How to Design Original Book Covers: DIY Bookbinding Tutorial

This video follows the basic process I use to design original cover art for the books I re-bind. I understand that not everyone will have access to some of the exact tools I use, like Adobe Illustrator or Cricut Design Space, so I have tried to keep my comments general enough to apply to whatever technology you have access to. If you do have Illustrator, here are some links to more detailed tutorials by other KZbinrs that will help you execute some of the things you see me do in the video:
Convert pixel image to vector: • HOW TO TURN ANY IMAGE ...
Convert stroke to object: • DART 100 Illustrator S...
Convert text to object: • Convert Text to Shape ...
Fuse shapes with Shape Builder tool: • Learn How To Use the S...
If you are interested in any of the supplies I feature, click the link below for a one-stop shop on my Amazon storefront. Buying there doesn't cost any extra and it helps to support the channel!
amzn.to/3PtVkkX
0:00 Introduction
0:49 Beginning With the End in Mind
3:31 Basic Cover Layout
4:37 Designing Cover Art
7:18 What About Series?
8:00 Technical Considerations
10:12 Conclusion

[@AnnaDumbledore]

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

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That's the mission!

[@lucyricardo8713]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@Crazy_Gamer_Girl]

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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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 :)

[@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.

[@user-sc3st1kz5s]

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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@salpimientae]

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

[@carlosandreyoviedomiranda7731]

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!

[@carlosandreyoviedomiranda7731]

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.

[@appleslions4934]

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

[@ingeniusdesigns]

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

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!!!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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

[@ngtskynebula]

Marvellous guide! Thank you very much! ☺️💘

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You're very welcome! Thanks for watching!!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@billyjohnesterhuizen6340]

BRILLIANT MY FRIEND.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Good luck designing your own covers!

[@alanabratz9458]

I’m glad I found you!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Me too! Thanks for watching.

[@theillitistpro]

The dinosaur is why I subscribed. 😆

[@ingeniusdesigns]

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

[@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!

[@justlanchen]

These are soooo good

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Glad you're enjoying the videos!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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!

[@jyack275]

Your Star Wars set looks wicked cool.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! Those books deserved better covers :)

[@emilywolfe468]

Yay, thank you!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for your patience.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@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!

[@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?

[@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!

[@RalphContreras]

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!

[@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!!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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?

[@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

[@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.

[@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!

[@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.

[@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.

[@showplusbiz]

Wow.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Glad you enjoyed! Thanks for watching!

[@Sbellmer1910]

Where do you recommend getting leather for a first bookbinding project? I saw in an earlier comment that you get some on eBay but was wondering if you think any from a craft store would be okay? I have to touch it to understand haha. Also what keywords do you use to search? Love your videos and can't wait to try this. 💖

[@ingeniusdesigns]

You can use leather from craft stores. I once used some I got at Hobby Lobby and it worked fine, but it was overpriced and not available in the color I wanted. I've also gone to Tandy Leather (my main source for non-bookbinding leathercraft needs) but again I found the cost prohibited. In the end, Ebay became my go-to for affordable leather in a variety of colors. My search terms are usually the thickness of the leather, the type of leather, and the color of leather. For example "1.5 oz navy blue goatskin hide" or "2 oz black sheepskin hide." I totally understand wanting to get your hands on it before purchasing, since that's how I usually feel about leather too. Nevertheless, you'll find that if you search for thin weights (I usually go for between 1.5 and 2 oz but thinner would be fine, just NOT thicker than 2.5 oz) and look carefully at the photos you can usually pick out a decent hide online. One of the main things I look at is whether the leather lies flat or not in the photos. If there are wrinkles in it, then that means it's probably flexible enough for my purposes. If it lies perfectly flat and smooth then it may be too stiff for bookbinding. Hope that helps! Good luck with your projects!

[@Sbellmer1910]

Brilliant! I can't wait to get started!!

[@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!

[@user-vb8xj3lf3k]

I love you From japan

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for supporting the channel

[@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

[@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!

[@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!

[@kingsfriend8029]

wow

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks! Glad you enjoyed the video.

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@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!

[@SANSd20]

How well does the vinyl hold up and what brand/type do you use?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Siser brand easyweed HTV in the gold color. I haven't put any of my books through substantial abuse yet (haven't subjected them to being carted around in kids' backpacks to school, etc.) but for display and occasional reading I haven't had any problems with the vinyl yet. The oldest of my homemade covers is only 2.5 years old or so, though, so I can't speak to what might happen decades down the line. Hope that helps!

