How to Design Original Book Covers: DIY Bookbinding Tutorial

[@lucyricardo8713]

I wish this video was like 10 hours long. It's wonderful to see everything come to life

[@Cdiddy150]

You have got to be the coolest dork I have ever seen and I love it. Your videos are incredibly valuable and you are a remarkably unselfish person and skilled communicator. Thank you.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Ha! I should make a T-shirt that says "coolest dork!"

[@vixis]

What he said..this was fantastic.

[@AnnaDumbledore]

Thanks, now I have to go rebind every book in my house, so they'll match.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That's the mission!

[@Darbuinsito]

Please do a video showcasign all of your re-binded books! And talk a bit about them kind of like you did in this video. I'm truly delighted.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I've actually had that exact video idea on the backburner for a couple months now, and I'm glad to know people would like to see it! I only put out videos once a month, but I'll try to move it up the priority list for you!

[@hugh_dancy]

ok wow, so like i just started getting into bookbinding and this is highkey such an educational and also inspirational video. really informative and frankly your end products look STUNNING. this gives me so much hope as a beginner bookbinder, i cannot WAIT to absorb the rest of your videos. thank you !!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I'm just a beginner too, but I've been able to learn a lot from trial and error. In a few months I think I'll put out a video about the mistakes I made early on, so stick around and hopefully that will be helpful to you too!

[@cheyenneb4263]

i don't actually have the resources to do this but i am going through a hard time and for some reason this tutorial is very soothing. i like the way you explain stuff.

[@AloysiaTea]

Your book binding is amazing and your video editing style is so fun and charming I find myself giggling a bit a fair number of times each video, thank you!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so glad you enjoy the editing; My goal is to make these videos a perfect fusion of education and entertainment, and I'm trying to get better every time.

[@MadwomanGaming]

This video was incredible, I love hardcover books and am in the process of converting all my cheap softcover amazon books to have their own unique hardcover. Your designs are so pretty!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much! I'm glad there are fellow book makers out there with the same aspirations as mine.

[@sac7404]

Man this is impressive! I love the design for your Star Wars collection! It just shows much love for the craft you have

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Those were some of my earliest creations so I'm very happy you like them!

[@chelseashepard_]

Okay so this is just an absolutely AMAZING video. You should be a teacher or something. It was executed with perfection, even down to the video editing and humor. You need an award for this. Wonderful job.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much. That is some high praise, and I hope my videos can continue to deserve it.

[@alwayscensored6871]

I have 200 boxes of mostly paperbacks, I think I have found a new lifetime hobby.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Ha! I'm only 60 books or so in, but it's been fun so far!

[@natecus4926]

This video has started a new fun hobby for my wife and I, thank you!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Knowing that you felt able to try it yourself is the most rewarding thing I could hear. So glad you and your wife are enjoying it together. If you have any questions you can always reach me here in the comments.

[@smorrebrodpunk]

I stumbled over your videos a few days ago and am obsessed! As someone just starting out on their book binding journey, I really feel like you have a good sense of what is possible even without all the fancy tools (apart from the plotter maybe) and how to "cheat the system" a bit with vinyl and all that. And I love all the results! Especially the Star Wars and Narnia books! Have you ever considered uploading or selling your book-cover and -spine designs for all the people who have absolutely no talent for designing?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad you like the videos and the little "cheats" too! I've definitely considered making my designs available in the future, possibly as a Patreon/KZbin member perk if I ever do something like that, or maybe on an Etsy store. I'd need to put in a little effort to make them ready for the world, but that possibility is definitely on the table. No immediate plans, but I'm glad to know there's interest!

[@katedolan17]

I second the interest here!! Love the channel and can’t wait to start binding my own books!

[@jenglish311]

7:12 oh wow. When you put the Lionhead right in the center and it fit perfect oh yes right there fits so perfect! You are awesome at binding!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! It's so satisfying when things fit perfectly. When they don't though, it can sure be frustrating!

[@TheFrostwind12]

Wow! Not only is the art of this hobby incredible, but the videos you make are so informative and masterfully edited. Idk if I will ever actually perform this art myself, but just watching these videos is a delight. I just had to say awesome job!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much, you are so kind and your words mean a lot to me. You motivate me to keep trying to do better.

[@coachsmith50]

Great video!! One of the most helpful and concise tutorials I’ve seen yet while falling down this diy bookbinding rabbit hole. Love the clear and direct info, the simple animations to illustrate your points, and all of the helpful design ideas from all of your covers that you’ve done. Thank you for taking the time to make this one. New sub here and I’ll be watching your other vids as well. Thank you!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate the support. My uploads aren't as frequent as I'd like them to be, but I really appreciate you sticking around for them!

[@daneryta]

You did an amazing job!!! Again, I'm always impressed of your skills and how you can explain so easy and simple to understand. Thank you for your hard work, for showing others your talents! I'm so proud of you, as always 😘❤

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much! Your kind support is what keeps me going!

[@bullseye8841]

I've been interested in exploring custom bindings for my comics, so of course that Spider-Man cover at 6:20 just blew me away! :O Beautiful work!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad you liked it! Spider-man comics were an essential part of my childhood so of course they deserved a place of honor on my shelf!

[@Bluepheonix0513]

Most detailed tutorial on vynil cut book cover designs!! Thanks!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You're very welcome! I'm just glad you enjoyed it!

[@codysoo2]

I recently have been trying to get into bookbinding from scratch, and I will definitely be trying your vinyl method to decorate my covers (after I get over my fear of leatherwork that is).

