Publish Your Own Book
with Adobe InDesign & Blurb.com
T&L Digital Studio
04.15.11
William Overbeeke
Book Ideas
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Photo books
Portfolios
Blogs
Textbooks
Scrapbooks
Self-publishing
PROS
• Made easy by the
Internet & software
• Full customization (or
close to it)
• No rigmarole with
publishing houses
• A fun, fulfilling hobby
– doesn’t have to be
your full-time job
CONS
• Time commitment
• No professional
editors, proofcheckers, designers
• Software learning
curve
Principles of Page Layout
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Space
Balance
Symmetry / Asymmetry
Consistency
Scale (Hierarchy)
Grids
Content
Anatomy of a Book
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
Belly band
Flap
Endpaper
Book cover
Top edge
Fore edge
Tail edge
Right page, recto
Left page, verso
Gutter
Spine
Text block
11
12
Pages & Spreads
Bleed
Trim
Margin
Page
Lorem ipsum
Lorem ipsum dolor
sit amet, consec-tetur
adipiscing elit. Donec
consequat tincidunt
odio, quis facilisis
enim congue eu. Sed
fringilla turpis nec leo
egestas aliquet.
Mauris consequat
viverra scelerisque.
Proin venenatis, dolor
quis pharetra
dignissim, neque
turpis mattis orci,
non dictum augue elit
sed justo. fringilla
turpis nec leo egestas
fringilla turpis nec leo
egestas
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consec-tetur adipiscing elit. Donec
consequat tincidunt odio, quis facilisis enim congue eu. Sed
fringilla turpis nec leo egestas aliquet. Mauris consequat viverra
scelerisque. Proin venenatis, dolor quis pharetra dignissim, neque
turpis mattis orci, non dictum augue elit sed justo.
Verso
Recto
Spread
Thumbnails & Maquettes
• Thumbnail sketches help you visualize layouts
• Construct a maquette to help you visualize
the flow
• Enhances mind and hand connection
• Planning makes designing in InDesign easier
Consider the Following
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Table of contents
Titles, headings
Footer
Captions, taglines
Index
Pictures
References
Color
Pagination
What do you
want your
book to
include?
Example Spread
Captions
Heading
Text
Tagline
Semester in Britain Book, 2011
Grid
Typography
• Font choice
– Serif versus sans-serif
• Leading (line-spacing)
• Kerning (letter-spacing)
• Point size
– 1 pica = 12 points = 1/6 inch
• Positive and negative space
• Legibility is key
Blurb.com
• Designs from scratch
• Full control of design
and content (except
size)
• PDF to book
– Adobe InDesign
– QuarkXpress
(alternative)
• Blurb Booksmart or
Bookify (free
alternatives)
Adobe InDesign
• Page layout software
– Print
– Digital (PDF, eBooks for iPad, Nook)
• Reference file type – links to content
• Precise typography
• TIPS:
– Create a folder and save your file and all
assets in that folder
– Take advantage of character & paragraph
styles
Make Design Choices
• Size (Blurb offers 7 different sizes)
• Page Count
• Cover
– Softcover
– Hardcover, Dust Jacket
– Hardcover, ImageWrap
• Four-color books or black & white text
• Premium paper?
Image Formats, Resolution,
and Color Mode
• Decide on a format
– AI or EPS (vector)
– TIFF or JPG (raster)
– PSD (Photoshop)
• Images at least 300 PPI (high resolution)
– Be careful when resampling from low resolutions
– Best to use at 100% but never above
• CMYK (four color) color mode
– Cyan Magenta Yellow Key (Black)
Design Your Book
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5.
Sign up for an account at Blurb.com
Follow the PDF to Book Guide
Install Blurb PDF/X-3 for InDesign
Download appropriate InDesign template
Design away!
– Create a wireframe for your pages and cover
and place elements
– Take advantage of page masters, styles, &
placeholder text
6. Export PDF
7. Upload to Blurb account and place order
I think it’s time for a demo.
Extra Features of Blurb
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Sell your book in
the Blurb
Bookstore
– You set the price
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Order more copies
at any time
Embed interactive
version of your
book into your
website
Recommended Resources
• Layout Workbook,
Kristin Cullen
• The Smashing Book #2,
by the Smashing Magazine
• Layout Index & Color Index,
Jim Krause
• Cover to Cover,
Shereen LaPlantz
Helpful Websites
• I Love Typography,
a blog by John Boardley
• Smashing Magazine
• Adobe Kuler
Alternatives to Blurb
Books, Photos, Cards:
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Shutterfly
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Snapfish
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Picaboo
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Apple iPhoto
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Lulu
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Moo (business cards)
Calvin’s Printing Services
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Copying
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Printing
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Binding
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Plastic
Wire
Steel
Tape
Thank you for coming.
Now start designing that book!
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We’re more than happy to help you with
InDesign and other page layout software in the
Digital Studio (HL 121), even if your project is
not as ambitious as a book.
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Open 8 AM – 5 PM, Monday – Friday
Questions?