Creating a die for an invitation

[schules]

I think we are all in agreement that I don't know what I am doing. However, I have grand allusions that I CAN do this. I want to create a die that looks like a house and when it is opened up, will have all the verbiage and stuff. My books do not cover making a die. Is it something that I can do, or should I scrap the idea and just use a simple invitation?

[mojoprime]

no, you *can* do it, but it probably won't be cheap. custom dies rarely are, that's why more folks don't use them. do you have the image or outline of the house that you want to use?

[schules]

I have a photo of the house.

[mojoprime]

ok, so you're wanting like a birthday card type of thing, something that's cut out in a shape with text or something inside, or on the back, or are you wanting to see the details of the house as well? if so, you're talking about an emboss and a die.

i'm not sure you can create a die from a photo, since it's cut out of metal or in some case wood or something else. you should probably talk to your printer first about it, and then can fill you in on the possible problems you might come across.

[schules]

Yes. I want to take the picture and create an invitation that when "you" receive it in the mail will look like the picture, then "you" will open it and that is where the information will be.
What I was thinking is that I could take the photo, splice it into four quadrants, reverse them so that the center of the page is blank, and then fold them back into a square. So, when I start out, the "page" is going to look like a square with four inverted triangles. Am I making sense?

[schules]

On the back of the unopened invitation will be the address and stuff. I will be printing it myself. Maybe.

[mojoprime]

i'm confused by what you mean. and if you've got a custom die cut, you're not going to be able to run it through your printer. you'd have to get it set up on a sheet of paper, with some perforations, and then run the piece through as a hole sheet and tear each one out. the custom paper size will get hung up in the machine.

[schules]

Maybe die is not what I am thinking of... How do I attach a file here? I have an example of what I am talking about.

[mojoprime]

there are tutorials in the guides at the root directory of the forums. i think a lot of folks use imageshack.com.

[mojoprime]

http://www.graphicdesignforum.com/forum/showthread.php?t=28801

[mojoprime]

i'm about to make the commute home, so i can check there shortly unless someone else offers some assistance before i get back.

[schules]

Okay. Give me an hour to get home and I will attach what I am trying to do...

[mojoprime]

sounds good.

[budafist]

Hmmm...I'm interested in seeing what you mean too. Custom diecuts aren't the kind of thing I would recommend someone do at home. Unless you want to cut out the shapes with scissors and a knife.

[CkretAjint]

... yeah, plus really wonky shape dies don't mail on the cheaper side.

[mojoprime]

^for real. and if they get all bent, well, you've spent a lot of money or time for nothing.

[schules]

5997

Okay, lets try this...

[mojoprime]

nopers. too small, nothing to click on.

[schules]

Please hold...

[budafist]

Is it a door? Can't tell. So small!

[WastedYears666]

if you need a DIE made here ya go:

http://www.aandgengraving.com/pages/products.html

[schules]

I"m sorry it's taking so long... dogs are barking and that is never a good thing...

[schules]

Hows this?

5998

[CkretAjint]

It's a box..... not a house. :confused:

[schules]

I"ve removed the photo, so you can see what I am talking about. the four triangles will have the photo on it, you open it up and there's the people, I mean the verbiage...

[mojoprime]

no image.

[mojoprime]

oh! i got ya. what are you going to use to seal it?

[schules]

Spit?

A clear sticky circle most likely.

[schules]

And just so everyone is in my head, I've been singing "Se cret A GEnt man" for the last two hours... I wonder why that is?

[CkretAjint]

No idea.

I still don't see where this house is. Did I miss something?

[schules]

The image of the house has been removed. I'm thinking I may have overstepped my abilities, but I really want to be able to do this.

[schules]

*ahem* Hellooooo???

[budafist]

For something like this, get a square piece of paper, then fold all the corners to the centre. Draw a mock up of the picture you want and then unfold. There is no diecutting involved. Just folding.

[CkretAjint]

hello *waves*

Basically you need to design the piece as if it were flat (lots of photo cutting to get it to line up correctly when it is opened up). Then you would, if printing professionally, put suppressed fold lines (as spot colors) on the pieces where it folds, showing the printer where to score and fold it for you.

Since you are folding this by hand, there's really no need for that. Just design it flat at 100%, print and fold yourself.

[garricks]

Mmmkay, I see what you mean.

That will have to go in an envelope if you're mailing it. You might be able to put a transparent dot in the center to hold it together, but they'll still get torn up in automated mail processing.

Another possible way to do this is to make a square with four squares attached to it. That, at least you can properly tab for the mail, although you'll still pay a premium becuase it's outside standard postal regs.

[schules]

Okay. I'm trying to wrap my mind around that... If I do that, will I then still be able to have verbiage on the inside as well? Yes, I will, but I'll need to send it out to be professionaly printed. I went to Vector Magic and I think I may have figured out my own confusion.

[CkretAjint]

Do a mock up with a sheet of paper... It's easier, trust me. Even though I am a pro I still make basic mock ups like this all the time, just to be sure... Then you can fold it, hold it and see which will be panel 1, panel 2, panel 3, etc.