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thankfully bookbinding is about as entry-level as leatherwork gets. All you have to do is cut the leather to shape. No carving or embossing required!

[@jayedwards1894]

Thank you, this video makes me feel so much better about actually planning instead of always making my adjustments on the fly. My attention issues dominate a lot, but processes like yours have inspired me to plan my designs and outcomes to keep me from flying off at a whim.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Planning things out can definitely pay off.

[@reenaznawar7004]

I really want to bind my harry potter books and you DO not know how much I was struggling with just coming up with designs that would look good on all thickness and be cohesive. Your video was so educational and you give such helpful tips! Instantly subscribed, I'm gonna now go and binge all your other bookbinding videos

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome! I'm working on Harry Potter designs right now myself. I hope both our projects turn out perfect! Thanks for the binge session, by the way!

[@madamemoody4170]

This is definitely something I am interested in doing for a beloved series strictly in paper back. I wish there was a more in depth about section of your channel. You are a wonderful simplified resource that I am coming to appreciate. Thank you so much for this!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I really appreciate the feedback! I'm not very techo-savvy, but I know people who are, so tell me a little more about what you'd like to see in the channel and I'll do my best to add things and make it a more satisfying experience for you.

[@greenlantern5513]

@@ingeniusdesigns I personally would be interested in how you work with Illustrator, especially the export of the file so that everything retains the correct proportions.

[@reinaldoalencar8432]

Your videos are amazing and I am simple obsessed with this channel! Can´t stop watching!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You are so kind! I'll try to get more consistent in making future videos so your binge can continue!

[@reinaldoalencar8432]

@@ingeniusdesigns Please do!! I´m sure I´ll not be the only one waiting!

[@jessiesarchet9769]

This is utterly incredible. I’m in awe of your attention to detail.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! The details are the most fun part!

[@nickmiller6095]

Hello! I've been loving this series and you've inspired me to recover my first book as a gift! As a beginner in all things book covers and art, I feel like a video going into detail about how you use adobe illustrator may help a ton of people. It may seem like simple tasks, but for someone who has never done anything using that platform, it can feel daunting doing things as simple as uploading images or moving different objects around; not to mention combining vectors into one. My book has a due date well before I presume this video would be made, but it could be very beneficial for others who watch, or even myself in the future. Thanks!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for the suggestion. I've kept my tips intentionally vague because there are a lot of other great Illustrator tutorials out there and I don't want my viewers to feel like Illustrator is the only program they can succeed with, but if there's enough interest I might get more specific in the future.

[@jonaschilders3321]

@@ingeniusdesignsI also am interested in your more specific illustrator process! I feel like your illustrator process could also be applied generally to other softwares that are similar but free such as Inkscape

[@Zephro97]

I have been waiting so long for this

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much for your patience. It took me forever to learn new animating skills, etc. to express concepts more abstract than those in a normal tutorial. I'm pretty happy to finally have it uploaded too. Off to the next project!

[@Zephro97]

Without a doubt the wait is worth it, as always very well explained, thanks for sharing your knowledge

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad you enjoyed it! I wasn't sure if I was hitting the points people wanted to hear or not, so the positive feedback is greatly appreciated.

[@radishpie]

So many little details I would have never considered and would have had to find out the hard way. Thanks for this 😊

[@ingeniusdesigns]

My pleasure! Happy binding!

[@timfoster5043]

I thought I would be moderately interested. I was wrong! This video is fantastic! Thanks!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Sounds like I need to up my thumbnail and title game though! XD

[@staticbuilds7613]

Beautiful looking books with some really creative designs, especially with the borders

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you! I really appreciate you watching and I hope I could inspire some creative designs in you too!

[@dancefully1]

Dude, you are amazing!! Your design skills are just wow!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I really appreciate that! Thanks for watching!

[@kannika5531]

beautiful cover book. I'm try to find style of cover book. I like this style. Thank you for this video. thank a lot 😊

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Glad you like it! I hope you can make your own!

[@ravenlankford4656]

I can't wait until I try what I've learned from you. I just managed to get my hands on a cricut, and I have a lot of books that I would like to leather bind. Hopefully everything turns out well and I get to make my favorite books look amazing.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome! Keep commenting and let me know how it turns out! There's definitely a learning curve but I'll do what I can to help with future videos.

[@KletosMinistries]

5 videos in so far and I've already learned so much.. i have traditional leather bound books, with no titles for over a year because I thought I needed to buy expensive book stamps from overseas. All that now comes to a close. Thank you. Oh and I appreciate the editing funnies.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

This makes me so happy! I hope that your books can be everything you want them to be. Wish I could see how they turn out! ...and I'm so glad you appreciate my quirky humor :)

[@ThePalaeontologist]

I love this aesthetic and always have. Highly useful video, thank you.

[@emilylane9556]

Thank you so much! The design process has been holding me up the most, specifically how to translate the images I want to use into a design for a vinyl cutter. I’ve yet to come across a better tutorial

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so glad this tutorial hit the spot for you. It can be a bit of a learning curve, but stick with it and don't be afraid to experiment and I'm sure you'll get some satisfying results before long.

[@Amanda.Jayne.]

I love that you bound James Gurney’s books, he’s amazing! ❤ Your videos are so helpful 😊

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad there are other fans out there! Happy bookbinding!

