I don't think there's a one-size-fits-all answer to that. First thing is
to decide how you'll be printing.
--Letterpress would be the best way to get the effect of the GYBE album
(bearing in mind that I only saw it once, and it was the LP--maybe not
what you're thinking of). Letterpress is expensive to have done, but my
city (SF) has a great place where you can learn how to do it yourself, and
rent time on the machine for cheap: <
http://www.sfcb.org>. There may be
something similar in your town. You can use almost any paper for
letterpress printing.
--If you're running it through a standard printer (laser, inkjet, etc.)
your choices are much more limited. Your best bet is to check your local
art supply store (or Kelly Paper or equivalent) and see what they've got
in card stock. I'm not actually sure that you can find something thick
enough to use as packaging that will still feed through a printer. But if
you don't mind using a jewelbox, there are a lot of nice papers available.
Check "laid" papers--I've used these with laser and inkjet with good
results, and they have an attractive texture.
--Gocco printing (<
http://www.gocco.com/prod.HTM>) is cheap, fun, looks
good, and can print on anything flat (including CDs--but don't bleed! I
speak from experience). It only prints 3-1/2" x 5" or so at a time, but
with good design and nice paper, that can work.
Basically, there are no rules, and unfortunately, this sort of thing takes
a lot of time, trial, and error. But you can get good results if you stick
with it. I've had good luck with printing CD inserts on transparencies and
the aforementioned laid paper, as well as decorating the Disc Box Slider
with stickers. I keep meaning to do some letterpress (and even took the
class), but I never quite seem to have time.
--
THE DOUBTFUL PALACE
Free exquisite music
http://www.doubtfulpalace.com
---------------------------------------------------------------------
To unsubscribe, e-mail: idm-unsubscribe@hyperreal.org
For additional commands, e-mail: idm-help@hyperreal.org