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theuntamed_mdzsThis was my first fanbinding project where I also made a gift copy for the author! It's my... sixth book overall.
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spodumene has by now received their gift copy and so I can show pictures! I love "And I Will Call You Home" and even though I think they have some other fics that are even more popular in fandom, I've always come back to this particular fic. IDK, I think it's the combination of the foreboding atmosphere and setting with the haunted watchtower near the ocean, it being a casefic and a WangXian getting together fic, with hurt/comfort and some really hot smut that just makes it the all-in-one package deal for me. :D
It was also one of the first if not the first fic I started typesetting. That's why I had to label the copies during the process because my copy has some typesetting flaws that I changed in spodumene's copy. I just didn't want to print it out again for myself, I only have so much of the nice paper to go around. Typesetting will forever be my nemesis. I enjoy choosing the fonts and title page design etc., but I hate going through it page by page to check margins and other technical aspects. *yawns*
The rest behind the cut because picture heavy.
I am really very pleased with how this book turned out! It didn't take me so long to decide on the design - I had this scrapbook paper with Asian style waves, and that greenish colour goes so well with the dark blue linen. The bookmark ribbon and the headbands are also dark blue.
Here, have two process pictures!
All worked out quite well during the assembling process. I went to a local print store to have the foreedge trimmed. I don't mind the edge being a bit rough when it's for my personal use (I cut them by hand and am now quite good at it) but since this was supposed to be a gift, I wanted it to look nice.
Putting the book block into the case and glueing it all together is always the worst moment for me. But mostly, it worked well. I have some slight air bubbles close to the spine that might come from not pressing that part enough. Or perhaps because of the bookcloth, that I didn't put enough glue on that part. It didn't happen with every endpaper this time, so I need to be more aware next time what steps I took.
You can also see in the picture above that the endpaper in the back got really close to the edge of the cover... I might have to trim the paper a tiny bit, but this also might be because it didn't connect completely with the case along the spine (the air bubbles). Perhaps, if that had worked better, then the paper wouldn't have gotten so close to the edge.
I'm really happy with the colour and style of the marbled endpapers. It's the paper I'd whined about before because it was supposed to be for a different project as the colour looked much lighter on the website where I'd ordered it from. But in reality, it's a very dark blue, almost black. This does not fit the other project, but it fits this one perfectly, so that worked out well!
Some pictures from the inside:
I really like how the title page turned out! I decided very early on that I wanted a picture of a tower on a cliff or something, but it needed to be Asian style, so I didn't have much luck with photographs.
I used dark blue cotton thread to fit the colour scheme. I waxed it myself as it's actually thread for crocheting.
Since this fic was written for a Big Bang, there was art to go with it, done by![[twitter.com profile]](https://p.dreamwidth.org/e0caa790ec10/-/twitter.com/favicon.ico)
leafgreenizzy. I contacted her about including her art and she not only gave me permission but also decided to re-draw one of the pieces! I was very happy to include it in the book, making it an even bigger surprise for spodumene.
Last step was gluing the label onto the cover! Yes, I like to live on the edge and add the labels when the book is done overall. XD But in my defense, I'm really good at measuring by sight! XD
I printed it out on heavy paper (I think it's 120g) in dark blue with the text and decor parts left white. Then I traced those parts with a silver acrylic pen. Which... is not something for impatient people. XD spodumene got the "good" label, the one where I did the text first and the silver border on the outside last. For my label, which I wrote second, my hand wasn't as steady anymore and the pen also decided that leaking a bit would be a fun idea. *sigh* With the border I wasn't sure how to get the straight edges - I figured I could put trash paper close to the edge so that I would not hit the blue by accident. Worked semi well, so my label has a few splotches. Nothing bad, but eh. For spodumene's label, I drew the line without a "safety paper" and miraculously, it worked better. XD
I really like the look of the label on the front! I've done books with labels like this, and some with labels on the spine if I didn't want to disturb the design on the front. Both work well and are good alternative if you a) don't feel confident to write directly onto the book linen, or b) don't have a plotter / hot foil machine etc.