[@randosa1948]

When do you put the design on the leather? Do you put it on before you do the raised hubs or after you do them

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I put the design on after the hubs are in place and the leather is all glued to the chipboard. The leather gets stretched when it is applied, so it can't be decorated before it's put on the book. Here's a video that goes over the whole process in order. Hope that helps! kzbin.info/www/bejne/maGthHSpfLqVnZI&ab_channel=IngeniusDesigns

[@randosa1948]

@@ingeniusdesigns Yes it does, thank you!

[@wsalinas1]

I love your art..!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks so much! I really appreciate it!

[@ZaxarPal]

How did you make such small and detailed images like Lord of the Rings dark language logo on spine of the LOTR book? Im trying to find commercial vinyl cutting services but so far all I found they have limitation to 1mm width of the line. Which machine do you have? Is there other way to make heat transfer vinyl images? Something like printers.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

The tiny text on the LOTR spine is probably the upper limit of my detail capability, and the lines are around 1mm thick (or only slightly less). The key is to start with an SVG (vector) image. That way the vinyl cutter will accurately trace even the tiniest designs. I use a Cricut Maker with a standard blade, and I use the "washi sheet" material setting with "more pressure" when I execute the cut. As for other methods, I'm not aware of a heat transfer vinyl method that works with a printer instead of a vinyl cutter. I guess a sublimation printer might be able to transfer ink designs on a book but it would probably be more expensive than using a vinyl cutter. Hope that helps in some tiny way!

[@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!

[@randosa1948]

How do you get it to cut so clean and precise? I have been trying to get my Cricut explore air 2 to cut a book cover I just made using the Siser gold HTV, I have tried so many custom setting changes but it still doesn't cut it perfectly, instead of cutting it so it stays stuck to the carrier it cuts it so the text and intricate designs stick up and it leaves the cut portion stuck to the uncut ones still (if that makes any sense). Is it the cutter I am using? and if so what cutter do you use? Or, is it the settings that I have it on, and if so what settings do you use? Hoping you can help!

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I use a Cricut Maker, so I assume that what I do with my machine should work reasonably for you. Even though I am working with HTV, I get the best results from cutting with the "washi sheet" preset, and then selecting "more" pressure. I'm not sure if those preset options are the same for the Explore Air 2, but hopefully that helps. There's also always the possibility that your blade may be dull, covered in some kind of gunk, or needs to be replaced. Hope something in there helps!

[@randosa1948]

I will try that! Thank you for your help!

[@RickKelo]

Where have you found to be the best place(s) / sites to buy or find cover art images?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

As I mentioned in this video, I draw from a large variety of free image databases to find icons that I make my designs out of. I usually search google with terms like "free download black and white _______ png [or svg]" to find a lot of potential images which can be free for personal use. Of course if the perfect image isn't available for free then I will purchase it or make it myself. I don't sell my books though. If you are planning to sell them then it can get expensive really fast buying commercial licenses for individual icons, so in that case I would suggest making all your designs from scratch or getting some kind of subscription to a stock image service.

[@ZombieQueenYugi]

What machine did u use to print the gold stencil on to transfer to book? A Cricut?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yep. I cut out the vinyl designs with a Cricut Maker, although other vinyl cutters should work too.

[@navyguywandell]

Do you offer a pattern in the circut editor? I'm attempting to use inkscape and I cannot figure out how to make the book design itself. How do you set the borders and the margins? Can you make it a scalable pattern, so you always have the same margins? Can you make a video on that specific side of book design and outline? Thanks

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I don't have a scalable pattern with constant margin widths, since every design is unique to the dimensions of the book I plan to re-bind. I just do a little math (as described in this video) to decide on how big the cover design should be, and then I draw a box with those dimensions in Illustrator and start designing with that box as my boundary. I remove the boundary boxes before I export the designs, of course, but since I save them at the scale I want, Cricut imports the file with the correct size automatically. If I'm understanding correctly, it sounds like the issue you're having is designing something digitally to a real-world scale? In Illustrator, when you create a new project you can select the units that you want to measure everything in. Sometimes it defaults to points, but I always change it to centimeters, millimeters, or inches (something I can actually measure my book with). That way I can scale my designs to the book right there in Illustrator. I haven't used Inkscape myself, but Google tells me that you can adjust your units in that program with: preferences>Page>General>Display units. As for uploading my designs to the Cricut Cloud, I imagine that's possible. You were interested in the Narnia book cover design, right? That was designed for a book with a 9"x6" text block, so if your book is the same size then maybe it could work for you. Sorry that you're running into frustrating roadblocks! And I apologize that I may be misunderstanding what those obstacles are. I'll keep doing my best to help as I can!

