If you feel that you don't require our services and want to lay out your book on your own, we will share with you some free advice and helpful hints, that will help you achieve the results your project requires.
Less is More
Cluttered design is confusing and difficult to look at. Keep it simple, keep only the most important elements. If it detracts from your intention, get rid of it.
One Font Too Many?
Just because you have many cool fonts doesn't mean you should use them all. Pick one appropriate font and use it throughout the book. If you feel the need to use two, be sure to use each consistently throughout.
Dummies are Smart
Printing out a dummy copy is a very helpful way to test the overall flow of the book. It is not only a good way to see if your alignment of objects, type size, and page placement are correct, but will also give you a chance to check for typos!
Color Management
You must calibrate with an external device to ensure correct color; our settings are available in our Preparing Your Files packet. If you're not calibrating to our specifications, we can't help you! Any adjustments we preform will be billed at our normal design rate ($150/hour).
Programs & Templates
We recommend using Adobe InDesign® CS2 for book layout in conjunction with Adobe PhotoShop® CS2 for image editing. These are the most effective, efficient tools to design your book. It is possible to meet our submission guidelines with other programs, but we only offer help with the Adobe Creative Suite.
Go to Preparing Your Files for our instructions, templates and submission guidelines.
