Page Templates...

[mnovak]

I understand the need to keep the complexity down when picking page templates, but I'm disappointed with the removal (before 2.0) of the ability to choose any template from any theme.

I would hope you consider adding this back in as an advanced option (or at least give the ability to change themes while preserving templates picked from a previous theme).

Thanks for considering...

[chanel]

I completely agree. That is one reason I have not ordered a book.

Message was edited by: chanel

[cprout]

Actualy to me having to use templates at all is a complete joke.
More then likley this company prints your whole book on one or two full sheets of paper (these sheets are rather large for use on a printing press) and then just
cut down each page. If they use guide markers or just simple automation for the cutting and pressing of the books there should be no need for templates.

Templates are great for people who dont know what there doing, but there should be an option for making your own. All the company does it print, cut, and bind the books.

[mypublisher]

Hi Everyone -

I wanted to give everyone a little bit of insight as to how our process works. Since the launch of 2.0 we have actually expanded the number of page layouts available in each theme. Based on customer feedback, we ensured that every theme had a variety of both caption and non caption options to choose from. The majority of our users are novice PhotoBook publishers and the templates are a way to ensure their book will look good once it's all put together. The templates are designed by a top design firm and meant to confirm that the focus is on the user photo, not on the background or layout. We are continuing to design new templates and book styles, so just keep watching for new information in our e-mails.

As for customizing each page to your exact desires, I recommend using PhotoShop to create each page. After designing your own layout or page you can use our full-bleed template to drag your PhotoShop design in (note: first convert it to an RGB JPG file).

As for our printing and production process. I can comment that it is not as simple as the one CPROUT has outlined in his/her post, but it is actually more complicated, based on what book size you select. Each PhotoBook is manually printed, cut and bound. It is a long process but we strongly feel that our PhotoBook quality of printing and binding is far superior to that of our competitors, therefore it's worth it!

I really hope you guys feel that way too! If you have any specific layouts that you are interested in seeing, please let me know...I can do my best to integrate them into our next release.

Sincerely,
MyPublisher

[LKJcreative]

Viewing the 3 samples from the professional photographers gave me terrific lessons about how to create my own books. Their ideas are well worth checking out several times. Keeping it simple makes a very effective flow of photos through the book, using a nice variety of templets. For example, with the use of a full page bleed across from a multiple photo page, it creates dramatic interest. That's really a key element, having only your best photos and try to have consistancy. Frequent review of all the photos in "all page review" is also very helpful tool to see how the book looks as a whole. I think the templets provided are terrific. It was fun being creative with them.

[Lywyllyn]

I would like to see the ability to choose an image as the background. Give me the option to blend the image via a percentage slider which should keep the complexity levels down. You can also offer to do simple colour changes (b&w, sepia tones, etc)

Choosing a custom or any background offered by mp would really push you guys beyond your competition.

Message was edited by: Lywyllyn

[mypublisher]

Hey Lywyllyn - Thanks for your feedback! We are working on many new templates and will have something similar to your suggestion so stay tuned!
Sincerely,
MyPublisher

[Lywyllyn]

Take a look at MS Publisher. They have some very simple image tools. Colourize and and intensity/fade slider. Anything fancier belongs in PhotoShop or PaintShop Pro.

Cheers!

[freshstart19]

I'm making a book for my daughter before she goes away to college. She's gone for 2 weeks so I don't have a whole lot of time. I'm ordering the deluxe book. I've never tried to make a template. How would I go about that in PhotoShop. I really could use a 5 page layout or a 6 with more options. I don't want to reinvent the wheel is someon has successfully played with this enough to make it work. Thanks.

[irusan]

Create a new image in Photoshop, sized to the page of the book you are making, plus an extra ¼" vertically and horizontally (I'm assuming the MyPublisher's presses like a 1/8" bleed on all four sides*). I would also make it 350 dpi (double the line screening of 150 lpi) so that the press will/should print a line between two pixels and average them (this will give you the best clarity). No point going higher than 350 but, if you go lower, you may get some unintended effects.

Then just think about creating that image (by adding your own images, overlays, text, opacity, etc.) and completely ignore (for now) that this is for a BM book.

When you are done, flatten the image, ensure that you are using the RGB color space, and save the file as a JPG.

Bring the JPG into BM and drop it onto a full page, one-picture template (no captions).

Doing this will also allow you to use any typeface you want in the book as well as any effect that is supported in Photoshop; after all, you are just creating a new JPG that, at the time of creation, has nothing to do with BM.

HTH

Rob

* as a side note, I notice that images are slightly set to the outside edge - I am assuming this is for the gutter. Is this the case and, if so, what's the measurement so that I can adjust for it in the PS template?

[freshstart19]

Thanks! I didn't mention that I have Photoshop Elements so I'm not sure that this works but I'll give it a shot. Some of what you wrote is a little over my head. I'm close to 100 pages now on my book and it would be great to almost make a collage out of some of the images. Susan

[mamabear2006]

I guess I'll just add my two cents, which I think has been covered, but I would love to be able to pick and choose page layouts between themes. For example, I am doing a first year book for my son and really want the layout with birth statistics, but when I get to doing Christmas photos, the baby blue backgrounds seem a little out of context, and I wish I could just pick a more basic background.... It seems maybe that was an option in an earlier version... Thanks!

[mypublisher]

Hi mamabear2006 -

Thank you for your feedback. I will add that to the wish list!

Sincerely,
MyPublisher

[irusan]

Susan,

All of that should work in PS Elements, so go ahead and give it a try. Admittedly, it's been "a little while" since I last worked with Element, though. :-)

Ignore my comment/question about gutter and bleed - that was more for the person (people?) from MyPublisher who graciously spend time here answering posts.

So, here's what to try:

1. Create a new document that's the same size as a page in the album you are creating PLUS an extra ¼". For example, if you are creating classic hardcover that's 11.75 x 8.25, you will create a new document in Elements that is 12" x 8.5". That will ensure that the document will cover the entire page in BookMaker (the extra ¼" will actually be of the sides of the page so that, when printed and cut, there's no white space along any edge of the page.

2. In Elements, open up whichever pictures you want to have on that specific page.

3. One by one, drag and drop the pictures onto that new document you created in step 1.

4. Add any text that you want as well.

5. Keep going until you have built your entirely custom page.

6. Save the file.

7. Go to Layers > Flatten Image

8. Save the file as a JPG (with maximum quality)

9. Add that JPG to a BookMaker page that is set as a single image, horizontal (or landscape-oriented) without caption - the one where the only thing is an image that covers the entire page.

10. Keep going as you would to build your page.

It's a bit cumbersome, since each page has to be manually built in Photoshop, but I have found that even just a few of these pages will enhance a book so much that using the pre-defined BookMaker templates for the rest of the book is more than acceptable.

HTH,

Rob

Message was edited by: irusan

[cahnmann]

On that note--i.e. image as background--it be really neat if you could fade an image and place your own text box over the image to write some lines. You'd have to be able to place the text box yourself in order to place it in the appropriate part of the background image.

[mypublisher]

We are working on improving the layouts and offer things like that.

Sincerely,
MyPublisher