Designing books and getting started
Designing books and getting started as a self-publisher or book designer.
Getting started designing books or are you creating your first title? You may be an author, graphic artist, or self-publisher. this chapter contains important information which is the foundation on which to build your book title.
By now you have most of the basic information, even if you are new to design. In this chapter, tweak InDesign, read about the Grid System, white space, and the InDesign files needed by book binding type, as well as the special features of different types of books.
QUICK TIPS
- Understand grids whether you use them or not. However, always consider the use of alignment.
- White space is invaluable. Do not fill up every last bit of a page. White space is what sells the content.
- Different book files are needed according to binding type and possible options.
- Print out, trim, and view some pages before sending PDFs to press.
Emphasis on grids
Creating a grid structure on which to place type and images will unify the page design. Type and images are not placed wherever they will fit. A grid is a skeleton. Generally, you will have several grids for any one book, unless the book is a novel with text that flows from page to page. I save master pages, now called parent pages, with the the margins, columns and any guide lines to hold the pace for specific Paragraph styles for Headlines, subheads and text placement.
Emphasis on white space
An amateur or desktop publisher will need to resist the impulse to have skinny margins on all four sides of the page. Resist large point sizes for text, and tight space between the lines of text. The biggest temptation is to fill up every little bit a space on a page. Instead, let white space stand. Plan for white space.
We are just touching on topics. This is a short overview, but the content in this the following chapters is lengthy. Refer to the Design Fundamentals category too. If you are moving back and forth between the posts, but may want to go ahead and buy my book, Book Design: Simple & Professional on Amazon. It is only $29.95.
Please read the this chapter and the following chapters carefully as there is a lot of new information important in designing books.
