|
Brightness/Contrast
Book Printing
Hi Burger,
The obvious question I had in deep, back of my mind. Uhm, are you sure you have correct calibration set up in your monitor (both old and new ones)?
It is often discussed about muddy pictures all over the forums. It is hard for me to point out the right reference to the right one. But if you conduct search query on “managed color profile” or “calibration” or “calibrated device” or “color management”.
Addition to essential function of having corrected color profile set up in monitor, next important task to make sure that your images look as appeared in Blurb book. It is called “soft proof” technique. To make this work, you need to have Photoshop app installed on your computer. There are good alternative image-editing app to Photoshop. Although, you didn’t mention if you have Photoshop or not, so I don’t know for sure.
Again, you might as well want to do a bit of research on “soft proof” search query all over forum discussion, and Help FAQ as well as in Blurberati Blog articles about this topic discussion.
If you need some help, let us know.
Hope that helps, no?
Brian, A passionate Blurbarian
|
|
|
|
|
Photography Books Now bookstore section?
General Interest
cschiradi,
I believe the Photography.Books.Now submission date due was on/by July 14, 2008.
Perhaps thatJack (a staff or some other staff from Blurb) confirm this.
Cheers, Brian, A passionate Blurbarian
|
|
|
|
|
Preview doesn't look like the book I uploaded
Ordering and Shipping
hi charlya,
Can you be a bit more specific as to how your preview book look different than what it is appeared in BookSmart on your computer? I had to ask for clarification, because I am not sure how you do your work done in BookSmart, and prior to putting your images into BookSmart.
Did you have correct calibration for your monitor? Did you soft proof your images? And, do you have Photoshop or similar image editing app?
If you tell us what went wrong with some specific description of what you are seeing in BookSmart and preview book online?
If you offer more detailed info about what went wrong, other Blurbarians or myself will be able to offer some possible workaround or remedies to your problem.
Hope that helps.
Cheers,
Brian, A passionate Blurbarian
|
|
|
|
|
Image resolution question.
Book Design and Imaging
phendryca,
Not sure what went wrong with the link I had provided, the forum seem to have it messed up by not including the entire link.
If you go FAQ link, conduct search query, you could try “best resolution” or other similar search keyword phrase queries. It is best if you get better search results if you have at least two or three search keyword all together, than one-word search keyword.
Again, hope that helps, no?
Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
Image resolution question.
Book Design and Imaging
phendryca,
You need to convert your images from resolution of 72 to 300.
To do this, you need to have image editor application such as Adobe Photoshop CS3, or Photoshop Element, or similar image editing apps.
I also found the info through FAQ search, if you have done this venue, you will find many list of information on similar search queries…
What is the best resolution for the images in my book?
http://blurb.custhelp.com/cgi-bin/blurb.cfg/php/enduser/std_adp.php?p_faqid=78
Also, you need to be sure that your photos are correctly set to color profile called sRGB, because Blurb BookSmart app is a sRGB app.
You are encouraged to learn more about sRGB and DPI resolution through FAQs search and through Blurb forums, where there are many discussion on the topic.
Hope that helps.
Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
Additions to the book
Book Printing
Bonjour Tim,
I don’t know if that works for you… the idea of put quick two-words such as 1st Edition, 2nd Edition, 3rd Ed. to your book. That way, it should help book customers to identify the latest version of your book.
Just a suggestion or two-cent thought. Totally up to you.
Have a great evening!
Cheers,
Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
Photography Book NOW - competition question!
Book Design and Imaging
You are welcome.
|
|
|
|
|
Photography Book NOW - competition question!
Book Design and Imaging
Leah,
Actually, if you read the first link, FAQ at Photography.Book.Now – and if you read all the way to the “bottom” of FAQ, there is a contact information (an email addy) to contact somebody specifically addressed to Photography.Book.Now topics.
Once again, I truly hope that helps this time.
Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
Photography Book NOW - competition question!
Book Design and Imaging
Here is the FAQ link of Photography.Book.Now -
http://www.photographybooknow.com/faq.html
And…
The other link, that might be of a bit helpful info on what kind of book “theme”, have a look – if you look at book category for details…
http://www.photographybooknow.com/entry_form.html
Hope that helps and good luck.
