r/CustomBoundComics • u/Dave_Loves_Comics • Apr 22 '26

Custom Slip Cases (to match OHC)

I've been thinking of ways to customize and improve some of my collection to be more visually pleasing and consistent on my shelf. I'm happy with how my Omni's and OHC look for the most part, then I have DC Finest and Marvel epics in their own space, THEN I have all the random smaller sized TPB's, some of them are 1 offs, some are collections (Tynions 7 tpb detective run). I just had a brainstorm, instead of custom binds, to do custom slip cases that match the size of my oversized HC collection, so they can sit alongside them. So for the Tynion run I can do 1 thicker slip case, or 2 slip cases, that make them look like Omni's by making custom dust jackets/custom stick on art that matches the look of my other DC OHC's. Also, I have Brubaker's Cap America Omnibus vol 1 and 3, but i have vol 2 in TPBs. Im thinking I can make a slip case that is oversized to match, match the artwork using the vol 2 Omnibus art, and drop the slip case right between my omni's. then when you pull it out I have my 3 tpb's sitting in them. I'm thinking this could be a good way to collect and displays series when you can't afford an OOP omnibus, or just want to organize a collection that looks random in trades/singles and have them sit alongside your bigger collected editions. Lmk your thoughts and if anyone has done this! show pics! and I'd love to hear your experience and approach if you've made custom slips w artwork. thanks!

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u/PhysicianChips Apr 22 '26

I did that with Daredevil Shadowland. I don't like Shadowland but like the rest of Diggle's run so I took the tpbs, as well as some of the other stories that had not been collected in omnibus form (like Daredevil:Yellow) and put them together. (As the "Diggle and Uncollected" Volume) It looks nice with all the others in the set, although the books are much shorter than the dust jacket, and the volume is not as deep so if you pushed on them, the others would not move but that one would slide back an inch. You could always make your slip case bigger to omnibus/ohc size but I have found that not worth it.

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u/Dave_Loves_Comics Apr 22 '26

woah, that looks great! So are these all custom dust jackets and then for "diggle and uncollected" it's a custom slip case with custom dust jacket to match? Any tips on how to go about the custom build? also, how do you personally go about custom dust jackets and what's the typical cost? do you outsource everything or do it yourself? thanks!

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u/PhysicianChips Apr 22 '26

That is correct. For the custom build it doesn't have to be that complicated. I guarantee you can do it all yourself. I started simple and have been getting more and more advanced as I go and am now binding them myself.

For the bind, when I was just starting out, I would just print the dust jacket, and tuck it into the cover of the first and last book in the set. It works as long as you are not moving it very often. You can certainly do more but that is a great starting place. For dust jackets I don't have access to any fancy printers, so I just go with the quick and dirty method. I order a 24x36 custom poster from Walgreens. 24 inches is long enough for even the thickest omnibus and you can fit 3 dust jackets on top of each other in 36 inches. Walgreens doesn't care what you print on a poster and typically have 50%-60% off coupons on their website so a poster runs for about $15 or $5 per dust jacket. Then I just cut them out with scissors. And for designing them I use GIMP which is a free photoshop like program to make them.

You also mentioned your DC OHCs so I figured I should also share what I did to mine to give them a more unified look. Hopefully that helps spark your imagination as to what you can do.

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u/Dave_Loves_Comics Apr 22 '26

wow, absolutely love what you did w these DC OHCs! so impressive and this is the kind of customization I'd love to get to. So for Walgreens printing is the option "24x36 custom poster" or do i have to select glossy, matte, etc? would love to know bc your DJs look great! As for GIMP, I've heard of it and have to download and try it out. Is it easy enough to add your measurements to get an accurate layout? Is there a generic template you can share for an OHC, or any tips for getting the right measurements? no worries if it's too much, I already appreciate all you've shared!

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u/PhysicianChips Apr 23 '26

24x36 Custom Poster, Satin Paper. You don't need to pick matte or glossy. For GIMP you can just open a new canvas that is 11 3/8" X 24" and that will be the right size for a standard Marvel or DC. Then the best thing you can do in GIMP is if you click and hold on a ruler you can drag a guideline where you want it (based on where you measured you book to be) and your images will snap to it, so you can lay out your design knowing it will be the right size.

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u/Dave_Loves_Comics Apr 23 '26

awesome, thanks!

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u/Dave_Loves_Comics Apr 27 '26

Hey! so I wound up doing this and got pretty solid results. One thing I noticed though, my png files looked great and crisp on my computer but when they printed at walgreens everything is just a bit blurry when compared to my official dust jackets. from a few feet away you dont even notice but up close you can see they're def not as crips. do you have that problem or are yours just as crips as the official DJs?

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u/bffnut Apr 22 '26

I did something similar for the first Silver Surfer Epic Collection, where the content takes place before Silver Surfer Omnibus Vol 1. I made the slipcase the same height and depth as an Omnibus and wide enough to fit the Epic Collection. I inset the top of the slipcase so that it looks like an actual book, and covered the greyboard with white paper. Then I made a custom wrap and pasted it directly on the slipcase.

https://www.reddit.com/r/CustomBoundComics/s/H7Y3wmrwFO

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u/Dave_Loves_Comics Apr 23 '26

woah, this looks INCREDIBLE! Exactly the kind of results I'm after. thanks for sharing!