|
Site
Click button for table of contents:
S&H
ISBN
Wholesale | |
Designing Publications
Click on underlined text for more information.
Do | Don't | Basic Format
Elements-click for more links | Add "Oomph"
Digital |
Elements |
Font |
Header/Footer | Page Numbers |
Indexing |
Layout |
Margins |
Photos |
Title
Let us do the
work for you!
Begin by being comfortable: It is recommended that a
manuscript preparation individual learn as much as they can
about the chosen method of manuscript preparation. Don’t
handicap yourself from the start by knowing just enough to
get by. Even if your computer system is all you have
available, so the choices seem to have been made for you,
it’s important to feel comfortable with your system. The
first hurdle for a non-computer user author is to feel
comfortable turning on (booting up) the system. From there,
take a class, utilize online help and forums, and build your
list of friends you can call for help, or even just check
out a few “Dummies” books at the library to begin. It may
surprise the writer how much being familiar with their tools
actually strengthens their finished book.
There is
no "silver bullet" for proper publication design or format. However, there are
some very basic rules to get you ready to go:
Do
-
Do credit
your sources.
-
Do
include an index in non-fiction.
-
Do make
sure your book has consecutive page numbers - on every page.
-
Do take
your budget into consideration.
-
Do
include some contact information in books (post office boxes, pre-paid cell
phones, and "disposable" email addresses are just a few ways to keep
provide contact while help protect privacy).
-
Do add other things besides text.
-
Do be
creative. Click for ideas and examples of
fonts,
elements,
header/footers,
margins,
indexing,
photos/graphics.
-
Do use as
much space in the manuscript as you can afford.
-
Do follow
Copyright and other laws.
-
Do
consider archival quality.
-
Do seek
help. Click for ideas and examples of
fonts,
elements,
header/footers,
margins,
indexing,
photos/graphics.
-
Do have
fun.
Back to top of page
Don't
-
Don't do
anything in your book that you hate to come across, as a reader or a researcher.
-
Don't
over clutter pages - often trying to reduce publication expense.
-
Don't use
small type if you want older people to enjoy your work.
-
Don't
condense everything to "save pages" into an unreadable manuscript.
-
Don't
give up.
Back to top of page
Basic design elements to consider
Back to top of page
Some basic
ideas to make your publication special (some ideas for
Hardbound {HB} or
Sofbound
{SB} only)
-
Try out a different layout (or two or three) than single block text.
-
Brown on cream
is an economical change from b/w as opposed to full color. This gives a nice
"old time" feel to any photos as well.
-
Print on
non-white paper.
-
Brown (or
black) on cream/ivory is an economical
alternative to using parchment - it reproduces better in POD as well.
-
Good
alternatives to black and white can include both paper and ink:
brown on cream,
navy on gray,
dark blue on light blue,
etc.
-
Use
colored paper (to match cover) as section dividers.
-
Use
clipart or stock photography to liven up pages where you don't have personal
items.
-
Do add other things besides text.
-
Place
information you might otherwise place on the endpapers (HB) or inside of cover
(SB) as the frontice piece and the last printed page in the book for economy.
-
Add a CD
or DVD of extra material - even color photos for printed b/w in book.
-
HB: Match
your end papers to the cover (main) color.
-
HB: Use
custom printed end sheets (end papers).
-
HB: Use
specialty material for end sheets (end papers).
-
HB: If
offered, use stock pre-printed end papers such as marbleized, etc.
-
HB:
Consider dust jackets versus color covers.
-
SB: Print
on the inside of the cover.
-
Post
Publication: Hand
number (or stamp) each book.
-
Post
Publication: Sign each book.
More ideas can be found on the starter
page.
Back to top of page
This area
will be growing, so check back often. If you have a suggestion, let us know and
we may just publish it here - crediting the source, of course!
For more suggestions
on this subject and more, order our book:
 G550-$20.00
WRITING Family History Or Genealogy For Pleasure and Profit
Complete Edition, by Gregath Company,
Inc.,
2011. ISBN:
978-0-944619-00-1, 8˝x11",
softbound book, 132 pages, suggestions & examples of all facets of your project
for the typist and/or computer user. Note: All G prefix books 100 pages or more, this one included,
that are SB can be special ordered in Library Oversewn Hardbound version -
contact
for details.
Also available on disk. |
Click here for more
information.
Back to top of page
> Home Page >
Book Preparation Tips >
Getting Started > Publication Design
> Home Page >
Book Preparation Tips > Publication Design
This Page Last Updated:
April 13, 2012
|
