How to Make the Socolossal Digital Products
- Malvina S.
- Oct 1, 2024
- 6 min read
Updated: Nov 15, 2024
Socolossal Digital Products offer children, not only the experience of play, but also the satisfaction of creating something with their own little hands. Thus, it encourages both the imagination and creativity of the little ones, helping them to improve their practical skills at the same time.
Here you will find tips on how to print and make Socolossal Digital Products at home.
How to Print the Socolossal Digital Products
Socolossal Digital Products also come with instructions on how to make them. You will usually find these instructions on the last page of the .pdf document you receive. There you find specific instructions to be able to realize that project.
Next, you will receive general advice to ensure the success of your projects.
How to Choose the Right Paper
In general, a paper between 80-300gsm (about 60-110 lb) is suitable for home printers. (As a point of reference: 80gsm is the typical weight of copier paper).
We recommend matte photo paper for printers over the copier one. It is very fine, smooth and thicker than the copier paper. Details will appear better and the final product will be more durable.
Always choose the right paper for your printer. By answering the following printer questions you can find the right paper. Is it inkjet or laser? What is the maximum paper thickness it can accept? What is the maximum size it can print? Do special settings need to be made for different types of paper (such as extra thick or glossy)?
Details such as whether the pages should be printed double-sided or borderless, etc., as well as the recommended age for making it, will be mentioned in each product's own instructions.
Products to Print on Paper
Posters, pages of brochures, booklets, notebooks, albums, origami sheets, other more delicate decorations or that require more complex folds will be printed on paper.
Thin paper is 80-100 gsm (under 75 lb). Thicker paper is between 100-200 gsm (75-80 lb). The thinner the paper, the faster it will wear out.
For products printed on paper we suggest using paper with a thickness equal to or greater than 100 gsm (75lb).
Products to Print on Cardstock
Cardstock will be used for most craft sheets, booklet covers, boxes.
Cardstock is considered to be paper thicker than 200gsm (80lb). The thicker the paper, the harder it is to cut.
We suggest using cardstock between 200-300 gsm (approx. 80-110 lb) for products printed on card.
Usually cardstock thicker than 300 gsm (350-450 gsm / 130-160 lb) requires a professional or industrial printer.
Products to Print on Adhesive Paper
Labels and Stickers will be printed on self-adhesive paper. It can be matte, glossy or even waterproof.
Depending on the use of labels or stickers, the sticker paper can sometimes be replaced with regular paper and glue or double-sided tape.
Sometimes you can print a product, which should be made on thicker cardstock than your printer can print, on sticker paper. And then stick it on the thick cardboard.
Tip: For best results use your printer's print program.
Use the right settings for your project: color or black and white, with or without border (borderless), for matte or glossy paper, etc.
In some cases you can save the page you want to print from the .pdf document in .tiff format and print it that way for a more faithful reproduction of shapes and colors (more quality).
How to Customize the Socolossal Digital Products
To customize the customizable products you will need a .pdf documents reading program, in which you will fill in the form fields with the text of your choice. You will save the document to print it later or print it on the spot.
For some products you may need a .pdf document editing program (such as Adobe Acrobat or Nitro PDF). You use the text editor to change it to your own text. This will be mentioned in the product description and information sections, so you will be able to know before you buy it.
How to Make the Socolossal Digital Products
Most Socolossal Digital Products must be made by cutting, folding and gluing. The only ones that only need to be printed are posters. The stickers just need to be printed on sticker paper and then cut out. All others require some (or more) of the instructions below.
Cut
The cut indication shows that you have to cut the shapes on the outline. Sometimes there are other continuous lines that need to be cut inside the shape, or even circles that need to be pierced with the tip of scissors or with a needle. Children should always be assisted by an adult.
For beautifully cut contours, hold the scissors still and turn the paper to guide the cuts along the contour of the shape.
Small scissors with a rounded tip are recommended for small children. Older children can use sharper, pointed scissors to get finer details. Adults will decide when children are ready to use scissors on their own and are ready for sharper, detailing scissors.
Mountain Fold
The indication mountain fold means to make a fold on the indicated dashed line for it to rise outward. (For example, on a birthday card that folds in half, outside the card the fold is considered to be protruding outward, like a "mountain".)
Valley Fold
The indication valley fold means to make a fold on the indicated dotted line for it to dip inward. (For example, on a birthday card that folds in half, inside the card the fold is considered to be dipping inward, like a "valley".)
Glue
The glue indication shows the surfaces that should be glued to form the model. A liquid or solid (stick) glue can be used, or even double-sided tape, depending on the situation.
Decorate
The decorate indication is used to encourage little ones to personalize their projects. They can use all kinds of materials found around the house: glitter, decorative tape, ribbons, knitting yarn, scraps of textiles, feathers, leaves, or even different spices. Imaginative thinking is encouraged!
Write
The write indication shows that the project is completed with a personalized text. It can be a name card for guests at the table, a gift tag, or a birthday card in which a nice wish will be written.
Color
The color indication shows that the project can be filled with color. Colored pencils, wax crayons, markers, watercolors, etc. can be used here.
Draw
The drawing indication shows that the project can be customized by adding a personal drawing (this can be colored too, of course).
Sew
The sew indication means that a needle and thread must be used to complete the project. Depending on the project, the thread can be of different thicknesses.
Add Twine/Ribbon
Add thread / ribbon indicates that the project needs thinner or thicker thread, ribbon, or even elastic to be complete. These are usually needed for garlands, decorations that need hanger-loops, masks, boxes that close with a ribbon, etc.
Sticker
The sticker symbol indicates that the page should be printed on sticker paper.
You'll also find handy instructions for crafting that explain what each symbol used to create Socolossal projects means. These symbols are easy for children to understand, even if they can't read yet.
How to Make the Socolossal Brochures
Once printed, brochures, notebooks and booklets will need to be bound. We chose to teach you the sewing method because it is available to anyone, simple and durable. Generally the steps below will be followed. (But all Socolossal digital booklets will come with their own printing and binding instructions.)
Fold the sheets in half lengthwise to form the pages of the booklet.
Place the open sheets one on top of the other, starting with the cover, the decorative sheet, the title page, and then the pages in number order. (This order is different depending on the number of pages and is always mentioned in the instructions of each individual booklet.)
Pierce holes in the pages, on the spine (fold), as shown in the model.
(The holes must be the same through all the sheets.)
Sew the booklet to bind it. As follows:
1 from the outside to the inside
(leave a longer end of the thread out, to tie at the end),
2 to the outside,
3 to the inside again
(carefully, so as not to pull the end of the thread),
4 to the outside,
5 to the inside,
6 outside again
and tie the ends of the thread in a knot.
(If you want you can finish with a bow).
Cut the ends of the thread to make them even.
Close the pages and your brochure is ready!
If you have any questions about how you can better make our digital printables, or you have other tips, leave them in the comments section below!
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* Attention! All rights reserved. For personal use only. All Socolossal Products are protected by Copyright! They (in whole or in part) may not be altered, distributed or sold without the express permission of Socolossal!
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