setting up a book cover?

[Carrie]

I've been reading about this, the only directions I could find for doing it
is how to set up a book (for pubish on demand, mainly) in WORD. This has a
very brief discription of how to to set up the cover design (if one has no
choice) in Word.

Since I have Publisher (2000) I'm thinking that would be better, of
course. I don't have a specific book and cover in mind, just would like to
learn to do it.

The directions for Word has how to set up the measurments, with extra on
the edges for "bleed" and figuring the space for the spine (going by pages
in the book, pages per inch, etc) but says to set it up landscape, as 2
columns.

I was looking in Publisher and don't seen any templates for book covers,
so think it must be "blank pages" and setting the measurements, size, of 3
of these, with the one for the spine set accordingly? The orientation would
be portrait, but then printed landscape, but I don't think ordinary printer
paper would be long enough for this. The entire book cover (front, back and
spine) is printed in one piece? The example in my instructions (for a
paperback size) is 12 3/4" X 9 1/2".

In this case, except for testing it, it would be set up the size it's
needed, and then saved in a certain way, "for the printer" (whoever is going
to make the book)

Also, the instructions (which apply to Word) says CMYK colors are best
(which Word doesn't have). I've never done much with anything like that, or
setting up a job "for a professional printer". I know there's a pack up
setting on Publisher for getting it ready to print. I have Photoshop, which
I believe has an option for using CMYK colors, I've just never been
interested in this aspect, before.

As I said, I don't have a book I want to set up or make a cover for,
but got interested in this -especially in the "print on demand" area. I have
seen ads for this, that say "decuct $175 from the price if you design your
own cover" So, someone must be designing and setting up covers for these
books, which seems to be creative and an art form in itself. Though, I would
think, at one time, when books were only published by big companies, they
would have their own cover designers setting them up. Now, there's more the
"do it yourself" area.

Maybe there are tutorials and info about this someone knows about? I've
tried searches. All I could find was the little book (self published I
think) about setting up a book and a few pages about cover design, using
Word. And, a lot of the book involved why Word is NOT the best/first choice
for doing this, but if you have no choice...

Thanks!
Carrie

 

[Mary Sauer]

Carrie, You can setup Publisher to do just about anything you want it to do.
I enjoy your rambling messages however it is difficult to know just exactly what
you want to do. There are Publisher 2000 tutorials all over the web.
http://web.archive.org/web/20000818153841/microsoft.com/enable/products/docs/publisher2000.htm
Spines are dependent on how many pages your book will have.
http://www.lightningsource.com/LSISecure/PubResources/SpineCalcCriteria.aspx?App=WWW

Tutorial for 2000 here, scroll down
http://www.microsoft.com/education/o2ktutorial.mspx

A cover for a book is simple enough. I have seen some of your work, it is well
within your talent.

 

[Carrie]

Thanks, Mary

Sometimes I'm not sure what I want to know, myself (LOL)

Before coming back here, I figured out in Publisher to set up one page,
landscape, the size of the entire book cover. Setting up the margins and
spine, etc the way it sounds like it should be. bleed area, etc. After a
few test prints, I got it to come out the way it's supposed to, though not
fully on the paper (I don't have paper big enough size). But, I can see the
possibilities.

Maybe it's my imagination, but to me, setting up measurements for
something like this, to get it all centered right, is confusing. I end up
drawing pictures to figure it out (LOL)

Actually the "test cover" I made came out pretty good, just going by
looks not actually seeing it on a book.

It almost seemed like, once the measurements and margins were set up,
Publisher set it up automatically.

I think one problem I have (or imagine I do) is I never seem to know
where to start, what to do first, where to look. One reason I think of
writing here is because I know someone here usually knows the answer to
this.

Of course, I shouldn't even be doing this, I'm having company this
weekend, it's starting to get warm (Vermont) which means all the snow is
going to melt and it'll be MUD SEASON for awhile, and there's a whole list
of things I should be doing instead of setting up book covers for books that
aren't even here...

~ Carrie

 

[Carrie]

Carrie

I haven't made a book cover, but if I did....

I would take a book of the size I wanted to make a cover of and simply
measure the actual sizes of the front and back covers (the same??), the
spine, and what size you want for the fold over for the front and back
inner inserts. Add maybe two inches of white spaces above and below
everything so that when you fold it to be a book cover, they would then
make a pocket to take the actual book cover insert. Seems like a five
minute project to me

If you're saying you want to make the actual cover of say a paperback
book, where it's all fused to the publication/hard copy... measure as
above, lay out with content, print...

try, test, adjust

This is a great idea, and so simple.

I've been reading more complicated directions, like it has to have 1/4"
all around for "bleed" to make sure it goes right to the edge, and all
info/pictures should be at least 1/2" from the edges, etc.

I meant designing the cover to sent to the printer, like the actual
cover, not a glossy paper one (dust jacket) that would go over a hard cover
book.

I did try setting some up, just as a test, after asking about it. I had
been thinking about 3 separate blank pages, but what seemed to work is one
page, landscape, and set the overall measurements, with the margin guides
set for the front, back and spine.

Did this quick this morning, don't have the time I to perfect it right
now, but wanted to get an idea if it would work.

http://i6.photobucket.com/albums/y212/starchild_dreams/test1.jpg

Just put on the first picture from my graphics file I clicked on, and
it was small (so didn't come out clear that size) and not sure of the
organge. It's just a test, my first attempt.. I don't have paper long enough
to print it out totally. I think it is supposed to go right to the edge,
too, and my printer has borderless printing. Not that I (personally) would
be printing the covers for actual books.

Also, I'm not sure about saving them, like IF I were to send one to a
"real" publisher to use on a real book. I know Publisher has settings for
this, like "pack and go to the printer". Never tried them before. Not sure
about using CMYK colors, maybe have to set up the colors and images in
Photoshop or Illustrator first. Maybe it doesn't matter that much. (this is
just my first day trying it and I didn't have much time)

I've seen on the publish on demand sites, at least on one, it says to
take off $175 from setup corst if providing your own cover. I wrote to the
co and asked if they pay people to design covers (for people who DON'T
submit them with their book manuscript) and they said YES, but currently
have enough designers. But, there are other companies and possibilities. Of
course I'd like to know as much about it as possible, and the best way to
set them up, etc. I've found websites, about book covers, and they are art
in themselves. They should be clear, somewhat related to the book and what
it's about, call attention to the book, create interest, etc. Might not be
as easy as it sounds. Also, there's getting the bar code number to put on
for the book. I think this is something the cover designer is supposed to
do, too.

Just something that seems interesting and creative, and seems to be
something I could do at home (with art, design, etc which I love) maybe at
some point.

Maybe someday I'll get organized and write a book myself to put a cover
on (LOL)

~ Carrie