anc crisp, gasp whenever someone set a Mt. Dew can on them...), but I have shelves and shelves collecting dust. I thought this way I might actually use some of the content. I'm thinking about 3-hole punching them and putting each year in a binder.

 

[shadowlight]

Arrrr Matey many a dragon and dungeon magazine can be had on the high seas of fileshare. The S.S. kazaalite should be usable for such an excursion. It may save you the trouble of having to gut your own dungeon mag without reason.

good point, but they're usually low res PDFs. I like to crank up the resolution and then go to town in Photoshop.

Or ye might just email dungeon magazine about the pics you need

Really? Do you think they'd do anything?

 

[Emirikol]

So I want to scan in some of the full page maps from my latest issue of Dragon (to photoshop out some of the numbers and use for player handouts).
Thanks!!

Doesn't DUNGEON keep these on their webpage for download? That was always handy in the past. How is the Paizo webpage anyway?

Jay H

 

[Buttercup]

Doesn't DUNGEON keep these on their webpage for download? That was always handy in the past. How is the Paizo webpage anyway?

Jay H

They used to be on the webpage when WotC owned the mags. Now, though, those old maps have vanished. And Paizo's web page is pretty sparse. There are one or two maps, but they don't post them as a general rule. It's too bad, too, because I'm sure Shadowlight and I aren't the only DMs who like to Photoshop their maps for our games.

 

[Sanackranib]

a print shop power cutter is the best way. vertial sander would be next if you have access to a woodshop. but several new xacto blades would work to as was posted earlier.

 

[physics_ninja]

If you have the time, leave the magazine in your car, preferable in direct sunlight. The amount of time it takes depends upon where you live (southern, hot climates - like Tucson! are best), but eventually the glue will melt/disintegrate and you will be able to pull the sheets off one by one.

 

[Cedric]

If you have the time, leave the magazine in your car, preferable in direct sunlight. The amount of time it takes depends upon where you live (southern, hot climates - like Tucson! are best), but eventually the glue will melt/disintegrate and you will be able to pull the sheets off one by one.

Sounds like experimentation time to me!!

I would say...45 seconds in the microwave, but try it out first with magazines that don't matter. Someone needs to do this and post a microwaveable magazine disassembly guide.

Cedric