Development Update: New Proofs, Better Fit, and Final Tweaks
Another round of proofs came in this week.
And this time, things are clicking into place.
A Better Fit
One of the biggest changes in this round was size.
The softcover books were printed in A4, and the hardcover came in at 8.5 x 11. Right away, they feel better. More space to breathe. Cleaner layouts. The artwork and text both sit more comfortably on the page.
It’s a subtle shift on paper, but in hand, it makes a big difference.
This is the first time the books have really felt like they match the scope of what they’re trying to be.
And we’re much happier with it.
The Limited Edition Hardcover
Now, onto the big one.
The Limited Edition Hardcover is close… but not quite there yet.
The overall direction is right, the texture, the tone, the feel of it, but the cover text still needs work. The size and placement aren’t landing the way they should. It’s not a major overhaul, just refinement, but it’s the kind of detail that matters.
This version works.
It just doesn’t feel finished yet.
So we’re going back in for another pass to get it exactly where it needs to be.
The Softcover Books
The three softcover books are in a strong place:
The Hands of Chaos
The Eyes of Raja
The Cult of the Rat Lord
At this point, they’re largely complete.
What we’re seeing now are the kinds of issues that only show up once everything is physically printed. Specifically, a few images are coming through darker than intended. Nothing major, but enough to affect readability and detail in certain sections.
So the next step is simple:
Lighten those images
Adjust contrast where needed
Make sure everything reads clearly on the page
It’s detail work, but it’s important work.
STL Files & Character Prints
On another front, we also received the final proofs from Maximum Print for the Eyes of Raja character prints.
And they look great.
These are pieces that really benefit from being seen in physical form. It’s a solid step forward for that part of the project.
It’s amazing to see more of our creations take physical form.
We’re currently in the process of printing and photographing them, and we’re looking forward to sharing those soon.
Closing In
Even with those adjustments still ahead, this is the closest everything has been to finished.
The questions have shifted.
We’re no longer figuring out what these books are supposed to be; we’re refining them into what they’re meant to become.
And that’s a good place to be.
What’s Next
Final tweaks to the hardcover cover layout
Image corrections across the softcover books
Finalizing and showcasing the character prints
One more full pass to ensure everything is clean, consistent, and print-ready
After that… we’re getting very close to the finish line.
Final Thoughts
This stage isn’t the flashiest part of the process.
But it’s where good projects become great ones.
We’re taking the time to get it right.
And we’re almost there.
