The Color Printer Idea Book : 40 Really Cool and Useful Projects to Make with Any Color Printer! [Paperback]

Kay Hall (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 8, 1998

The Color Printer Idea Book opens up a whole new world of computer-aided creativity! You'll first learn the secrets to getting the best results from your inkjet printer, then be introduced to dozens of printable media choices from paper to plastic to fabric. Discover the latest crafting and desktop production techniques--and a ton of resources--to fully equip you for making your own masterpieces. Topping that off are 40 step-by-step projects to jump start your imagination. This exciting variety of innovative and practical ideas for your correspondence, wearables, gift giving, home decor, and just plain fun goes well beyond the typical computer-generated fare. You'll learn how to:

• Print professional-looking labels for homemade concoctions
• Personalize T-shirts and aprons
• Design a customized clock or candy jar
• Make dazzling business cards and plaques
• Create mock stained glass and embroidery
• Produce a photo calendar
• Include 3-D images or secret messages in a card or flyer
• And much, much more!

The Color Printer Idea Book is not only the first-timer users, it's an invaluable workbook full of time-tested hints for computer crafting professionals everywhere. As a staple item for hours of productive fun, this book is for creative computer-users who want to take their color inkjet printers to the limit.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

As the computer becomes more entrenched in everything we do, so too has it invaded the crafting domain. Yet beginning crafters and experts alike who may have a working knowledge of the more practical aspects of their computer's capabilities often have barely begun to explore its creative potential. Computer expert and self-described "computer mom" Kay Hall knows exactly how to teach such things to the computer novice eager to use that expensive piece of equipment for more than paying bills and sending e-mail. With extremely readable text and dozens of diagrams (actually, black-and-white photos of the computer screen illustrating exactly what she's describing), she walks us carefully through the basics of printer hardware, crafting software (everything from simple greeting card and calendar programs to Sierra's Print Artist and Adobe PhotoDeluxe), design elements (layout templates, fonts, clip art, scanning), and various printable materials for ink-jet printers. She offers good general coverage on paper-craft materials like decorative scissors and punches, embossing powder, and glitter pens, and she does not neglect the finishing steps of sealing, laminating, and binding.

The 40 projects are reasonably well explained; as Hall points out, the step-by-step instructions presume understandably that you've at least a nodding acquaintance with your software, computer, and printer, and that you've read the first half of the book, which explains all the details. An eight-page section shows each finished item in color. The projects themselves, unfortunately, are on the juvenile, cutesy side, but for anyone wishing to learn how to apply their own creativity to this virtually limitless medium, the book is probably still a wise investment. There's a lot of background information here, as well as great at-a-glance tips and excellent item-by-item listings of all the materials and where to find each one (computer/office stores, craft stores, specialty suppliers/catalogs); a directory of vendors with full contact information; a good bibliography that includes publishers' Web addresses; a printer information worksheet so you can document all of your own printer's handling of each type of project; and even ideas on how to market your computer crafts. Note: Hall works on the graphics-friendly Macintosh and most of the diagrams show a Mac screen, but she does explain general settings and how to access them on a PC. --Amy Handy

From Library Journal

Desktop publishing has now expanded into desktop crafting. Constantly evolving computer software and inkjet printer-compatible materials make it possible to create greeting cards, labels, calendars, and hot-iron transfers using one's own artwork and layout. In addition to materials used directly with the computer, Hall also discusses paper-crafting items such as decorative blade scissors, applied glitter, and adhesives. The section of step-by-step projects has lists of materials and recommended software. This is certain to be welcome in all general library collections.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: No Starch Press; 1 edition (October 8, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1886411204
• ISBN-13: 978-1886411203
• Product Dimensions: 11 x 8.5 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,479,256 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

12 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars great for beginners, but very basic and outdated, August 31, 2006

By 

Gary R. Harding "grharding" (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Color Printer Idea Book : 40 Really Cool and Useful Projects to Make with Any Color Printer! (Paperback)

A beginning crafter with little computer experience will probably really enjoy this book. It's got some great very beginning, easy projects.

If you have any graphics and graphic software experience at all, this book will waste your time. It was written in 1998, which in Internet years is approaching the stone age. Sorry to bias the stats, but I'm a graphics professional and was looking for more like some of the new image tranfer technique books.

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Plain Direct Language!, July 30, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The Color Printer Idea Book : 40 Really Cool and Useful Projects to Make with Any Color Printer! (Paperback)

Here is a well written and well illustrated book about color printing. Kay Hall knows how to tell you about color printers and what they can do in plain, direct language. She helps getting to know color printers and what kind of projects they can produce. As crafting and personalizing gifts become more popular, this book helps finish the creative process with proper color printing. A truly good buy in today's books!

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Computer Crafter's BEST Resource!, January 11, 2001

By 

Maggie Martin (Indiana, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Color Printer Idea Book : 40 Really Cool and Useful Projects to Make with Any Color Printer! (Paperback)

Once a little-known hobby, computer crafting has grown into a true "craft" shared by thousands, as evidenced by the many online forums for enthusiasts. Kay Hall is a well-known and respected expert in the art of computer crafting. "The Color Printer Idea Book" is the ultimate resource for both novice and expert alike. Instructions for creating each of the 40 crafts are pictured in the book are easy enough for children to understand...no confusing technical terms...and the projects give you a wide variety of personalized items you can quickly create for gift-giving, home use, and selling. With this book, a computer, a color printer and little more, you'll immediately become hooked on computer crafting! Definitely a MUST HAVE book!