[@arborvitae-k4o]

This is so awesome! From the books I've done so far, the design is actually the most time consuming because I'm super nitpicky about it. Thanks for the tutorial again, I love your editing style so much 🤗🤗

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I totally agree. I may spend a couple weeks tweaking a design until I'm truly happy with it, whereas the actual binding process only takes me a couple days. So glad my quirky editing works for you too!

[@jyack275]

Your Star Wars set looks wicked cool.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Those books deserved better covers :)

[@AwkwardHangups]

This was such a helpful tutorial; thank you! I hadn’t thought of the pixel vs vector issue with the cricut. I’ll have to try they out next time I’m designing.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

It really does make all the difference in the world when it comes to getting precise details. Hope it works for you like it did for me!

[@mostlyghostey]

This was a fantastic tutorial of what you are thinking about when designing a book. It was well put together too, if a little cheesy. But who doesn’t love some cheese now and then?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm a cheese addict both literally and metaphorically. My enjoyment of a video is directly proportional to the number of gags I can put in it.

[@renske9637]

Absolutely amazing video! Also a bit off topic, however did I spot an airbender glider on the wall? Never before have I been this jealous.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Ha! You certainly did spot that! If you're jealous you can find a full tutorial series elsewhere on the channel, so I encourage you to make one too!!

[@renske9637]

@@ingeniusdesigns Oho well I know my next project to tackle, I'm definitely going to check out that tutorial. Thanks for letting me know!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome! Good luck!

[@3ddify]

Looks fantastic, thanks for the tutorial! I can't wait until my workstation is set up this fall so I can try my own

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Awesome. So glad to hear you're going to try it!

[@coreygaunt9316]

Love your videos sir! They truly are inspiring. I'm curious to learn how you made the isolated black sections on your spines for the titles and the author sections! I want to break into this so badly, and your videos help to make it seem less daunting!

[@danny0bri3n]

Very cool design!! Loved the video and thanks for all the helpful tips and info

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! So glad you found it helpful.

[@srsssssssss]

I love the specific links in the description! Keep up the great work!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks, I appreciate the feedback! I'll keep trying to include the specific links in the future.

[@TheOddSusie]

You should make a book binding asmr channel! I bet it would do well! 😁 then you could put a link in the description of a short course showing people how to bind their own books! Yes I am trying to think of ways for you to make money easily because you are awesome and your books are incredible and you deserve it !!

[@theillitistpro]

The dinosaur is why I subscribed. 😆

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Then good news! There are many more dinosaurs to come!

[@seanbohan3676]

Bravo! I was looking forward to this. Great tutorial.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Sorry for taking so long to get it out, but it's thanks to the encouragement of patient people like you that this channel exists in the first place.

[@matthewfife2055]

I have been getting into book binding over the last few months and your videos have been such a huge help. I’ve watched the book binding ones scores of times each. I bought a cricut and adobe illustrator after I saw you used them and have purchased basically everything you suggested down to the same type of glue and chipboard. My big problem is I just cannot get cricut to cut out the images like I need it to. I’ve watched video after video on how to speak computer. I’ve watched all your linked tutorial videos and I actually have a background in photoshop so illustrator wasn’t a totally new tool for me. But for some reason I just cannot get the cricut to even upload some of my most basic images I want to cut for book covers. Other will be a very small image and it will say the image is too large. After hours of tutorials and KZbin videos I decided to just contact you directly. If you were standing over my shoulder you could probably tell me what I was doing wrong in 5 seconds. Is there anyway I can email you? If so, I can very clearly innumerate my issues and questions to make it as easy for you as possible. Either way, thanks for the fantastic videos and hope to see more soon!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Matthew, I'm so glad you've felt empowered to try bookbinding, but after buying so many tools it must be so frustrating to run into those problems! I really feel for you. I will try to set up a channel email as soon as I can so you can show me your issue in more detail. I'll let you know when that is up and running by responding again to this comment.

[@salpimientae]

Thank you so much for your videos. Looking forward to getting into this as a hobby :D

[@tacticalleather766]

I actually avoid having books in my house because I didn’t wanna store them on the shelf unless they were uniform. I actually keep them all in the garage. If my wife watches your videos she’s going to make me bind all the books and bring them into the house. I think you might’ve ruined my life😜

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Sounds serious! Better unsubscribe, dislike, and block the channel! XD

[@acornhomestead3575]

It's because she knows you secretly love your books😂😂

[@Polymorphist]

If you watched this vid you just know you secretly want to bind all those books! Do it!!! 😂

[@michaelfourie345]

Think of it as an investment for your children. In 25 -30 years people will part with serious money for a professionally bound book that they love (as the do even now). If the booklover wants a particular book - the urge is overpowering. (Just ask my bank manager) 😊

[@michaelfourie345]

​@@ingeniusdesignsSacrilege!!!

[@ngtskynebula]

Marvellous guide! Thank you very much! ☺️💘

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!!

[@appleslions4934]

This is amazing! Thank you for making this!!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for your kind words! I'm glad it was meaningful for you!

[@clemjones1264]

Can you walk through the print process?

[@steeddouglas]

Id love to know more details on how you do your vinyl and maybe some tips and trick. I just bought a vinyl printer, and its been a trainwreck. Havent had anything cool like yours turn out. I dont know if its just the blade, or the printer itself. But would love to learn more from you.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry you've been running into trouble. I can't diagnose the problem without being there, but I'll give you a little more information on my setup. A sharp blade is definitely important. My vinyl cutter is a Cricut Maker and I cut my vinyl on the "Washi sheet" preset with "more pressure." I also use Siser brand easyweed heat transfer vinyl. It's possible that the vinyl might contribute. Could you elaborate on the problems you're having?