Have some fun!
Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
How to get accurate image color & detail with the finished Book?
Book Design and Imaging
Lowell,
Glad that I can be assistance for you. You might want to take most difficult images you work with, apply some of most challenging images in your proof book and see what happens next. That way, it should help.
Cheers, Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
Flash Flippin' Preview Instead?
Web Features
Hello Jack,
I just noticed that there is other minor adjustment with Flash flipping preview including “full-sized” screen preview. I find that very neat feature. I like it better immensely.
Keep up the good work.
Cheers,
Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
Concerned about photo quality for my Photography book
Book Design and Imaging
Lowell,
Have a look at the other post you posted, and have a look at my suggestion in that forum discussion.
http://forums.blurb.com/forums/4/topics/3100
Hope that helps.
Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
How to get accurate image color & detail with the finished Book?
Book Design and Imaging
Hi Lowell,
If you have some doubt about softproofing result in your image, perhaps that you want to do the first twenty (20) pages of test proof book with some images you are concerned about.
Also, be sure that you always do a duplication of all your photos before you proceed any image editing on any images.
As for trying to get accurate color balance in all of your images, that is to say it is “almost” truly impossible to get this that close to perfect image. I would say close to 80 to 85 percent of soft proof process with HP Indigo Press ICC profile assigned. The idea of soft proof is to give you a better idea on how each image should look like in a printed book. If you didn’t like what you see or seem to think certain image, soft proof give you the luxury of having the opportunity to make all necessary adjustment – until you like what you see. For 200 images with soft proof process seems to be lot of work, but that is what it is intended. If you want a near-perfect photography book, soft proof with some roundtrip between softproof and image editing/adjustments will be worth the effort, time and money.
The idea of test proof book give you a better idea how the first twenty pages of your images. It is better that way than not knowing what to expect. I don’t know how many pages do you plan to work on your photography book. However, I recommend that you consider test proof book with first twenty pages of your images in question. If you find some photos that need some work, you can always make some changes after what you see in that proof book.
Hope that helps. Enjoy the beautiful weather!
Cheers, Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
Flash Flippin' Preview Instead?
Web Features
Hi Jack,
Like Bret has said the other day on June 5th, I also notice the same on Staff Pick week. I like what I saw. Perhaps that you want to finetune a bit as page flipping style inside the book. The cover book looks perfect, but the inside the book as it seems like hardcover effect. You might want to make inside the book’s pages looks almost as if you are turning pages-effect-like.
Thanks much for all you do, Jack.
Cheers,
Brian
[A passionate Blurbarian]
|
|
|
|
|
adding footnotes
Tips and Tricks
I don’t know if alternative method is doable, attainable or workable solution for you… but worth to mention this to you, you could do that in Adobe InDesign CS3. I doubt that works for you, though.
Cheers, Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer/participant]
|
|
|
|
|
Do I have to buy book before clients?
Ordering and Shipping
Hi Cheryl,
As for the programs you wanted to know about, actually, most creative professionals usually use or own Adobe creative design premium package called Photoshop CS3, InDesign CS3, Illustrator CS3, etc. To learn how these apps works, it IS very time consuming to learn how to work with Adobe app(s).
I have Adobe Creative Suite CS3 (Design Premium) on side of Macintosh and I love it immensely. Wonderful apps I use every day.
Cheers,
Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer/participant]
|
|
|
|
|
Mac software
Tips and Tricks
Dana,
I found the system requirement by looking at Blurb’s FAQ. I cut and paste the info for you.
Although, please read more specifically especially two physical hardware as in PPC-based or Intel-based as noted in system requirement recommended by Blurb.
(cut and paste – here)
What are BookSmart’s system requirements?
A PC running Microsoft Windows XP or Vista, or an Apple running Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later should be all you need. But if you want to get technical about it, here are the detailed system requirements:
Requirements for Windows
Download Size: 20MB
Operating System: Microsoft Windows XP and Vista
Memory: 512 MB minimum, 1 GB or more recommended
Processor: 1.3 GHz minimum, 2 GHz or faster recommended
Disk space to install application: 90MB
Disk Space per Average Book: 100MB
Screen Resolution: 1024×768 minimum, 1600×1200 preferred
Requirements for Macintosh
Download Size: 13MB
Operating System: Mac OS X 10.4.5 or later
Memory: 512 MB minimum, 1GB or more recommended (especially for PPC Macs)
Processor: 1.5 GHz G4 minimum, 1.83 GHz Intel Core Duo or faster recommended
Disk space to install application: 21MB
Disk Space per Average Book: 100MB
Screen Resolution: 1024×768 minimum, 1600×1200 preferred
(end of cut and paste)
Hope that helps.
Cheers, Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer/participant]
|
|
|
|
|
How do you edit a post?
General Interest
You can’t edit after you posted your message at Blurb Forum.
That is to say, I believe, that Blurb staff is capable of editing forums.
Hope that helps.
Cheers, Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer/participant]
|
|
|
|
|
Mac software
Tips and Tricks
I am sorry I am not sure and fully understood your question.
Are you referring your question about Blurb BookSmart? In that case of Blurb BookSmart runs on Windows and Mac.
Just be sure that you have latest version of Mac system architecture as in 10.5.3 (Mac OSX Leopard).
I have no problem running BookSmart (Macintosh version) on Mac Pro and MacBook Pro.
Hope that helps, no?
Cheers, Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer/participant]
|
|
|
|
|
Help with First Book
Book Design and Imaging
Hi Blurb customers and participants, including maryjos, Rob and Tony,
I highly commend Rob and Tony. Of course, I recognize that not every Blurb customer or participant have the luxury of having Adobe InDesign or even Photoshop or Illustrator for that matter. One of nice thing about Adobe apps such as InDesign or Photoshop or even Illustrator, where you can do lot of experiments with layout design and its structure. You can always make some changes in these apps, as mentioned above as in InDesign or Photoshop or Illustrator. Once or if you are fully satisfied with your work with Adobe app(s), of course, import all of these work into Blurb BookSmart.
As for working with ideally designed for margin and gutter, as a general rule of thumb in publishing industry usually are 1/8”. Always a good idea to leave some “extra” room on all edge of your work in Adobe InDesign, Photoshop and Illustrator.
If for some reason, you remain have some doubt or unsure about what to expect, always a good idea to run a proof – test book with twenty (20) pages.
As for Tony’s suggestion by taking a look at couple books at library or local bookstore, you might as well want to take a look at Communications Art magazine or similar graphic design-related on how-to design highly effective and productive layout structure.
Hope that helps.
Cheers, Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer/participant]
|
|
|
|
|
Conversion of Blurb book from PC to Mac Lepard OS
BookSmart
To “export” your BookSmart file on your Window XP, run BookSmart, and go to File under menu, and select “BackUp/Export Book…”
To transfer the files, it depends on how you want it to be transferred from your Windows XP to your Mac Pro. There are few way to achieve this task. Save Zipped file of Exported Book file on CD or DVD on your Window XP. Other option is to upload your zipped export file from your WIndows XP to Mac Pro through email or thru FTP, if you have a plenty space with web hosting account where you can handle your own FTP. I think it is probably too complicated for you to do this way.
The third option is to transfer your files, including your fave files, word processing and many others from XP to Mac Pro through special cable. To learn more information on this, have a look at Apple site to learn more on how to transfer XP files to Mac.
FInally, to “import” your file, be sure to uncompressed your zipped exported file on your Mac Pro desktop, or wherever you placed that exported book file on your Mac Pro hard drive. To do this, run BookSmart on Mac Pro, pull down to import file under Finder Menu. It is pretty much self explanatory step. If problem, come back and ask for some help.
Hope that helps.
|
|
|
|
|
Anyone hire or been hired to create a book?
Book Design and Imaging
Have a look at Blurb Nations, where you will find someone who would help you through Blurb Nation directory.
http://www.blurb.com/blurb_nation/directory
I would love to help you with Photoshop project, but I am in middle of settling down in Toronto, ON, Canada from Manhattan.
