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What to draw next and other mumblings.
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Message
Posted
Progressing. I have the photobook app on my desktop pc, and I'm slowly compiling the book. I make a point of looking back over what I've done each time I add something, it helps me decide if I still like things. I compile the images in photoshop. For those unfamiliar with that, it allows you to put the various elements of the image on separate layers within the picture...so the drawing on one layer, the text on another, any heading on another...so it's easy to change things. When happy with the pic, you flatten the file and save it as a jpeg.
The black border shown in the pics above, is on the top layer. It's intended as a safety margin, I don't want my drawings or text to extend into the black area. I don't want any text right up to the edge of the page...it looks bad. The margin allows the book to look uncluttered, if you understand me. I won't be having a black border on the actual pages.
There will be a few pages just of text, a few full page illustrations, but mostly text and and illustration on the same page. Here's the latest example of the latter...
The action in the story has moved to night-time, that effects how I present the illustrations and text. The drawings have to go in boxes, they aren't in the earlier pages. I considered
using white text on the drawings, but didn't like it...here's an example...
This page will just appear without the text, the next page will be all text.
Unless, of course, I change my mind again.
It's great fun pottering around in bookworld.
The action in the story has moved to night-time, that effects how I present the illustrations and text. The drawings have to go in boxes, they aren't in the earlier pages. I considered
using white text on the drawings, but didn't like it...here's an example...
This page will just appear without the text, the next page will be all text.
Unless, of course, I change my mind again.
It's great fun pottering around in bookworld.
Posted
And don’t forget to save the various elements as a separate file before flattening… In case you need to make adjustments later! you can’t go back as in reversing the process - you’ll be aware of that anyway! I’ve seen it done so many times.
I’m very impressed with progress to date Lew, some stunning work on show!
Edited
by Alan Bickley
Posted
Yes, I have a folder with the photoshop files (PSD file format…with layers), and another folder for the flattened jpegs that go in the app). You are right, it’s very easy to flatten and save as psd, and lose the layers. It’s ok if the file is still open, I can undo it. So before I close a psd file I check it still has layers. But I still make that error occasionally, it’s all too easy.
Posted
The text within the illustration didn't look out of place to my eye, Lewis, as I often place short form poetry in a painting or photo, I rather liked it, however, your work is different.
The text could be an entrance for the illustration. Not knowing where this is placed within the story, it could be a nice start of a chapter. Seeing these titbits unfold is quite intriguing.
Edited
by Carol Jones
Posted
Carol: I've done the same thing, but prefer not to in this book. I'm looking for uniformity in layout.
Sandra: I did say I was considering a black border. But the prime reason for this border is to show a clear safety margin near the edges. I've done quite a few of these over the years, in the first one I had made I got too near the edges and thought it looked clumsy. These days the first thing I do is create such a border, usually black because it stands out so well when I'm assembling the pages. It's always at the top of the layers in the picture file and so shows clearly when I've strayed too near the edge of the page. It just switch that layer off when I flatten the image and save it as a jpeg file.
When I've done a few pics I start to put them in the photobook app. This gives a much better idea of how the book will look. On doing so, I thought the black borders looked inelegant...these things are always a matter of opinion.
Here's a couple of screenshots of my pics in the photobook app...
...at the moment it's looking like 28 pages will be needed. But if required, I'll add more.
A closer look at the pages...
One of the things I have to watch out for is double-spacing on some of the text. It's my wobbly old hands. When I hit the space-bar, for example, my finger must dwell too long on the key, and I get two spaces instead of one. I don't always notice it. It's not just the space-bar, it happens with the letters too. Frustrating. It's happening as I type this. There's a double spacing in the right picture....between 'in' and '1863'. Easy to correct. I'll get my son to check for typos. You can adjust for finger-pressure on a keyboard...tried it...it shifted the error elsewhere. I just have to live with it...no big problem. Sometimes I think I'd type better with my elbows, if I could get a big enough keyboard.
...at the moment it's looking like 28 pages will be needed. But if required, I'll add more.
A closer look at the pages...
One of the things I have to watch out for is double-spacing on some of the text. It's my wobbly old hands. When I hit the space-bar, for example, my finger must dwell too long on the key, and I get two spaces instead of one. I don't always notice it. It's not just the space-bar, it happens with the letters too. Frustrating. It's happening as I type this. There's a double spacing in the right picture....between 'in' and '1863'. Easy to correct. I'll get my son to check for typos. You can adjust for finger-pressure on a keyboard...tried it...it shifted the error elsewhere. I just have to live with it...no big problem. Sometimes I think I'd type better with my elbows, if I could get a big enough keyboard.
Posted
No Carol, no paragraph spacer in the photobooks apps. Intended as photo albums it does have text boxes for captions, if you want them. It provides many page layout examples you can use. It also has an auto-fill function, where you just upload your photos and it does it all for you.
This isn’t for me…in the app you can select a full-page option. That’s what I use. I compose my pictures in photoshop…drawings, texts and headings etc. I’ve chosen a square book. It’s 21 x 21 cm. Your picture can be much bigger of course (mine are), so long as it’s square, the app will accept it.
Posted
Well, the book's been printed. I'd like to thank the people who've commented on this post. You all understand the difficulties in producing anything creative, and your encouragement has been appreciated. Chief thanks to the ever reliable and helpful Alan Bickley, whose knowledge of publishing and the world of graphics in general, helped prevent me turning this into a dog's dinner. I've had several books published in this way, but they only had the odd line of text.
A few pictures of the book...
These aren't great photos, the book looks better than these. It's 21 cm square, printed on thick 'lay-flat' pages, the graphics reproduced very well. It cost £30 including postage, which seems pretty standard pricing in the photobook world. You have to to wait for an offer, of course. 50% on this occasion (I doubt anyone ever pays the full price...in this case it would have been £60.) £30 seems a very reasonable price to me. Had I not chosen the 'lay-flat-page' option it would have been cheaper.
Next week my son will be giving it to the author.
When I can sit at my computer long enough, I'll show the whole book.
These aren't great photos, the book looks better than these. It's 21 cm square, printed on thick 'lay-flat' pages, the graphics reproduced very well. It cost £30 including postage, which seems pretty standard pricing in the photobook world. You have to to wait for an offer, of course. 50% on this occasion (I doubt anyone ever pays the full price...in this case it would have been £60.) £30 seems a very reasonable price to me. Had I not chosen the 'lay-flat-page' option it would have been cheaper.
Next week my son will be giving it to the author.
When I can sit at my computer long enough, I'll show the whole book.