Overview
sbgjackets is an R package to help make print-and-play small box game (SBG) jackets to use in 4x6 photo storage boxes and/or poker deck storage boxes.
Installation
You can install the development version using my R-universe universe:
install.packages(
'sbgjackets',
repos = c(
'https://trevorld.r-universe.dev',
'https://piecepackr.r-universe.dev',
'https://cloud.r-project.org'
)
)or by using the remotes package:
remotes::install_github("trevorld/sbgjackets")Examples
This package provides the following grobs to help create small box game (SBG) jackets with pnpmisc::pdf_create_jacket():
-
creditsGrob()(to provide credits that go on inside of jacket) -
spineIconGrob()(to provide consistent game info icons on the spine) -
spineTextGrob()(to provide consistent title text on the spine)
library("grid")
library("pnpmisc")
library("sbgjackets")
library("xmpdf")
check_sbgjackets_dependencies()
front <- fullGrob("#D55E00")
back <- fullGrob("#009E73")
spine <- gList(fullGrob("black"),
spineTextGrob("Example Spine"),
spineIconGrob(2:4, 30, 1.5))
xmp <- xmp(creator = "Trevor L. Davis",
date_created = "2025",
spdx_id = "CC-BY-4.0",
title = "Example Small Box Game Jacket")
credits <- c("* A list of extra credits written in *CommonMark* markdown rendered by `{{marquee}}`",
"",
" + https://commonmark.org/",
" + https://github.com/r-lib/marquee")
inner <- creditsGrob(xmp, credits, icons = TRUE)
output <- "example_jacket.pdf"
pdf_create_jacket(
output,
front = front,
back = back,
spine = spine,
inner = inner
) |>
pdf_polish_jacket(xmp = xmp, instructions = TRUE)Pre-made 4x6 Photo Box Jackets
This package also provides functions that locally create SBG jackets pdfs for a few select games (and game systems and generic components). Pre-made versions for several of these are available for download at https://trevorldavis.com/piecepackr/pages/print-and-play-pdfs.html.
Pre-made Playing Card Box Jackets
This package also provides functions that locally create playing-card box jackets pdfs for a few select games (and game systems and generic components). Pre-made versions for several of these are available for download at https://trevorldavis.com/piecepackr/pages/print-and-play-pdfs.html.
| Game (System/Components) | Function | License |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge | pcbj_bridge() |
CC-BY-4.0 |
| Canasta | pcbj_canasta() |
CC-BY-4.0 |
| Cubes | pcbj_cubes() |
CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Decktet | pcbj_decktet() |
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 |
| Dice | pcbj_dice() |
CC-BY-4.0 |
| Dotaro Deck | pcbj_dotaro_deck() |
CC-BY-4.0 |
| Everdeck | pcbj_everdeck() |
Personal Use Only |
| The Fox in the Forest | pcbj_fox_in_the_forest() |
Personal Use Only |
| French Suits: English Pattern | pcbj_english_pattern() |
CC-BY-4.0 |
| Game Pieces | pcbj_game_pieces() |
CC-BY-ND-4.0 |
| German Suits: Bavarian Pattern | pcbj_bavarian_pattern() |
CC-BY-4.0 |
| Mahjong | pcbj_mahjong() |
CC-BY-ND-4.0 |
| Meeples | pcbj_meeples() |
CC-BY-NC-SA-2.0 |
| Pinochle | pcbj_pinochle() |
CC-BY-SA-3.0 |
| Poker | pcbj_poker() |
CC-BY-4.0 |
| Polyhedral Dice | pcbj_polyhedral_dice() |
CC-BY-ND-4.0 |
| Qwixx | pcbj_qwixx() |
Personal Use Only |
| Spanish Suits: Castilian Pattern | pcbj_castilian_pattern() |
CC-BY-4.0 |
| Wizard | pcbj_wizard() |
Personal Use Only |
Pre-made Playing Card Wallets
This package also provides functions that locally create print-and-play origami card wallet pdfs for a few select games. Pre-made versions for several of these are available for download at https://trevorldavis.com/piecepackr/pages/print-and-play-pdfs.html.
| Game (System/Components) | Function | License |
|---|---|---|
| Blorg in the Midwest | pcw_blorg_in_the_midwest() |
CC-BY-NC-SA-4.0 |
Differences with Boardgame Barrio’s Small Box Game Jackets
Boardgame Barrio has created over a thousand small box game jackets for 4x6 photo storage boxes. Here are some of the high-level differences from the jackets produced by sbgjackets and Boardgame Barrio’s jackets:
| Feature | Boardgame Barrio | sbgjackets |
|---|---|---|
| Quantity | Over 1,600 pre-made jackets | 44 pre-made jackets |
| Size | Targets only 4x6 photo storage boxes | Targets 4x6 photo storage boxes as well as playing card boxes |
| Process | Made in Microsoft Publisher with a template | Made in R with pnpmisc::pdf_create_jacket()
|
| Spine Font | Calibri (proprietary) | Carlito (libre font, metrically compatible with Calibri) |
| Spine Text Color | Spine text is always white | Spine text may be other colors (e.g. to match cover text color) |
| Spine Icons | Proprietary icons whose style and backround color can each vary between three levels (i.e. green, orange, or red) | Libre icons from game-icons.net that don’t vary in style and aren’t color-coded (but the icons are chosen to not be too dissimilar from Boardgame Barrio’s icons) |
| License | Always “For Personal Use Only” | Sometimes “For Personal Use Only” but sometimes available under various Creative Commons licenses when the image licenses allow |
| Credits | List of credits to go on inside cover |
Related links
Other Small Box Game Jackets:
Origami to organize a 4“x6” photo storage box:
-
Origami Masu Box
- Masu Box Photo Tutorial and Diagram
- Masu Box Divider Photo Tutorial
- If made with 15 cm (6“) square piece of paper will make a square box about 5.5 cm (2.2”) on each side and 3 cm (1.2") tall
-
Origami Baggi Box
- Baggi Box Photo Tutorials by Epic Origami and Origami-Instructions.com
- If made with 10 cm (4“) square piece of paper will make a box about 2.5 cm (1”) wide and tall and 5 cm (2") long.
(Baggi and Masu) Origami Box template generator
3D printable models to organize a 4“x6” photo storage box:
- Canadian Gamer’s Card Game Organizers (Standard Digital File License)
- endofturn’s 4x6 Photo Case Organizer (CC BY-NC 4.0)
- Gut Shot Games’s Photo Caddy Board Game Insert Collection (CC BY-NC 4.0)
- LinearRelation’s Modular 4x6 Photo Case Inserts (CC-BY 4.0)
- passif’s Photo Case Inserts
- somedave’s Ultimate Modular Photo Keeper Game Storage
Some compatible 4“x6” photo storage box brands:
- IRIS USA
- Novelinks
- Simply Tidy
Some likely compatible playing card box brands:
- Apacali
- Queekay
- Vicenpal
- Whyogeta
Various guides:
Some games that may fit within a 4“x6” photo storage box:
- https://boardgamegeek.com/geeklist/259450/games-that-fit-in-photo-storage-box
- https://sites.google.com/view/boardgamebarrio/jacket-catalogue
Artistic assets used by sbgjackets: