add details on how to make the covers

_posts/2024-10-23-case_binding.md

@@ -199,4 +199,61 @@ When using a single sided endpaper, you can back it with another piece of paper.
 
 
 
-[bookbinding gifts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y93tc7a_cS4)
+[bookbinding gifts](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y93tc7a_cS4)
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+silouette: -3_K$Z7R&QCCY$h
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+## Making a Cover in Affinity Design
+I use a custom "Book Cover" preset in Affinity Design 2. 
+Width: 350mm
+Height: 300mm
+DPI: 144
+Document Units: mm
+
+Measure the book cover, not the spine. Under measure if you need to.
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+
+144x218
+24x218
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+make cover shapes that match these dimensions.
+
+copy one of your covers and then use the contour tool to make the border. i've been doing it inset by 7.5mm. You will want to give it transparent fill but a colored stroke. I've been using 2.5-3 pt for the stroke width.
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+Hold alt and drag to copy the cover.
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+For some of my recent books, I have been making simplified vector versions of the original covers. Find a nice copy of the original cover online and paste it into your document at 50+ transparency. Then trace over it with the pen tool. You can use the contour tool to make the border.
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+Tips for using the pen tool
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+A to select and edit nodes
+V to select shapes
+P to select the pen tool
+While using the pen tool, if an existing node is highlighted blue, you can continue from it. 
+You can edit your curves by clicking a node and then moving the handles. You can also hover over a curve and see a wavy line and drag it to adjust the curve. You can add new nodes along the path of curves.
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+When making the bands, create a single band of the correct dimensions, slightly darker than the cover material. The position it at the very top of the spine and copy paste it for each band. Measure on the book from the top of the spine to the top of each band and use math in the tranform panel to add the numbers to each band.
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+Once you make the band text, you can align vertically and distribute horizontally. You always want to select the bands first, and then the text.
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+I like to group everything into Book Components and Print Components, then hide the print components and export as PDF.
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+When bringing it into silhoutte, import it as vector but do <i>not</i> group. This will allow you to change the cut settings for the text vs the cover.
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+Arrange it in silhoutte and position it reasonably close to the top. I try to leave some space around the covers, because any excess plastic can be marked and used as a positioning aide. Try to leave at least 10 mm on all sides, since the inset is usually around 7.5mm.
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+Once it is placed, go to object, mirror, then flip horizontally. 
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+Don't cut off more than you need, just 20mm or so beyond the expected bottom. You are leaving some room for positioning and some room for the cutter to be misaligned.
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+The shiny side goes down