[@berits.2346]

Wow. Just Wow. I grew up "analog" so the digital possibilities these days often escape me. I have neither the time nor the knowledge to create something digital if I could just take a pen a draw it. But I would love to bind some books and create opulent covers. I wonder if that foil sticks on anything other than leather as well?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I didn't demonstrate it in this video, but I often draw my own images, scan them, and then make them into vector images. The foil sticks to all kinds of things!

[@SiddharthBhatt24]

That dinosaur animation made me subscribe

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Ha! I'm so glad it was appreciated. It was just so fun for me to try and do "special effects" in my video. Welcome aboard!

[@alanabratz9458]

I’m glad I found you!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Me too! Thanks for watching.

[@braydonp1994]

I’m just now discovering your channel and want to know anything you can tell about the beautiful glider hanging on your wall, I am a huge ATLA fan and would love to have something similar!! Also, love everything doing!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! I'm a huge fan too. If you search earlier in the channel's videos you can actually find a four-part tutorial on how the glider was made!

[@megankenway8757]

Hi! Firstly, I love these videos on rebinding books! You’re one of the only people I’ve seen use leather and vinyl, and before I saw your videos, I wasn’t even sure it worked. Thank you for showing that it can work and that the results are so beautiful! Secondly, I have questions I hope you might have an answer to…1) I know vinyl is a relatively new material in the bookbinding world, so is there any idea how long a leather bound book with vinyl cover art will last? 2) I want to rebind a graphic novel series that was originally a webcomic, but it’s not all in print yet. Do you have any advice for creating a design, particularly the spine, that can accommodate an unknown number of future books?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much for your kind words! I'm so glad this video was able to answer some of your questions. As for the two points you posed, it's impossible to know how long vinyl will last because the technology itself has only been around for 50 years or so, but I can at least tell you that when being used primarily for display, my books have lasted 4-5 years without any loss of quality. Gold foil is the more proven method for cover decoration, sometimes lasting hundreds of years if preserved well, but on the other hand gold foil can rub off pretty quickly if the book is well-loved. I have a whole video on the topic of selecting supplies based on longevity and other goals, which you can find here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4apoqx8r5uVntk As for designing spines, I recommend following the formula that I demonstrated in this video: Start with artwork that functions as a frame in each section of the spine, and that can be expanded laterally if needed. For example, you could do a square border with little designs in each corner. Then you could just make the box as wide as each book needed and put the designs in the corners without having to stretch them. Then you put some artwork that floats in the middle and doesn't touch the outer frame. I hope that helps!

[@AbrahamGebretnsaeMELO]

Hi, I am very much addicted to watching your videos. I have books that I inherited from my great-great-grandfather. Bible [New Testament, songs are few to mention]. I always wished to get a mentor such as you who can guide me to learn how to bind my books. Well, glad I got you. I plan to use my spare time to decorate my books. Are there any consecutive classes you give by chance, I am eager to learn. Thanks

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much! I don't have any consecutive classes so far, just this channel to share my thoughts, but if you have any particular questions I am always available here in the comments, and often people's comments inspire my future videos! I've also been thinking of having some people send me pictures of their creations to review here on the channel so I could respond to individual needs more. That might be a couple of months out, but maybe it would be helpful for you?

[@AbrahamGebretnsaeMELO]

@@ingeniusdesigns thank you for replying. I would be super happy if you could recommend where I can buy the leather and the golden decorations and tools as well. Thank you

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Will do!

[@billyjohnesterhuizen6340]

BRILLIANT MY FRIEND.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Good luck designing your own covers!

[@vito_vazquez]

Another Amazing video! Thanks for sharing your knowledge and experience! Would you be so kind to let me know what machine are you using to cut the gold foil and what foil would you recommend for leather? Many thanks!!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I use a Cricut maker and heat transfer vinyl to make my designs. You can find a list of the products I use on my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/ingenius.designs Thanks for asking and good luck with your book re-binding adventures!!

[@guillermocollazo364]

First time watching your videos, Im loving this and now I want to do it. I do some bookbinding but never these kind of covers. What kind of program do you use? where can i get that gold paper? Do you need a special printer? So many questions!!!

[@omigus]

Was hoping one of your videos if you can itemize the materials you use and where you get it. To include the glue you use etc… I’m wearing my wife down and sooner or later I’m going to be able to gather everything I need to start binding :) trying to build your homemade wood press first!!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for the idea. I have some of the things I use listed in the description of part 2 of my tutorial, but I could make a dedicated video or community post with a more itemized list if there's interest. Probably going to upload a video about that press soon as well, although it's simple enough that I bet you have it figured out already :)

[@omigus]

@@ingeniusdesigns what you ever consider making a leather-bound book with gauffered edges. It’s another old style I personal think looks amazing on a nice leather-bound edition.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I agree. Gauffered edges look fantastic. The day may come when I try to figure that out, and if I succeed you can bet there will be a tutorial on it! But it's not part of my skill set yet. I'm still working my way through the basics. I do have a video coming up soon on affordable ways to do traditional gold tooling (as opposed to my normal vinyl decorations) though!

[@omigus]

@@ingeniusdesigns I can’t wait and I’m glad to hear! You got me as a subscriber I enjoy all the bookbinding videos!!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I appreciate your subscription and your support!

