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Designing Publications
Click on underlined text for more information.
Do | Don't | Basic Format
Elements | Add "Oomph"
There is no "silver bullet" for proper publication design or format. However, there are some very basic rules to get you ready to go:
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Do credit your sources.
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Do make sure your book has consecutive page numbers - on every page.
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Do take your budget into consideration.
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Do include contact information in family books.
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Do be creative.
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Do use as much space in the manuscript as you can afford.
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Do follow Copyright and other laws.
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Do consider archival quality.
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Do seek help.
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Do have fun.
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Don't do anything in your book that you hate to come across, as a reader or a researcher.
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Don't over clutter pages, often trying to reduce publication expense.
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Don't use small type if you want older people to enjoy your work.
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Don't give up.
Basic design elements to consider
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page numbers (can be in header or footer)
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chapter/section treatments
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foot/end note treatment
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index treatment and layout
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title
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reverse of title (verso)
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binding
Some basic ideas to make your publication special (some ideas for Hardbound {HB} or Sofbound {SB} only)
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Try out a different layout (or two or three) than single block text.
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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.
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Print on non-white paper.
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Brown (or black) on cream/ivory is an economical alternative to using parchment - it reproduces better in POD as well.
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Good alternatives to black and white can include both paper and ink: brown on cream, navy on gray, dark blue on light blue, etc.
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Use colored paper (to match cover) as section dividers.
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Use clipart or stock photography to liven up pages where you don't have personal items.
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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.
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Add a CD or DVD of extra material - even color photos for printed b/w in book.
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HB: Match your end papers to the cover (main) color.
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HB: Use custom printed end sheets (end papers).
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HB: If offered, use stock pre-printed end papers such as marbleized, etc.
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HB: Consider dust jackets versus color covers.
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SB: Print on the inside of the cover.
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Post Publication: Hand number (or stamp) each book.
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Post Publication: Sign each book.
More ideas can be found on the starter 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 those who want more information than is
contained in this FREE online book, we suggest:
WRITING Family
History Or Genealogy For Pleasure and Profit, by The Gregath
Publishing Company, *updated* 2007. ISBN: 0-944619-00-2, 8½x11",
softbound book, 126 pages, suggestions & examples of all facets of your project
for the typist and/or computer user.
G5505-$10.00
Also available on disk. | SCL
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