So, that's my first author's gift copy! I'm super happy with this project and that spodumene loved the book! It was really exciting to send it out and wait for a reaction! :D
It was also one of the first if not the first fic I started typesetting. That's why I had to label the copies during the process because my copy has some typesetting flaws that I changed in spodumene's copy. I just didn't want to print it out again for myself, I only have so much of the nice paper to go around. Typesetting will forever be my nemesis. I enjoy choosing the fonts and title page design etc., but I hate going through it page by page to check margins and other technical aspects. *yawns*
The rest behind the cut because picture heavy.
I am really very pleased with how this book turned out! It didn't take me so long to decide on the design - I had this scrapbook paper with Asian style waves, and that greenish colour goes so well with the dark blue linen. The bookmark ribbon and the headbands are also dark blue.
Here, have two process pictures!
All worked out quite well during the assembling process. I went to a local print store to have the foreedge trimmed. I don't mind the edge being a bit rough when it's for my personal use (I cut them by hand and am now quite good at it) but since this was supposed to be a gift, I wanted it to look nice.
Putting the book block into the case and glueing it all together is always the worst moment for me. But mostly, it worked well. I have some slight air bubbles close to the spine that might come from not pressing that part enough. Or perhaps because of the bookcloth, that I didn't put enough glue on that part. It didn't happen with every endpaper this time, so I need to be more aware next time what steps I took.
You can also see in the picture above that the endpaper in the back got really close to the edge of the cover... I might have to trim the paper a tiny bit, but this also might be because it didn't connect completely with the case along the spine (the air bubbles). Perhaps, if that had worked better, then the paper wouldn't have gotten so close to the edge.
I'm really happy with the colour and style of the marbled endpapers. It's the paper I'd whined about before because it was supposed to be for a different project as the colour looked much lighter on the website where I'd ordered it from. But in reality, it's a very dark blue, almost black. This does not fit the other project, but it fits this one perfectly, so that worked out well!
Some pictures from the inside:
I really like how the title page turned out! I decided very early on that I wanted a picture of a tower on a cliff or something, but it needed to be Asian style, so I didn't have much luck with photographs.
I used dark blue cotton thread to fit the colour scheme. I waxed it myself as it's actually thread for crocheting.
Since this fic was written for a Big Bang, there was art to go with it, done by
Last step was gluing the label onto the cover! Yes, I like to live on the edge and add the labels when the book is done overall. XD But in my defense, I'm really good at measuring by sight! XD
I printed it out on heavy paper (I think it's 120g) in dark blue with the text and decor parts left white. Then I traced those parts with a silver acrylic pen. Which... is not something for impatient people. XD spodumene got the "good" label, the one where I did the text first and the silver border on the outside last. For my label, which I wrote second, my hand wasn't as steady anymore and the pen also decided that leaking a bit would be a fun idea. *sigh* With the border I wasn't sure how to get the straight edges - I figured I could put trash paper close to the edge so that I would not hit the blue by accident. Worked semi well, so my label has a few splotches. Nothing bad, but eh. For spodumene's label, I drew the line without a "safety paper" and miraculously, it worked better. XD
I really like the look of the label on the front! I've done books with labels like this, and some with labels on the spine if I didn't want to disturb the design on the front. Both work well and are good alternative if you a) don't feel confident to write directly onto the book linen, or b) don't have a plotter / hot foil machine etc.
So, that's my first author's gift copy! I'm super happy with this project and that spodumene loved the book! It was really exciting to send it out and wait for a reaction! :D
no subject
Date: 2022-09-18 09:29 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2022-09-19 09:27 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 07:14 pm (UTC)There are so many amazing fanbinders that are faaar better at it than I am, but it's something to aspire to! XD
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Date: 2022-09-21 05:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 07:15 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-22 02:43 am (UTC)no subject
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Date: 2022-09-23 03:14 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-09-25 07:17 pm (UTC)I'm so so pleased with the label and was kinda surprised that it worked so well. ^_^; And I really liked the font. I usually write the title in sevral different fonts and then see what "vibes" the best. :D
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Date: 2022-11-04 05:47 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2022-11-05 09:59 am (UTC)