[@alexandroy1662]

Hi, many thanks for the amazing content, you are a true master of this. Can you please let me know which vinyl cutter machine are you using? I'm completely new to this and honestly your video gave me hope that even I can do this :) So which machine do you think would be the best price quality wise? Cheap that is :)

[@forestfire3549]

This video is fantastic! I never considered the software's reading of the tessellated designs in terms of its cut points and I'm so glad you brought that up! I'm just starting researching branching my bookbinding into creating foil covers like these, would you be able to link which product you use to cut the vinyl?? I see many available online but I am unsure which is the best for home use, and which can take the right files etc. Is it a cricut product??? Thank you so much for your help!!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much for your awesome feedback! Yes, that is a Cricut, although other competitor products would probably work as well. I have listed most of the products I use on my Amazon storefront, for your convenience. Check it out if you're interested! amzn.to/3PtVkkX

[@ryanflynn6265]

This is so extremely helpful, thank you for taking the time to put your videos together! Quick question: what kind of vinyl cutter do you use and do you have a preference on the actual vinyl material brand to buy?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so glad the video came in handy for you! I use a Cricut Maker, although other types of cutters would probably work too. If you're interested in the specific vinyls or any other other products I use, you can find them on my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/ingenius.designs?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsfshop_aipsfingenius.designs_CT9CQGGNV4BMQTZ6K4RS Thanks again for your support!

[@Ms_AP_]

I was unable to share this video to Facebook because it says "user has opted out of this platform". Is that a setting that you can turn on? I'd love to see more videos about how you use illustrator to create these designs. Yours is the first videos I've found that I think I could actually follow! Great work and thanks for posting these!!!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for reaching out. I'm so flattered that you want to share my video! I'm sure that will help my channel a lot. I looked into your question a bit and apparently it's a Facebook setting thing on your end. Here's a link to a site that seems to address what you're talking about. www.buzzsprout.com/help/76-facebook-share-issue-user-opted-out-of-platform Good luck with that, and I'll see you around the channel!

[@ricketysticks]

Desperately been wanting to get into bookbinding to be able to make my own journals since my taste has apparently become so refined that I can't find any for sale that suit me, and your tutorials are the first I've seen that are clear and easy enough to follow that I feel I can reliably understand them when I finally get around to trying to bookbind for the first time. I do have some questions though; is vinyl decor very durable for every-day use? What kind of vinyl cutter do you use?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Great questions. I discuss the potential longevity of vinyl decorations in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/d4apoqx8r5uVntk TLDR: The technology is new enough that it's hard to be certain how long it will last. It's not as proven a method as foil stamping, but of course gold foil can rub off with time and use too. I haven't had any problem with vinyl coming off my books that are 4 or so years old, but they are used pretty lightly. As for the vinyl cutter and other supplies I use, you can find them all on my Amazon storefront: amzn.to/3PtVkkX Good luck with your new hobby! It was my goal to make the videos that I wished I'd had when I started, so I'm really glad you're finding the tutorials easy to understand.

[@mariloudemers4224]

Hello! Your videos are amazing! Can you tell what kind of cricut you use for the gold transfer on leather ? Did you try on vynil leather ( will it melt? ) Thanks so so much for sharing thoses wonderfull skills you have !

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Hi, thanks so much for watching and for your kind feedback! You can find most of the tools I demonstrate (including the Cricut) on my Amazon storefront: amzn.to/3PtVkkX I hope that helps to answer your questions!

[@1thebeatlesfan]

this is so helpful. thank you so much

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad you found the content useful. A lot of people requested this topic but I was really worried that I might not be addressing the points that people actually wanted to hear about.

[@1thebeatlesfan]

@@ingeniusdesigns It couldn't be better explained!! You're a very capable teacher.

[@justlanchen]

These are soooo good

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@pricemathieson1727]

Really great videos! I’m about to follow along and try my first one. Would you mind sharing one of the Adobe Illustrator designs you did so I can start with a solid foundation before tackling my own?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I'd be happy to send a file, although I don't have a channel email set up. And I'm not sure if the books I've done would be interesting to you or not. Although maybe you just need it to practice cutting the vinyl?

[@pricemathieson1727]

@@ingeniusdesigns I am looking to make a leatherbound copy of "Of Mice and Men" to give to my wife for our first anniversary. It was the first book we read together and she has always said she wanted a leatherbound book collection. Is there some way you could send me the file for the design you did with the lion so I could swap the lion out for a mouse? I keep responding with my email address, but I think KZbin is filtering it out.

[@navyguywandell]

I would also be interested some of your book designs. We have very similar taste in books and the ones I wanted to do first were the narnia series and the LOTR series. I dont know how I could send you my email without everyone being able to access it. However I'd be intrested as well. Thanks.

[@kevino2139]

I have to say I really enjoyed your videos. I would love to be able to do this what are the odds you can provide some templates? Also your video made me think of Ecclesiastes 12:12 says, "And further, by these, my son, be admonished: of making many books there is no end;..."

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I've considered making templates, but because many of my books involve elements I purchased and am not allowed to re-sell, my hands are kind of tied. It would take some work, but maybe someday I'll be able to put together some asset packs which are 100% my own. I love the scripture reference, by the way. That should totally go on my wall!

[@thepigdot]

I love your videos and had a question for you if that's okay! I have had massive trouble getting the vinyl to stick, especially to the spine, even with practice. After much googling it seems the leather I've got has a coating on it that resists the vinyl which you can remove with acetone but then it's a different colour. How have you got round this? Is there a specific type of leather you look for that doesn't have this problem?

