Putting a PDF pfoduct in a binder: the spine

[Barendd Nobeard]

Here's an idea for .pdf documents.

I recently purchased the pdf version of Solid! The D20 Blaxploitation Experience. I printed it out and put it in a binder. Now it sits on my shelf--all that beautiful cover art for naught.

Maybe publishers could include a "spine strip" for pdfs. Just make a narrow image with the title, to slip into the spine of a 3-ring binder. That way, the title looks cool on the shelf.

Since it's a .pdf, it doesn't really cost extra (from a printing perspective). Although it might cost a bit extra to have the cover artist make one.

Heck, even a spine insert with just the same font as the cover and the same color scheme would be nice. If you do this, you may want to include a "thin version" (maybe 1/2" for cheap-o's like me who recycle old binders) and a "thick version" (maybe 1") for products which may go into a larger binder.

Just an idea.

 

[jgbrowning]

We've been including the complete cover layout (spine included) in our latest PDFs cause some people like having front and back.

I guess with our newest one (1on1 Adventures #1: Gambler's Quest) it's not that effective as it was designed for a saddle-stiched (stapled to you non-printer types ) format. Hrm...

joe b.

 

[afstanton]

How wide is a spine typically for a given page count? I never know what to do for this.

 

[jgbrowning]

How wide is a spine typically for a given page count? I never know what to do for this.

It depends our your paper thickness. For 60# paper, you generally need 416ppi and for 50# you need 500ppi (pages per inch). This varies with different paper companies.

joe b.

 

[jmucchiello]

I think the original poster was looking more for a spine you could put into a 1" (or smaller) binder into the plastic bubble on the binder. Not a proper spine for a perfect bound book.

 

[Barendd Nobeard]

I think the original poster was looking more for a spine you could put into a 1" (or smaller) binder into the plastic bubble on the binder. Not a proper spine for a perfect bound book.

Yes, that it what I had in mind.

I have just started buying PDFs. And when I really like them and decide to print them out, I usually put them in a binder. The blank spines on the binders are really boring. I will put a plain text spine in just to label it, but a spine with some of the "flavor" of the cover art would be nice--even if it's just the same font and color as the title word(s) on the cover.

 

[jmucchiello]

So what width binder do you usually use? Most PDFs are under 100 pages and would leave a lot of wasted space in a 1" binder.

 

[Nellisir]

So what width binder do you usually use? Most PDFs are under 100 pages and would leave a lot of wasted space in a 1" binder.

I used to use 1/2" binders and put similar accessories in the same binder. Now I get them tapebound with cardstock covers, and write the title on the spine in a light ink (silver, gold, brass, copper, white...). More attractive and easier to fit on the shelf with the other books.

Cheers
Nell.

 

[Jraynack]

Hey there,

I print out several .pdfs (ours included) and bind them at kinkos. To self-bind, it is like $1.85 (I think) and you simply go to the binding machine and it takes less than 5 minutes. The price includes a clear plastic cover (so you can see the cover art) and a hard plastic back cover (colored or clear as well), and of couse the coil binding.

Now for a little bit more (about 5.80 + tax) they can do it - however, for 1.85 it can be cheaper than buying that binder.

 

[Vanuslux]

Hey there,

I print out several .pdfs (ours included) and bind them at kinkos. To self-bind, it is like $1.85 (I think) and you simply go to the binding machine and it takes less than 5 minutes. The price includes a clear plastic cover (so you can see the cover art) and a hard plastic back cover (colored or clear as well), and of couse the coil binding.

Now for a little bit more (about 5.80 + tax) they can do it - however, for 1.85 it can be cheaper than buying that binder.

I'll have to give that a try. I've been doing the 1" binder thing and haven't been satisfied with that system. Do you know offhand how many pages the binding machine can handle in one binding?