| Author |
 Replies: 16 / Views: 5,012 |
|
Valued Member
United States
180 Posts |
|
|
I have read some of the postings in the forum about the pages that many of the members have created for their collecting interests. I really enjoyed seeing what you all have done.
So, I design and print all of the pages for my worldwide airmail collection. I can use my artistic license to layout the designs in an arrangement that is pleasing to me. I usually group stamps chronologically by date of issue without regard to whether they are airmail semi postal, offical or express. That is the manner which Sanabria catalogs were laid out. I can all of the descriptive information that is meaningful to me and even add historical anecdotes surrounding the issues. I usually reference Scott, but for Scott unlisted I will reference Sanabria, Michel, Yvert or others as necessary.
I use the Adobe PageMaker software to design the pages (this is the same software that Bill Steiner uses), and they are printed on an HP Officejet inkjet printer. The paper is called a vellum stock. The vellum finish is much smoother than regular rag paper, and this prevents the ink from the printer from spreading before it dries. This gives a much sharper image. I find that anywhere between 65 lbs and 70 lbs is sturdy enough to securely mount those large souvenir sheets or covers and yet still supple enough to feel like pages instead of cardboard. I prefer an ivory or bone color, because is gives the page a little more of an antique tone. Here is the stock tha I am currently using. Each box contains 10 reams of 250 sheets each, and I can find in in wholesale stores for about $35 to $40 for a box. That comes out to roughly one and 1/2 cents per page. A high capacity ink cartridge for my printer costs about $25 (if I use refills the price comes down to $15) and it will give me roughly 500 pages. So the ink is about 5 cents per page... giving me a total materials price of under 7 cents per page. I don't count the labor involved to create the pages, because that is pure enjoyment. I have a little trimming tool that clips the corners of the finished pages to about a 1/2 inch diameter round. This helps prevent dog-ears and also makes the page easier to slide into a page proctector if desired. Here is a link to one of my pages for Austrian airmails stamps.
http://barhata.freewebspace.com/Air...stria_04.jpg
My collection of pre-1950 worldwide airmail stamps currently consists of seven 2-inch 3-ring binders filled with approximately 1,200 pages, and it is still growing.
|
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
809 Posts |
|
|
Very Nice Page, I love the antique look and the border design. I haven't used inkjets in ages. Switched to laser b/w, no more dried out ink cartridges. I just gotta shake the toner cartridge once in a while. I got a lightly used Brother for 25 bucks. well worth it. |
Send note to Staff 
|
Member of the Central Oregon Stamp Club.
Redmond, OR 97756 Mailer's Postmark Permit #1
APS 239403 |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
1448 Posts |
|
|
Very nice!
This is clearly a labor of love, and you are creating remarkable pages.
Have you thought of offering your pages for sale for those who collect WW classic airmail?
I use the Steiner pages for my general WW classic pages-can't complain.
Thanks for sharing. :-) |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
5894 Posts |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1510 Posts |
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
1125 Posts |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
253 Posts |
|
|
that looks terrific! I've dabbled with creating pages for specialty collections (transportation coils, se-tenants, various topicals). I've purchased the license to William Steiner's pages (like many) and use those for my general worldwide). I've not been completely happy with Microsoft Word so far ... hmm Adobe ... got that Dell coupon for ~$60 lying around and was wondering what to spend it on ... |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
253 Posts |
|
|
also it looks we use almost exactly the same paper ... my stock code is #81368 and the only difference I can see is that mine doesn't say "Vellum Finish". I would like to find a case price for $30-$40 ... I've been paying $12/ream. |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
180 Posts |
|
|
For Timm--- This is the corner punch that I use it retails for around $25 which seems kinda expensive. But it is really strong as I've punched over 4,000 times & it is still cutting clean and clear:
Here's a link to a description: http://www.memorysbydesign.com/Memorys-By-Design
For Clifhiker: If you do get the Adobe PageMaker, I'll be glad to send you some of my files for you to use as templates. In fact, if anyone has PageMaker v7.0 or better, I'll be glad to share designs. I have a friend who works for a local paper supply warehouse here near Seattle, Wa, and I get her employee discount. But, even when I bought paper at a local distributor store it only cost $50-$60 for a box (10 reams). |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
Canada
1415 Posts |
|
|
I use lighthouse albums, and I wondewr if any one has tried to make their own specialized pages (the paper size is odd for most printers.... |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
700 Posts |
|
|
Moderator
United States
4788 Posts |
|
|
Valued Member
United States
180 Posts |
|
|
For KirkS-- Thanks for finding that bargain
For new12collector-- The frame I incorporated is from the old Nicklin Airmail stamp album circa 1941.
For Gilles le timbre-- I actually use an HP Office jet model 7500A. It is not an expensive printer... you can find them new for $150. I am not sure of the size for Lighthouse pages. However, this color printer will print on pages that are from 3"x5" up to 13" x 19" in size. So, I can take a blank Scott Specialty page and print album designs on those. I think that would also cover A4 size pages  |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Pillar Of The Community
United States
3046 Posts |
|
|
Those are some awesome looking pages. They have a very traditional feel to them. Very classy. I hadn't thought about using vellum paper. I laser print my pages on a B&W HP LasetJet 4200. Do you think Vellum paper would improve their look? |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
180 Posts |
|
|
For apastuszak---
I don't know that Vellum would improve the look. If I understand correctly, the laser process burns the toner into the surface of the paper with very little penetration, while the inkjet soaks more into the paper.
I used the laser printed many years ago when I first started, but was never completely pleased with the quality. Also, I found that the lasered toner would migrate to the document sheet protectors, and that was really disappointing. However back then the quality and performance of inkjet ink still had problems as well. Over time, the consistency and quality of the ink has vastly improved, while laser toner is relatively unchanged. So, I have been with inkjet for quite some time now. Many of my pages with inkjet look as good as new after 6-7 years of storage.
Of course, I mount all of my stamps in showgard mounts for added protection. I should buy stock in their company. 
If you would email me your address, I'd be glad to send you some sheets of my paper for you to try out
|
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Valued Member
United States
428 Posts |
|
|
For Gilles le Timbre and Lighthouse Albums
I used blank pages from Lighthouse and their binders and create custom albums that are a very close match for theirs in terms of typography style.
WRT the paper size, you are correct it is not a standard size but I just define a custom paper size in my software and have no problem there. Though you might probably need a wide printer. I use a 13 inch photo inkjet printer with archival inks.
I have also "discovered" the fonts they use and that helps match the style they use.
-Larry |
|
Send note to Staff
|
|
|
Replies: 16 / Views: 5,012 |
|
Posted 10/26/2012 11:43 pm