[@johnbirkel7626]

You are absolutely amazing. These have absolutely inspired me to take a crack at it! I just got a silhouette cameo 4 and I am really looking forward to doing some books with it. In your opinion. Is it fairly easy to weed out those incredibly complex designs? Does it take hours of weeding time? Truly spectacular work. Also do you have a preferred source for thin bookbinding leather?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Great questions! I'm so glad that you're feeling ready to try it! As for the weeding, it can definitely take forever if you do something with a million small spots that have to be removed, but if you design carefully so most of the spots for weeding connect to each other, then it speeds things up dramatically. As for the leather, stay tuned because I'm working on a video addressing that literally today. Hopefully I can upload it for you soon!

[@jessicagross389]

This is such a helpful video! Can you tell me what brand of vinyl cutter you use? The ones I am seeing seem to only be compatible with the software of the same brand, which I think will really limit what designs I am able to produce. Thanks!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm so glad you found this helpful! I use a Cricut Maker. As you noted, Cricut has its own design software, and the same is true of other brands, but you can upload images that you made in other software. Any brand of vinyl cutter should work, but if you want a Cricut Maker, consider supporting the channel by purchasing through my Amazon storefront: www.amazon.com/shop/ingenius.designs/list/1ZDGXFNRT7CO7?ref_=cm_sw_r_cp_ud_aipsflist_aipsfingenius.designs_1ASYMDYYDMV68TG4JYY2

[@leoa1989]

Amazing! Did you get a printer to print the designs or you do it somewhere else?

[@KossolaxtheForesworn]

what is the vinyl cutter machine youre using? I was thinking of getting one to get started with.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I use a Cricut Maker, although other products are likely to work just as well. Thanks for the question!

[@CastleStar5596]

Im thinking of doing this for my spawn books and keeping it simple with black vinyl cover with green foil spawn emblem and logo

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That sounds like a great place to start. My first books were very simple and I gradually worked my way into more complex designs as I grew and learned. That doesn't mean the more complicated designs are always better though. There's a lot of elegance in simplicity.

[@navyguywandell]

Can you offer a step by step on design cover ? Laying out margins, using designs and making it all spaced correctly? Thank you

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Good question. I tried to keep to generally applicable instructions in this video so that it could apply regardless of the software you have. To get much more detailed I would need to focus more on how I use Adobe Illustrator specifically. Do you have Illustrator or some other software?

[@navyguywandell]

@@ingeniusdesigns if you make a video using illustrator, ill buy it. I have been experimenting with inkscape, silhouette, and the circut designer. One of my biggest issues is getting everything lined up and centered. Figuring out how to use the filigree and make it all symmetrical, plus inverting the images to make them negatives. Thanks. Justin

[@navyguywandell]

Ok, i got illustrator, can you do a tutorial on how you design boom covers?

[@mysterydelivery]

This is wonderful. Thanks for much for sharing with us. What vinyl cutter brand do you use, and where do you order your glue, vinyl and leather from?

[@mysterydelivery]

Just saw in another comment that you mentioned Cricut, so I've got it in my Amazon cart ready to go lol. Still struggling to find vinyl that doesn't cost a million dollars per sheet, and same with thin leather ☹

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I've actually started a video which will answer all your questions in excruciating detail! Unfortunately these first months of the year are always super busy for me professionally, so it will take a bit to get that video out. Still, I'm on the case! As I'm sure you can tell from the price of a Cricut, buying all the supplies just to bind one book is not very cost effective, but if you plan on doing multiple it becomes much more reasonable.

[@mysterydelivery]

@@ingeniusdesigns Oh that's great. Thanks for that. I can certainly wait until the video is out :) Yes, I plan on doing multiples, as I'm an avid reader. This hobby is quite expensive, but certainly worth it! Since your video is still underway, I'll have some time to save up for the rest of the supplies lol Thanks again :)

[@ingeniusdesigns]

My pleasure! Thanks for supporting the channel and I look forward to seeing you around!

[@vantasiascauldron1861]

Can you please activate caption and transkription? The automatic translation doesn't need to me perfect, it will still help be to follow along as I can't hear. Thank you so much for your tutorials, they helped me a lot on my own bookbinding journey.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much for the tip. I'm new at this and I thought that KZbin did closed captions automatically. I just tried following a tutorial to add captions to this video. Could you let me know if it worked? If it did, I'll do the same thing to my other videos.

[@vantasiascauldron1861]

@@ingeniusdesigns , thank you so much for looking into it. All your other videos are with captions and transcription. Except this one. I still can't use the caption button, it's still deactivated. KZbin still does add closed captions automatically, but I assume you have to check the box for it somewhere in the video settings. ❤

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Strange. It did have an automatic English transcript that it said was published, but I tried re-publishing it just now. Keep up the feedback. I'll figure it out eventually.

[@vantasiascauldron1861]

@@ingeniusdesigns , it's working, it's working! *Happy dance.* Thank you, this will be a study night now. ♥️

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Wonderful! Enjoy!!

[@sommerschwin5479]

Hi, Do you sell your book-cover and -spine designs? Would defiantly be interested in that. Your designs are gorgeous! I cant wait to get into making my own books but not very creative in the cover design area. Thanks so much for the great videos.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thank you so much! I have considered selling the designs before, but since I use a lot of elements from online that are only free for personal use, I can't sell a lot of them currently. In the future I'll try to use all original elements so maybe I can put together something like what you're talking about.

