how to format a cd booklet insert

Subject: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 18 May 15 - 06:54 PM

I have googled and tried out some stuff but my brain frankly does not do well with this sort of spatial thing. To prevent me from printing upside down etc..how would I print a little 4 to 6 page insert for a new cd...detailed steps if you please. My brain twists these things around very badly.

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: michaelr
Date: 18 May 15 - 08:31 PM

I have designed a number of CD graphics including both Mudcat CD series. It will be helpful to make a mockup from scratch paper. This will show you that (for a 4-page booklet) page 4 needs to be next to page 1, with pages 2 and 3 next to each other on the reverse side. (You can download templates at oasiscd.com which will give you the exact page sizes you need.)

You can easily expand from 4 to 8 pages using two identical-sized sheets. 6 is trickier because you'll either have a loose piece in the center, or you have to create a foldout, which will be longer than the 11 inches a normal home printer can handle.

Feel free to PM me. I'll be happy to help.

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 18 May 15 - 08:45 PM

Agreed, if you're not familiar with designing print projects, make a mockup and have it in front of you when you do the actual design. A tri-fold (six sides) isn't difficult, and if a 14" (legal) sheet is used, it might just fit. No bleed line for photos or color background, though.

SRS

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 18 May 15 - 09:04 PM

And get several sets of eyes to proof-read your text. Lost count of the number of CDs I've got with spelling and grammatical errors, typos and mis-spelled names in the sleeves! And check that if you're going to put that something is "trad" that it really is, and not still in copyright.
But good luck too!

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: GUEST
Date: 19 May 15 - 05:05 AM

NEVER proof read your own text, you only see what you meant to write!

You don't say what software you are using. Check what the on-line help says about brochure or booklet printing, it may do a lot more than you think.

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: Hamish
Date: 19 May 15 - 05:53 AM

Depends how professional you need it to be. I generally do a single sheet of A4, double sided and fold it appropriately. The front cover is in the top-left corner and the back is on the left, starting about five inches down and printed upside down. All the "sleeve notes" are on the other side. But then again I'm only producing promos which I give away at gigs in return for a £5 donation to charity.

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: FreddyHeadey
Date: 19 May 15 - 06:32 AM

I'm sure it depends a lot on the computer and the software and the printer?

On my 10yr old PC with 'word'
Typed on an A4 doc in a 12pt typeface
I've got the settings
:
In Page Setup > changing the top and outside margins (15cm / 6cm)
I've used the setting Pages > 'Multiple Pages' > Mirror margins

And in Print > Properties > Finishing > Print both sides, Booklet A4 Left

Then printed on an HP that does manual Duplex.
That works out which pages go where. So, for 8 pages it does 1&8 ; 3&6 ; (put the paper back in) ; 4&5 ; 2&7 (or whatever).
If there were only 5 or 6 pages it leaves the last ones blank.

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 19 May 15 - 01:31 PM

thanks. i have made progress...stuff prints on right page sequence, got the page breaks right etc....my problem is margins. tried what Freddy said but I am doing something wrong and running out of time. Would anyone be able to take a word file and format it for me and send it back? It is 4 short pages and just needs some twiddling..especially with space between the pages...my email is [e-mail]

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: Mr Red
Date: 19 May 15 - 01:46 PM

I opted to print 1¾ pages folded with the ¾ on the unseen side, but, with clever graphics/text you could use the ¾ to artistic advantage on the outside face.
The reason for 1¾ was principally to get two inserts on one A4 sheet, I suspect the ¾ might be a slightly different in American sized paper.

Add a guillotine and careful folding.

Figuring the right way to put the paper in for the second print can be a puzzle but I solved it by buying a printer that will do it for me. And will print direct to the CD. CD/DVD printing I decided was the easiest way to get designs on the disk when you don't know that the user will leave the disk in sunlight and the stick-on labels will curl while inside the player!!! It happens. They will blame you. I buy "Full Face" printable CD/DVD 's.

Now consider the reverse side of the case, where the insert won't be taken out, and the spine can carry text. Sizes are different again. Beware.

I use Word Text Boxes to show the cut/fold lines. Borders in faint grey.

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 19 May 15 - 01:52 PM

I am just running out of time to experiment with this. If all fails I will just do it with rubber cement and photocopy it. Artistic advantage is not even a consideration at this point. Just getting it out by tomorrow is....it will be refined at a later date.

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: GUEST,Arkie
Date: 19 May 15 - 03:33 PM

Once you get your template created you could save it and use it over again. Before I invested in a CD label printing program, I used a publishing program for things like labels and CD booklets. Now I use Acoustica Label Maker which is useful if a person is going to keep making labels. Acoustica will import information from other programs and read CDs so the information does not need to be retyped. It costs $21.95. It also allows a free trial download.

Subject: RE: how to format a cd booklet insert
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 19 May 15 - 05:22 PM

I use InDesign, Photoshop, and Adobe Acrobat for my design work. Files from Word need to be saved as RTF format to import.

SRS