classic hardcover pages larger than cover???

[AndyK]

Hi there,

I am trying to wrap my head around page sizes for doing my own layouts using Indesign. I have some experience with photobooks and am giving mypublisher a shot after some good reviews. I must say, the information given in the help section is very confusing and often inconsistent. I feel a few diagrams would be much clearer! One query i do have is thus:

The dimensions given for a delux hardcover are 15x11.5 (cover dimensions) and for it's pages 14.63x11.3. This makes sense, the pages are slightly smaller.

For the classic hardcover, the cover dimension is 11.25x8.75 and it's pages are 11.3x8.5. Why are the pages slightly larger in width??

AndyK

[Cruiser]

Based on my experience (15 Deluxe and 5 Classic books) use the same dimentions for your cover as you use for the pages. Keep your file size between 2 mb and 5 mb and they will fit just fine. For example: I use 11.315 x 8.541 for my Classic books and 14.63 x 11.3 for my Deluxe. But, if I make a page for a Classic book and change it to Deluxe, the software will fit it in just fine. I use 200 dpi and the edges fit just perfectly. I agree, the "Help" section of MyPublisher is rather confusing. Also, make all your pages the same size and even if you put several on the same page, the software automatically adjusts them for you.

Many times, I just copy my pictures into the molds and move them around knowing parts will be cut off or I zoom out to make them fit better. What I have learned is there are no firm rules...do what works for you as long as you get a blue line around your picture when you pull it into the book. Don't use any picture over 5 mb because then it might not print well. And, use caution with pictures under 1 mb. Pictures from the web or low resolution do not print well.

[AndyK]

Thanks Cruiser, I will try your figures tonight but I still don't understand why the stated width of the page is larger than the cover. Your figures probably work because it doesn't really matter what the dimensions are as long as the aspect ratio is the same as that displayed in the program (a full page photo will fit perfectly).

I think most of the confusion comes with understanding what the mypublisher program is expecting (the correct aspect ratio with enough dpi for a decent print) and what actually happens to that full bleed image after that.

From what I understand, by trial and error, I can export a jpeg from Indesign that will fit perfectly onto a full bleed page in the mypublisher program (correct aspect ratio). The image then gets enlarged slightly (effectively the bleed) and then cropped (approx 1/4" on all sides). This means the pages displayed in the mypublisher program effectively include the bleed.

In Indesign, I think I will set up a page that is 11.05x8.25 with 0.25" bleed (the jpeg output will now be 11.3x8.5, as needed, if these are indeed the correct dimensions). I will also set up margins another 0.25" in for a fudge factor, and add a margin 0.5" in for the gutter. It would be nice to have some two page spreads and having a 0.5" 'overlap' on facing pages sounds like a good idea from other posts.

Hopefully this makes the difference between a great book and one that is so-so.

[Cruiser]

I've done some two page layouts using the 1/2" overlap in the binding area and they printed beautifully. Again, I wouldn't worry about the cover page size and concentrate on the final full bleed size of your pictures. Any picture you make using the page dimentions will work on the cover.

One thing you can do is make your page, drag it into the software then double click on the photo for adjusting. Try moving your picture around. If the margins are correct, the picture will fit exactly. I do that with my full bleed pictures and if the picture is too wide or too tall, you will know right away.

In the beginning, I did some pictures at 350 dpi as some on the forum recommended. That works too but your file size gets too big so I would stay with the 200 dpi. Try any combination to see what you get. My 350 dpi, 100 page Deluxe books ended up being 3.5 gigs when uploaded. It took over an hour using a cable connection. I believe the 350 dpi is over kill for the software we are using.

[AndyK]

I made a couple of layouts tonight and tried to import them into the program full bleed. An interesting thing happened...

Using the dimensions in my previous post I was able to export a jpeg that matched the aspect ratio of a full bleed page *exactly*. However, when I pressed the 'fit to page' button, it zoomed in slightly and seemed to overlap the image on all four sides, effectively cropping the image.

Cruiser, do you use the 'fit to page' button and lose a bit on all four sides or do you eyeball it, using the 'preview' function to see if there are any white (or background coloured) stripes down the edge of a page?

[Cruiser]

I would use your "eyeball" technique because the software will crop some of your picture. I haven't figured out why. Use the preview to see if you are happy with the way the picture sits on the page. You could use the move function to check your edges if you think something is cut off. If you see any white at your edges in the preview it will print that way. I would rather have a slight overlap than have a page cut too short. If you like the picture when you click on "auto fit" then use it. Sometimes it will correct a slight error in placing your picture. If it crops too much, use the "un do" function and go back to your original page.

[mypublisher]

The pages are actually 8.5x11 - when cut, but there is typically about 1mm of bleed all around that gets cropped off. I hope this helps!