[schules]

Good Ness I need to type/read faster... okay. Most helpful. When I get the prototype mocked up, I'll post for critique.

[schules]

I truly appreciate all your help. I do not claim to be a professional. I just fell into this job and I am learning as I go. I studied Forensic Psychology in college then did real estate. I'm not by any means a graphic designer, but I'm learning and I love it. Thanks a million. I mean it.
Now, I must figure out how to keep my puppy from scaring the bejezzus out of my neighbors. (and maybe go have a few Bob's 47's)

[mojoprime]

good luck, and do post the finished product so we can see it!

[schules]

and get that damn SONG out of my head!!!

[garricks]

Schules, here's an example of what I was talking about before.

http://i12.photobucket.com/albums/a249/garricks/GDF/Cross-fold.jpg

The order you fold them isn't important, EXCEPT the bottom should fold up last. Then it gets a tab on the two sides and the top to seal it. You print on both sides, and the address information should go on the back (the other side of the center square when it's folded up. What you describe is pretty much the same, except the four outer panels are triangles instead of squares.

Also, if you work with a cutout mock, you can sketch directly on it to see what goes on each panel and which direction it should go. The first time, you'll be surprised when you open it flat. ;)

I hope that helps you visualize your result.

[schules]

OMG you are my KING! or queen, who knows

[CkretAjint]

make sure 3 of your 4 folds are .0625" short all around, or else you will run into folding issues. The last one that isn't shorter is the last fold that 'covers' the other 3. :)

[garricks]

I'm a badger man. :)

And Ckret is right...I didn't want to overwhelm you with details right now, but that is pretty important. But just sketch that shape, cut it out and play with it. Get to know it. :D

[schules]

Oh, overwhelm me Scooter. I can take it... look for semi-finished product tomorrow.

[Pointyhat]

We can all do it. If money is no object, I'll take on this job no problem.
How many are you thinking of doing?

It'll just be
1. Either obscenely expensive
or
2. Something that you may be able to find in the scrapbooking section of you local craft store.
The operative word is how many?

[CkretAjint]

If you get them professionally printed, talk to the printer first, chances are they have done this 'shape' before and already have a die for it. So you can reuse their die, at th already established size, and not have the $1,500 custom die charge... ;)

plus if they printed it before, they have a template on file for it and they should be able to give you that to work from, at 100% size. Less work for you!!! :D

[schules]

PH, I can't do it... I'm trying to learn how to do it.

[Pointyhat]

*sigh* Again, I ask. And how many are you thinking of doing?

[schules]

*blush* Um... 150.

*I'll be in my corner*

[Pointyhat]

OK, so nothing you can do by hand. It's a die-cut. I think that what you need to do is get on the phone and call several places for quotes and find the costs. 150 is a very small order to buy a die. And since you're new to the field, calling your local printers and getting to know them is one of the best things you can do. Printers are always happy to supply quotes and let you know what they can or can't do. I DON'T mean Staples or Kinkos.
Truly check out the scrapbooking/craft shops for pre-scored, pre-perfed paper. Then you can design with the stock in hand.
Stop grunting at me. :D

[schules]

Man your bossy.

[CkretAjint]

No, she's honest.

[schules]

*sarcasm at work* that was in reference to the "stop grunting at me" comment. *sigh* apparently naps are in order

[Pointyhat]

Yes but..what about the post? Anything there to help or am I posting against a wall of sarcasm.

[schules]

How's this?

[schules]

Um... What is AC Moore?

[Pointyhat]

One of those huge box stores but they're a craft store. Sorry, I forget the regionality. I thought they were national.

[garricks]

Michaels, maybe? Or JoAnne fabric & craft?

[schules]

okay. got it

[Pointyhat]

And I want to see the invites!

[schules]

You will. It's going to have address and phone number on it... will that cause a problem?

[longboy]

Only if there's an area code on it. *snickers*

[Pointyhat]

You can always blur that out, you really don't want to post private info. But the final piece would be interesting to see. Hell, I'm ****ing vested now.

[schules]

Hmmm... might be interesting to have ya'll show up.

[garricks]

Seriously, schules, there are over 20,000 registered members here, and untold numbers ov voyeurs who just drive by.

Do yourself a favor and blur that info on the version you post here, or replace it with greeked copy.

I'm just sayin'. ;)

[mojoprime]

^exactly. you never know...

[Yossarian]

**heavy breathing**

[Pointyhat]

The call is coming from INSIDE THE THREAD!!!

[CkretAjint]

*puts ear to monitor* You hear it too?

[Callendale]

OK, kind of late here, but what about ordering the blank cards - like these:

http://www.envelopperinc.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=ENVLPR&Category_Code=INWRP

Then all you have to do is figure out how to chop up your photo to fit on the flaps when you print them. Looking forward to seeing the finished invite. Good Luck!

...goes back to lurking outside the window....

[garricks]

~~~ Waves at Callendale!

Good to see you, and thanks for the linkage!