Image Size Issues

[dk]

I have a question about image size in BookMaker. I'm running version 2.2.0.2328. I do my own spreads in Photoshop, then bring in full-bleed layout images into BookMaker.
This is my first attempt with MyPublisher. I'm coming from a very bad Blurb experience...
So as I was laying out my book I noticed that images were not lining up correctly, they were too close to the edges. I was using the recommended image size and expected to lose up to 1/4" for bleed, but I was loosing WAY more. It looked more like 3/8" to 1/2". Upon investigation I noticed that BookMaker was "Auto Fitting" the images and that's when I realized that BookMaker doesn't seem to have the right crop size. The "Auto Fit" was "zooming in" on my images to provide width coverage for a crop that was wider than the published recommended sizes. When I zoomed the images out I noticed my images, while created at the correct size, were not fitting into the "blue box".

I created a full sized image, 2633x2034, 180 ppi (14.63x11.3). I then took a screen shot of the image size window and "pasted" it onto the image before exporting it from Photoshop. Attached is a picture of the image, zoomed out to show the disparity between the image size and the "blue box". The blue box is clearly longer than 14.63". About 1/2" longer. I haven't tested various sizes to see if I can get an image into the box without BookMaker zooming it, but it begs the question if your published recommended image sizes are correct?
That was one thing (the only thing?) I liked about Blurb?s software. When you hovered over an image box it told you the exact dimensions of the container.

http://img255.imageshack.us/img255/6524/mp180copytc9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img255.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mp180copytc9.jpg

Thanks!
DK

[mypublisher]

Hello - I can tell you that when we design templates, we design them for the page size of 8.5x11 and we include .04 of an inch of bleed on all 4 sides. The deluxe books are scaled up according to that aspect ratio - so you can either design for the classic book or scale the entire thing up by 1.3 which would bring you to a page size of 11.05 x 14.3 i believe. Add some room for bleed as well to that. Let me know if this helps.

[dk]

Thanks for the answer.
Unfortunately, I have to believe that a 1.3 aspect ratio is incorrect.
8.5x11 is 1.3
Your recommended image size @ http://www.mypublisher.com/help20/help_chapter6.php#f2
is 14.63 x 11.3, or 1.3

Any derivation of a 1.3 aspect ratio does not fit in the ?blue box?. I did a rough measurement of the box in photoshop and got a aspect ratio of 1.334. When I created an image sized 14.672x11, or 1.334, it fit the blue box spot on. This is significantly different than a 1.3 ratio image, and it concerns me. Your recommended aspect ratio does not match what BookMaker is looking for in a Deluxe size book.

Thoughts?

[mypublisher]

I believe your calculations are correct and should work. Personally I haven't designed my own pages for Deluxe, only Classic. Just remember, don't put anything important too close to the edge or near the binding. There is a margin of error for cropping...

Sincerely,
MyPublisher

[dk]

This is not quite the answer I was hoping for...
Can someone from MyPublisher who has actually designed a Deluxe size book give this issue some thought? Possibly one of the programmers who wrote the BookMaker software?
An image aspect ratio of 1.3 vs 1.334 is a nontrivial difference that goes well beyond the "margin of error"... Proper image size is fundamental and should be known exactly.

[mypublisher]

I got a more detailed answer for you. The Deluxe book has the following size/aspect ratio:

11.08 times 1.32 = 14.6256
8.58 times 1.32 = 11.3256

Printed size with bleed 14.6256 x 11.3256
Final Deluxe book size after cutting will be 14.5625 x 11.21875

This should answer your quesitons.

Sincerely,
MyPublisher

[dk]

I understand this information, and it makes sense to me, unfortunately BookMaker is expecting an image in 1.334 aspect ratio. Otherwise it wouldn't be "zooming in" and cropping off 1/2" of the height of my image. I'm not looking for tight tolerances, but it seems that this would lead to inconsistent printing results. This should probably be logged as bug to be addressed in a future version of BookMaker.
I'm not sure what kind of conversion the images go through when the book is uploaded to you, but I guess it would require a $60 test book to find out which image size is the right size...

[mypublisher]

Hi DK - I'm thinking that the difference here may be the gutter. We shift all templates over about .25 automatically to compensate for the gutter. Full bleed works slightly differently though. I would work based on what you see on the screen in BookMaker, don't put anything too important too close to the gutter and you should be happy with the final outcome.

Sincerely,
MyPublisher