how do I make a book in InDesign?

[SpellGoat]

Hello Forum users..

I'm new to this community, so be kind.

My InDesign-experience is on a rookie level - I have only made 1-2 brochures (duplexed on 1 piece of paper) and some letters.

And now I have received a project from a local theatre, whom would like to have a book for their jubilee..

So here is my problem.. how do I make a book (paperback/hardback)? which settings should I use in the new document menu? and which printer settings? Is there a tutorial? (I couldn't find one).. What kind of things should I keep in mind when making a book..

I hope you forum users can help me..

software: Adobe InDesign CS2

Creative thoughts
SpellGoat

[Eggles]

First you need to find out how many pages and the page size are likely and secondly, how it will be printed. Once you know the first, that will help decide whether the book will be one large document or should be broken into a number of smaller ones. Generally, once you get beyond about 20 pages, divide the manuscript up into separate chapters (or however seems logical). This makes it easier to move around each document.

You should set up master pages for each document, where you put all the repeating elements, such as page numbers, headers and footers. You can also make multiple master pages within a document if that will make it easier. e.g. you may have a master page applied to just the first page of each chapter. Use the same set-up for each document.

Another very important consideration is setting up paragraph styles. You can import styles from one document to another, so you only have to set them up once. ALL the text should be styled, from the body text to headings, subheadings, captions etc. This will allow you to make global changes if the need arises (say if they decide to change the font).

At this stage, you don't have to worry about whether the book will be paperback or hard cover. That will be determined by budget, number of copies etc. Generally, the cover - whether paperback or hard cover - is created separately. It may be in colour, whereas the rest may be B&W only. Or the whole book may be in colour if there are graphics involved.

Re document settings - once you know the page size, there is no issue. Margins? Depends on page size, amount of text, and binding method. If you need to add pages to the layout, there's no problem. Printer settings? not sure what you mean here. Once you know how it is to be printed - inhouse or externally - these settings can be decided. If it is being printed externally by a commercial printer, find out from them the format they would like to receive it. Many printers nowadays want PDFs, but this will depend on how modern their equipoment is.

It's hard to know what else to advise without more specific questions (and some answers).

[AdobeAce]

Hi SpellGoat,

To start a new book --

File > New > Book. Then name and save it.

A palette will open. Use the palette's Option Arrow menu add documents.

Then Save.

Try searching InDesign's Help menu for more under -- "working with book files."

Hope this helps!

[SpellGoat]

Thanks for your reply Eggles.

Number of Pages: at the moment 12 pages.
Page size: 210mm x 210mm
Binding: Glued back (don't know if there is a business term for that)

when I was asking about printer settings, I was thinking of my brochure experiences, where I had to set it up for spreads, and center the brochure on the paper (because of duplex - I assume). File > Print (and then you get a bunch of settings you can adjust for printing).

But how do I make the cover?

Thanks for your advise :-)

[Eggles]

>>Page size: 210mm x 210mm<<

That's an odd size. Where are you located? I use A4 - 210mm x 297mm - as a standard size (although not necessarily for books) so I am wondering how this will be printed. Unless you plan on doing a lot of trimming, I guess this will be printed commercially?

>>Binding: Glued back (don't know if there is a business term for that)<<

Not sure what you mean by this, and very unusual for a 12 page book. If I was doing it, I would have the book printed on A3 paper (420 x 210) so that 2 pages would be printed side by side - called 2-up- (after being 'imposed' - more later) and back to back so that a total of 3 sheets of A3 would be used. Then the sheets would be folded once, trimmed and stapled - this is called 'saddle stitching' and is very common for books (better described as booklets if 12 pages) of that size.

Imposition - you usually DO NOT have to worry about this if being commercially printed, but if doing it yourself, you may need to do it. It is a process whereby the layout of 'readers spreads' i.e. the order of pages that a reader will read the book and the way the designer will actually lay out the book, to 'printers spreads' i.e. the order in which the pages are printed, so that when collated and folded, will result in the correct page order. In the case of a 12 x A4 page book, the pages would be printed on A3 paper as follows :

sheet 1: side 1 left/right 12 and 1; side 2 left/right 2 and 11
sheet 2: side 1 L/R 10 and 3; side 2 L/R 4 and 9
sheet 3: side 1 L/R 8 and 5; side 2 L/R 6 and 7

If you are doing this yourself in ID, there is a script that will automatically reorder the pages for you into printers spreads after your layout is complete.

>>But how do I make the cover? <<

Same way you make any layout. But since it is often printed on a different weight paper, it is often created as a separate file. There are not enough pages to have to worry about allowing room for the spine. You don't need to worry about 'creep' either, as with so few pages, the difference in margin sizes from outer to inner pages would not be noticeable.

Good general reference here: http://www.typography-1st.com/typo/txt-lay.htm

How is the book to be printed? Is there colour?

[GuyB]

The imposition script in ID is limited : it won't work if there is an object crossing the spine.

[Eggles]

>>The imposition script in ID is limited : it won't work if there is an object crossing the spine.<

But easy enough to get around if you crop it back to within the page boundary before imposing and then put it back afterwards (assuming it is on a centre spread). You don't want anything to cross the page spine if they are not going to be on facing pages when read. Another workaround I have done if something is to cross the centre spread is to place two copies, one on each page - and crop each back to just inside the spine.

[AdobeAce]

Hi SpellGoat,

The best place to start a new book is at the end.

A little confusing?

Not really. You have to know where you're going before you do anything.

FIND THE PRINTER who is going to print your book FIRST. Talk with them before the job starts. They'll be more than happy to talk about specifications or any other information that you made need to know. Why? Because their prep department spends so much fixing files that were set up incorrectly for they way they print.

You can get great advice about lots of things in this forum. There's some extremely knowledgeable people here. But when it comes to printing specs, no one knows better than the people who will be printing the job.