Glossary
Catalog
S&H
Part
I
Printed Book
Family History
State
Part II
E-Book
Genealogy & History
Fiction
Part III
Non-Book Items in our Catalog
Other Sections
(May include Printed Book, E-Book and Other)
New
Additions
New
Reprints
Gift Services
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 |
Indexing |
Layout |
Margins |
Photos |
Title
Color Cover Design
Let us do the
work for you!
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 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).
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Do be creative. Click for ideas and examples of fonts, elements, header/footers, margins, indexing, photos/graphics.
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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. Click for ideas and examples of fonts, elements, header/footers, margins, indexing, photos/graphics.
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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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photos - quality, content, and captions
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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 Gregath Company, Inc.,
*updated* 2008. 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.
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