Do you love your portfolio binder? Labeling your binder cover?

[Johanna Kim]

Hi All,

I'm putting together a physical portfolio book for a conference in May. My work displays as both portrait and landscape, but I'd like to avoid having the reviewer having to turn my book every few pages. Thus, I was thinking of getting an 11x14 inch portfolio binder where I could display the portrait images on the right side of spreads, as usual, but then have the landscape images displaying across the binder without big binder rings in the gutter. I'd also like to be able to control the number of pages within the binder.

Have any of you found a portfolio binder you love that fits the criteria above?
Am I making too big a deal about the reviewer having to turn the book?
Has anyone found an elegant solution for labeling the cover of their portfolio binder with their name or logo?

Thanks in advance for your collective wisdom and advice:)

Johanna Kim

[braden H]

@johanna-kim

I just made one of these for my commission examples for a convention! I think we had literally the same idea (except mine's bigger at around 13x16)

I can tile 3 of my prints on each page, and once in a while have a larger one isolated on one page. I think it looks pretty snazzy.

For the label I just printed a simple sticker, but I'm a fan of stark labelling. If I wanted to go super snazzy I'd hand-cut a stencil and spray or dab on some paint.

[Johanna Kim]

@art-of-b Thanks for your reply and ideas. Which portfolio brand did you go with? And what do you mean about "stark labelling"?

[braden H]

@johanna-kim

I went with the ancient art portfolio I bought at my University book store that I dug out of the family storage locker. I think it's an 'Itoya art portfolio'.

When I say 'stark lettering' I mean black letters on a white background. Fancy? No. Legible? Absolutely.

[smceccarelli]

I have a super-fancy leather-bound portfolio that my dad made (he works in leather goods) with my name and logo etched with laser on the cover. And yes, I love it, but I don’t use it that often because it´s tricky to change the number of pages and it´s bulky to log around. To me, nothing beats these:


They are print-on-demand books and you can do whatever you want with the layout. The big one is too expensive to do more often than every couple of years, but the small ones cost just 11 dollars by Bubu....

Dow

[Johanna Kim]

@smceccarelli Your portfolio is BEAUTIFUL. I was thinking of print-on-demand, as well. Something to consider--thanks!

[Chip Valecek]

@smceccarelli who did you use to print these?

[smceccarelli]

It’s a Swiss company called Bubu . But I have checked other pod companies in the US and the prices were very similar. The small portfolio is approximately 8.5 x 6 inches, printed on coated paper and stitch-bound. These are super cheap but look really nice.
The large one is 12x16.5 in, hard bound with textile cover (with my logo) and endpapers. That cost about 80 dollars. I printed it in 2016 and used it at two SCBWI conferences. Now it’s too old, so I‘m using my leather portfolio this year, and may print a new hard-bound one next year.

[Johanna Kim]

@smceccarelli Brilliant idea-thank you so much!