[@navyguywandell]

I appreciate your reply. Do you have an email set up for the channel? If so I'd like to talk to you more and get your opinion on a couple covers I've attempted to design. I've been working and im about to the point I'm just gonna buy illustrator. Thanks Justin.

[@jimrobinz3580]

What kind of cutter are you using? i'm interested in doing it with that method.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Any cutter ought to work, which is why I don't specify it in the video, but I personally use a Cricut Maker.

[@hommy7996]

Could these vinyls be used on book cloth material instead of leather for book binding to?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

That would work fine! After all, people use the same heat transfer vinyl on T-shirts all the time. I'm the one going outside the box by putting it on leather books!

[@jimrobinz3580]

Are every one of the book you recase a hardbound to start with? And if not how do you change single leaf into signatures?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

No, many of them (including the one featured in this video) are softcover books with glue bindings. I don't do anything to change the single leaf bindings into signatures. They remain glue bindings. I'm just giving them a newer, nicer cover. Hope that addresses your question!

[@balaclavagamer2740]

You use a Cricut Maker right? I reached out to a few Etsy sellers of custom cut HTV and they all said my design was too detailed, although it looks less detailed than yours. Any advice?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Yes, I definitely do use a Cricut Maker. When they say that the design is too detailed, my guess is that they are used to using PNGs or other pixel images with their vinyl cutter. As I mentioned in this video, sending my designs to Cricut as vector images (SVG files) was my personal key to unlocking super high detail cuts. The Cricut software can be finnicky about importing SVGs though, and it sometimes messes them up. The couple of pieces of advice at the very end of this video are critical to creating a vector image that Cricut can work with. Before I figured out those tricks, I was stuck using pixel images and it definitely put a cap on the detail I could achieve. I'm guessing that the Etsy sellers either don't have vector image design software or haven't figured out how to make it work with Cricut yet. If you have a Cricut, it can pull off some incredible detail...but you do have to feed it the right kind of image first. Sorry if that all seems incredibly vague.

[@connorflinn8137]

So I take it that I would need a vinyl cutter to do this, but is there a way to order custom vinyl online if I don't have one?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Great question. I've tried to find a service that will cut your custom designs and send them to you online, and I haven't been able to find one yet. Maybe you should start that business!!

[@tristarsilver6052]

What device do you print stickers on?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

I actually use heat transfer vinyl rather than stickers, and I cut it with a Cricut Maker (although any vinyl cutter would do). You can see how I use the vinyl here! kzbin.info/www/bejne/maGthHSpfLqVnZI&ab_channel=IngeniusDesigns

[@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!

[@3rdofmae]

Hi, what is the minimum width you use for your lines that your cricut can handle?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

1 point, but 2 point is my go-to.

[@eranabramovich]

How do you make the binding and protect the vinyl from pilling?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Thanks for asking. I saw your comment on my other video, so I assume you know about how I make my bindings now, but as for the vinyl, I put some Eco-Flo Super Shene on my covers to help seal and protect them. It isn't strictly necessary though. As long as I use quality vinyl and my leather isn't waxy or oily, I usually don't have any problems with peeling. Maybe it might happen if I left my books out in the sun or something, but I don't think that's going to happen any time soon.

[@doublea422]

So do you just search terms you think will look good for the cover designs? Are there any specific words you search for patterns?

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Sometimes I make the designs from scratch, and sometimes I copy them from existing books and things, but looking up images online is the simplest approach, so that's what I chose to detail in the video. As far as what search terms you should use, that depends on the theme of your book, but I find it helpful to include "free download," "black and white (or sillhouette)," and "png" to help narrow things down. If you're specifically looking for a pattern for your borders, then you might add the search term "border." For example, depending on a book's theme, I might search for "free download medieval border silhouette" or "free download black and white damask pattern" or something like that. Hope that helps.

[@doublea422]

@@ingeniusdesigns good to know. So far finding patterns and images is the hardest part lol I'm trying to find some kind of scifi boarder for a book.

[@ingeniusdesigns]

Ooh, that's a tricky theme to be sure. Personally, I would look for something abstract and geometric, but you do whatever speaks to you and matches your book best.