Full Bleed pixel dimensions for 2 page spread

[Pamela]

Sorry if you?ve answered this already. I searched the forums and could only find one thread regarding dimensions. I plan to create my own full bleed layouts in photoshop for a two-page spread (inspired by the wonderful work of fotojuraj).

I just did two tests with photo dimensions at 180DPI (for classic hardcover) I split a 1200H by 3200W image in half to create two photos of 1200H by 1600W. It fit into BookMaker 2.2 nicely, and the middle seam edges lined up fairly well on screen.

Next I split an image 1530H by 4080W in half to create two images 1530H by 2040W, as shown in your help section under ?preparing your photos? This time there was visible cut off at the middle seam and quite a bit missing from the top and bottom of the image. The backgrounds I?m creating are going to be very soft backgrounds, and I?m most concerned about the middle seam. Should I blindly put my faith in your dimensions even though they don?t seem right in Bookmaker? I mean, of course you guys know your product best... It?s just that this is my first try and I?m a little nervous.
Thanks,
Pamela

[mypublisher]

Hi Pamela - The actual page size is 8.5 by 11 so design for that size. If it looks good in BookMaker it will print well. I'm not a PhotoShop person myself so I don't know much more thant preview is what will print. Use that as your guide. Use the zoom in/zoom out to get to what you'd like. The middle seam will eat up 1/4 of an inch though so don't put anything important too close to the center!

[Pamela]

Thank you Julia! I'll bet you guys are so busy after this massive advertising campaign :)

[fotojuraj]

Just in case you don't see this info, under Wedding Albums:

My full bleed 2 page layout was based on these MP specifications (for Deluxe Album):

Landscape (horizontal) with the image resolution set at 180 dpi
14.63 inches wide
11.3 inches high
2633 pixels wide
2034 pixels high

In Photoshop I created pages that were double width, ending up with:
29.26 inches wide
11.3 inches high
5266 pixels wide
2034 pixels high

The background image was placed and cropped to those dimensions (as the camera aspect ratio is totally different). Then I used Photoshop to "cut" those backgrounds in half. On the left page, I'd leave 3/4" gutter in the right side. On the right page, I'd leave 3/4" gutter in the left side. That is where book is bound and you'd loose some image portion. This was done experimentally by laying book out and then previewing it, before printing. In my book I did loose bit of image, however it did not matter to the background that much.

[MAYA]

Hi! I have been trying to create the background using a 2592x1944 picture and getting nowhere. My page dimensions are 24.093 x 8.897. Is the picture just too pixel poor? What I'm getting is terribly pixelated. I'd be most grateful for any advice.

Maya

[mypublisher]

Hi Maya - what application are you using to create the template? What is the original image size?