However, I believe that someone at Blurb Nations will be happy to help you. Please note that all of these people on list are not employees of Blurb Nations, just freelance creative professionals.
Hope that helps and good luck. Yes, it is awesome community at Blurb Forum.
Have a great weekend.
Cheers,
Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer and participant]
|
|
|
|
|
Suggesting a potentially useful feature in Profile
Web Features
Anyone want to say something, no?
Have a great weekend!
Cheers,
Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer and forum participant]
|
|
|
|
|
calibrate your monitor colour?
Book Printing
Hi adachan,
You probably are going to sick of me by now. But I realize that I had left out one important and very useful technique widely used by creative pros and pro photographers. The technique is called “test proof book”.
The reason for this is to get a better idea on how your proof book should look after you do a soft proofing and make some necessary adjustment if needed to.
The idea of test proof book is to have about twenty (20) pages. If you like what you saw or that it has met your expectations or to your standards, then you want to continue working on your book project in second stage.
As for working with soft proofing process, this give you a better idea, roughly idea on how your image looks like on printed book. If you think you want to make some changes in certain images, whether it is too dark or too light or anything can be in question. Soft proofing technique is not 100 percent accuracy, but this give you a better idea on how printed image should look on Blurb Book.
If you had all “right tools” into the place, including proper calibration for your computer monitor, right sRGB profile, right resolution, and if you think soft proofing process looks good, this give you a better idea – by about 85 to 90 percent of accuracy in soft proofing.
It is very rare to get this right first time around. Nearly almost impossible to get soft proof 100 percent.
You could say it sounds like a lot of work, time and effort. Actually, only if you have right tools into the place, and most importantly of all, calibrated device into the place and use it properly and often – that itself save you lot of time and money, and efforts.
Hope that helps by direct you to the right resource and tool, and I congratulate you to come to the Blurb form asking for some help.
Cheers,
Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer and participant]
|
|
|
|
|
calibrate your monitor colour?
Book Printing
Hi adachan,
I am sorry that you are having some problem with color cast appeared in your photos.
Actually, uhm, since you has stated that you had a problem with your photos printed by Costco – not a product of Blurb Inc.
Although, you have stated that you are working on your, probably a first book project, with Blurb. In that case, you have come to the right forum looking for some suggestion or solution.
In case if you didn’t know, but there are a series of discussion forums discussing on the topic similar to your question about color cast, and etc.
There are few things you need to look at and learn more about. Actually, color management is kinda of a little heavy headed and a little complicated. It is a constant challenge even for pro photographers or creative professionals or graphic designers etc.
You can run a search query on couple of search queries related to “soft proofing”, “Calibrated device” and few other things.
Although, I do not know what kind of image editing application you are working with? Adobe Photoshop? Or other image editing application? As for soft proofing process, and few other things…
Have a look at a couple of links below:
To learn more about Color profile for Blurb books in Bluerberati Blog article,
http://blurberatiblog.com/index.php/2007/02/13/color-profile-for-blurb-books/
If you work with Adobe Photoshop on your computer, this be of an interest and very useful procedure.
Bonsai Photography resource site
http://www.bonsai-photography.com/
Once you are at Bonsai Photography web site, you want to download two files, a PDF file on how to install and how to work with ICC profile, and download two articles. TO DOWNLOAD the ICC profile, a little tricky and often overlook on that one, but BE SURE that you checked AFTER you accept to the term “I agree with the above terms and conditions” set forth by that site. Please read the info about T&C outlined related to ICC profile.
As for calibrated device for your computer monitor, I recommend that you learn more about this topic. In fact, this topic has been discussed fairly often. Run a search query on the topic.
In that case, you’ll find many discussion on the topic related to calibrated device and general discussion related to calibration device and etc.
More on calibrated device discussions, here
http://forums.blurb.com/posts/search?q=calibrated+device&x=0&y=0
Hope that helps.
Cheers, Brian
[A passionate Blurb customer and participant]
|
|
