To celebrate the May 14 release of "Mass Effect Legendary Edition," EA has made it possible to create and print custom cover art from the game's website.

The incredibly powerful "My Shepard Art Creator" allows fans to choose their own morale, favorite squadron members, companions, and other team members to create one-of-a-kind game inserts. The art used for each character depends on the user's priorities. I will admit to spending an embarrassing amount of time fiddling with the online tools.

Once created, My Shepherd Art Creator allows users to share their projects on social media, print 4K wallpapers, and print all box art for PS4 or Xbox One, front and back. Unfortunately, there is no option for PS5, but the Xbox One version is marked Xbox Series X at the top.

The final product includes art on the spine and back, with the same official information that appears on the game packaging.

For those who wish to print the artwork for the Mass Effect Legendary Edition, here are some tips for getting an accurate retail finish. Be aware, however, that accurate finishing comes at a cost.

Printers

When printing color copies, it is important to use the right type of printer. For home printing, laserjet printers should be avoided. This is because laserjet printers use a colored plastic powder that fixes to the paper. This works best for printing large numbers of black-and-white documents. Detailed color, however, is difficult.

Inkjet printers are better suited for color printing. This is because inkjets can create dithered layers of very small color dots that are clearly laid out. By printing layers of tiny dots, precise gradations and color variations can be created.

If you don't have a nice InkJet printer, it's best to head to Kinko's, OfficeMax, Staples, or another office supply store. Let's note that many of these stores refuse to print copyrighted material such as cover art for fear of encouraging potential piracy. However, if you explain that this is a special order (or show them your website), they should allow it. Alternatively, you can use self-service stations to avoid human interaction. Guides to the best printers, best all-in-one printers, and best photo printers would all be helpful.

Paper Types and Sizes

The best paper for this application is semi-gloss or satin photo paper. You should also look for A4 (29.7 x 21 cm) or legal size (36 x 22 cm) paper, as the PS4 cover art is 27.3 x 16 cm and the Xbox One cover art is 32 x 15 cm. If you have difficulty finding these sizes in semi-gloss or satin, high quality glossy paper will do. Just avoid matte paper or regular printer paper. These will not give you the same gloss and transparency.

Cutting paper

For cutting, we recommend using a guillotine-style paper cutter. It has a large handle and allows you to precisely cut off the sheet. This way, you can make a clean, smudge-free cut. Do not use a sliding paper trimmer. The pressure can catch the ink and cause it to bleed. The use of scissors is also not recommended.