[@yenna6146]

Hi there, thank you for the awesome content! I've practically binge-watched all your bookbinding videos and plan to follow along to your recommendations, so thank you so much for giving so much detail in your videos! Just a question though, could you next time give us a little sneak peek in what actual machinery you're using? I mean, are you using a Cricut for cutting the vinyl, or are you using another machine?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for asking! I do use a Cricut--A Cricut Maker specifically. I just don't get too deep into the specifics in my videos because I don't want to alienate people who have different software or machinery than I do. If you have any questions about my exact settings, materials, etc. I'd be happy to answer here in the comments though! Thanks so much for watching my videos--it means a lot to me!

[@Marianaferrazzo]

Hello, I'm loving your channel! I've been bookbinding for just over three years now and I'm quite confident working with leather, in addition to regular bookcloth. However, I'm having quite a bit of trouble with gilding. I've tried using gold foil, but it just doesn't work out. It's nothing but a headache! My heated tools never seem good enough. I loved your technique with HTV. I've tested it with a generic film I found around here. In Brazil, we don't have as much variety of vinyls available, and the one I tried adhered perfectly to regular bookcloth but didn't stick to resin-coated leather. On a variety of leather I have here, which is unfinished with resin, it worked perfectly. Do you know why this happens? How could I solve this problem? Thanks again for the videos!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

It sounds like you have discovered the same thing as I have: There are certain leather coatings which are just not very compatible with HTV. I would also avoid waxed or oiled finishes on leather. I'm not aware of a way to solve the problem, since that would require stripping away the leather finish, and most products that can do that can also strip away some of the leather dye. I hate to say it, but trial and error is probably the best policy. Buy a little of the leather you're interested in, and if it works well, buy a lot! With experience you'll start to get a feel for which leathers are more likely to work and which are less likely. If you'd like any more advice on leather purchasing, consider checking out this video of mine: kzbin.info/www/bejne/q4XJoZ2ph5p_mNk

[@VibesOfVinegar]

Ah Hah! I see your Johnathan Stroud corner! I think you'd like Sabriel by Garth Nix if you liked the Bartimaeus Trilogy.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Good eyes! I'll have to check it out!

[@FantasyApprentice]

I wanted to do this for one of my copys of treasure Island, but I'm not sure of the leather color or desining for it at all

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Getting that first idea is often a hard barrier to overcome. I don't know your personal artistic taste, of course, but if you might pick a leather color that matches your interior decorating and any other favorite books you might have on your shelf. As for the designs, there are plenty of nautically themed icons you could use, of course, but since this is a special book to you I think only you can know what symbols best capture your feelings about the story. I almost always have a few failed concepts before I pick a design I really like, so feel free to brainstorm on the back of a napkin if you need to!

[@FantasyApprentice]

@@ingeniusdesigns thank you so much for the advice and I don't have singular leather book, so I was thiniking blue with the ship from R.L. Stevensens orignal map

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That sounds perfect!

[@aarongooodwin7413]

These videos have helped me so much whilst learning how to make a fake book cover look as realistic as posible! I am having a little trouble with getting the foil to adhere to the leather but will try a different brand! how long do you hold the iron down for until you find it has attatched? Thanks again!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

So glad my little contributions can help! As you mentioned, the brand of HTV can definitely be problematic. I went through a phase of trying out lots of different cheapo brands, and in the end I ended up back with Siser brand Easyweed HTV. It's definitely not the cheapest, but it sticks fastest and best. With that brand it generally only takes 8-15 seconds in one spot for the vinyl to adhere. Each vinyl has a different time, temperature, and pressure that it needs though. Siser brand just happens to be particularly easy to work with. You actually do have to make sure not to keep the heat on there for TOO long though. If the adhesive melts too much it can become runny and start to spread out from underneath the vinyl, which makes it difficult to remove the vinyl from the clear backing. If you've played around with a few brands of vinyl and you're still having trouble, then the leather may be your problem. Certain leathers, particularly those with very dark colors and waxy/oily finishes just don't take the adhesive as well. When I end up with a nasty piece of leather it is a VERY slow process trying to coax the vinyl to stick to the leather instead of the backing. I will heat the corner of the design for a few seconds, peel up the corner of the backing, slip a piece of baking paper between the vinyl and the backing, and then heat it again so it has nothing else to stick to but the leather (pretty much nothing sticks to baking paper). Then I gradually work my way through the rest of the design, repeating the same process. Sorry if that was way more of a ramble than you wanted, but hopefully something will help! Good luck and thanks for supporting the channel!

[@aarongooodwin7413]

@@ingeniusdesigns that's a fantastic reply! I saw your other comments and ordered me some siser foil from ebay to give it a go! I struggldd to find it anywhere in the UK! I think it may be because i am using chrome tanned leathed, my other hobby / side hussle is leather craft and i have lots of leather to test out on. Chrome tanned does not want to seem to work! I also think i may have been holding for too long as that 'leakage' you spoke about happened a lot! Thanks for the advice!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I'm sorry the HTV was difficult to get! As for the chrome tanned leather, I doubt that is the problem, since I have used lots of chrome tan without any difficulty. Some specific hides do seem to have finishes on them that don't want to be stuck to though. I'm working on a video where I'll go into more depth comparing the merits of chrome and vegetable tanning for the kind of book re-binding that I do, but since you're a leathercraft guru I imagine you know all that stuff already!

