2 page spread

[kzook]

Hi all,

I know this has been discussed before, but I'm not finding the thread. Can anyone help me on how I can do a 2 page spread (I'm using PP)? I tried cutting the picture in half and putting half the picture on one PP slide, and the other half of the picture on the other PP slide, but it stretched it and looks funny.

Also, when you talk about leaving 3/4" on each page, that's while you're working in PP, right? Once you see it in the "preview" section of MP, that's EXACTLY what you'll get in your final book? I know I can answer this question myself by compairing my first book that I made with my layout, but I'm not home right now and am anxious to know the answer. Thanks everyone!

[Marti]

Yeah, you don't want to stretch it. You did the right thing by splitting the photo, and reversing the right side. I'm not quite sure what causes the 2-page spread to appear across the entire two pages or just part of the two pages. I've had it happen both ways and I'm not sure why it works okay one time and not another. Obviously the size of the photo is the key. If the photo is large enough to fit, without stretching, on two slides after it's been split, then it will be a full-bleed page in the book. It not, it won't.

[kzook]

Hi Marti,

Thanks for your response - but I'm a bit confused. I don't think I was very clear. What do you mean by "reversing the right side"?

What I did was split my picture in half, then pulled up the first half on one PP slide, and the other half on the other PP slide. Unfortunately, when the halves of the picture came up on the PP slide, both were severely stretched out (but I think I can fix this....maybe). Just wondering if this is what you did when you created your 2 page spread. Also, did you leave 3/4" on the PP slide to accomodate for the binding?

Is the only way to do a 2 page spread by creating 2 PP slides and making them both full-bleed pages next to each other in MP? Thanks!!

[Marti]

For a two-page spread using PP slides, you're doing what I do, except for the right side of the photo portion, I flip it horizontally. I do the splitting in Microsoft Paint. I use 2 copies of the photo. On the first copy, I split the photo by moving the right edge of the photo to the center, thereby deleting the right half of the photo. The left side of the photo remains.

Then I bring up the photo copy, reverse it and repeat by moving the right edge into the center, then reverse back. What I end up with is two photos, one of the left side of the original photo and one of the right side. They meet in the middle of the two-page spread to form the whole photo.

I don't stretch my photo halves across the PP slide. If my photo was large enough, each half will take up the entire slide. If the photo wasn't large enough, I have each half meet in the gutter (with a little allowance on both gutters) and leave the rest of the page for titles or journaling.

The only time I had a problem with both halves meeting perfectly equally in the gutter was when I unknowingly (didn't notice) that I had split a curve-topped gate. I allowed some open space at the gutter for both halves of the photo, but the curved-top of the gate didn't meet together perfectly. I doubt anyone knows but me, though. My husband said he never noticed. It's pretty minor.

There may be another method of working with two-page spreads in PP, but this has worked well for me. Perhaps someone knows how to increase the size of the photos on both slides without stretching them.

[kzook]

Marti,

I think I may know why it's not working for me. When you did your 2 page spreads, were the pictures taken in "panoramic" view on your camera? My picture that I'm trying to spread across 2 pages isn't and I think that's why I'm having problems....

[Marti]

No, they weren't panoramic shots, kzook. But they were taken on the large resolution setting on the camera. In my computer, each photo measures 4000 x 3000 in dimension and 3.35 MB in size. Does that help?

[kzook]

Aha - thanks Marti for your help, it all makes sense now. I'm really happy with the way this book is coming along - I just hope my mom-in-law likes it. can't wait to share!

thanks again!

[Marti]

Oh good, Kzook. Sometimes this stuff is hard to explain. Your mother-in-law will LOVE your book! Sharing our books is the BEST!