[@aarongooodwin7413]

@@ingeniusdesigns hmmmm, ok then! It might just be this particular leatheri am working with! I shall have a little look through and see what we have going on *two hours later* i now have a diverse pile of leathers. None stick, hard stick and easy stick! I look forward to your future videos! You have been a great help

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Ooh awesome, tell me more about what you learned in those two hours of experimentation! Did you find any patterns to what made the HTV stick better or worse in a particular case? Was it the finish? The tanning method (I've heard that alum tawed is really finicky)? The color? The grain? Maybe it still feels random, but if you have any useful info to share I would love to hear it!

[@Chief_Linguine]

5:05 what is the stamp shape called on the cover of the phantom tollbooth

[@ingeniusdesigns]

There are a few "stamps" in that design, but I think you might be referring to the border. That design is called a "greek key pattern" or "meander pattern."

[@Chief_Linguine]

@@ingeniusdesigns the main one on the cover my apologies, the large inner spiraling one.

[@jbeck1234]

I love this channel! Thank you for the wealth of info for a newbie. Question: If for some reason you covered your cover art with heat transfer vinyl for sale, do you think it would last through a customers use? Or would heat foiling be safer?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Great question! I'm actually planning to address this point directly in a video coming out in a month or two, but the short answer is that it depends on what kind of use you're expecting. Most of my books have been used primarily for display with occasional reading, and the vinyl has held up for a couple of years already without incident. I imagine most people who ordered a volume like this would also plan to keep it as a treasured edition rather than stuff it in a backpack or something. I've seen several Etsy sellers using vinyl on their books, and customers seem happy, although only time will tell if vinyl can last for decades or not...

[@jbeck1234]

@@ingeniusdesigns thank you for the quick reply! One other question..I saw you painting a coating on your books after applying the vinyl. What is It that you use?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I use Eco-flo Super Shene, which you can order from Tandy Leather, Amazon, or Etsy.

[@zachhalliwell553]

For the super shiny vinyl do you use the Siser Metal HTV? I noticed that one says it doesn’t adhere to leather like the easy weed ones do.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

For those I'm using Cricut Foil Iron-on.

[@zachhalliwell553]

@@ingeniusdesigns oh cool I’ll try that out, thanks!

[@willalexander62]

This may be a silly question but what do you do once you’ve created the design on illustrator ? Can you then send it it a company to have it printed on vinyl you mentioned ?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I export the file as an SVG and then cut it out with a Cricut (any vinyl cutter would work though). If you have a friend with a vinyl cutter then they should be able to help you out!

[@RSC_Arts]

Wow, Great Video! You're cover designs are fun and amazing. Do you know if the HTV works with Buckram?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I've never tried it on buckram specifically, but it works on most fabrics. Give it a try and comment your findings!

[@avedurham]

I haven't finished watching yet. Around the 1 minute mark you show a bunch of books in a gorgeous royal blue color. This is the color I want to bind my books in for my office. I'm having a really hard time finding blue leather that isn't navy. Can you tell me where you found that leather?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I got that leather on Ebay, which is where I get most of my leather. My next video will actually break down how and where I get my leather in detail, so stick around the channel and hopefully you'll get all the answers you need!

[@XX-le1wn]

What if I want to make a diary, and I want to put a lock on it (Visually I prefer the old school/retro kind of diary lock). Do you know where I can look, so I can attach a lock for the diary I want to make without destroying the look, or making the diary look ugly?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

The simplest way to do this would be to have a separate strip of leather that goes around the entire book, and then putting a lock on the two ends of the leather strip. To keep it from just sliding off, you could sew a loop into the cover that your leather strap could pass through. To find locks that might work, try searching for "journal lock" or "notebook hasp" or something similar on the internet.

[@laurajthmpsn17]

I'm sure you've answered this somewhere I'm just struggling to find... when you send the design to your cutting machine on the washi setting, how do you get it to cut through the foil only (not the plastic)? looking at your Aslan design, it seems like you've magicked the machine into not cutting through the plastic so that the foil design stays attached to the plastic and you can lift it off the cutting mat in one piece. Hopefully that makes sense... the problem I'm running into is that my machine will cut all the way through the foil quill sheet leaving my design on the mat, so I can't take it off without taking off little pieces individually which wrecks the design

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Good question. The answer will probably depend on the HTV you are using as well as the cutting machine. With my HTV and using my Cricut Maker, I select the "washi sheet" preset and then select "more" pressure. That seems to allow me to get fine detail without much difficulty weeding and without cutting through the backing. I think you must be using too much pressure. Perhaps you can look up some tutorials to get the best results from HTV on your machine.

[@laurajthmpsn17]

@@ingeniusdesigns so, all the examples I've found in my research use a heavier weight HTV like the Siser gold you've mentioned you used. I've got the We R Memory Keepers foil quill that has kind of like a silver backing (from your amazon recommends list), which doesn't really "peel off" like the Siser does. I can see in your video above that you use the duller Siser for most of your cover design, but the Aslan is the shinier foil quill I have. I can't seem to find ANY tutorials that aren't just using a heat pen to transfer the foil quill to a piece of cardstock (as opposed to cutting through it and "peeling" it somehow). Help?? Do you just use the washi sheet preset with more pressure without a mat for foil quill on your machine for the foil quill as well as the Siser? I'm happy to look at someone else's tutorial, I just can't seem to find any for cricut or any other cutting machine that cuts through the thinner sheets of foil quill!

[@carenbuchanan6336]

This is a great video and just the info i was looking for. My question is (and i'm sure you've answered it 1000 times but i can't find it) What vinyl do you use?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

No worries! I use Siser brand Easyweed HTV (gold color). For the bright reflective foil I usually use Cricut brand heat transfer foil.