I'm currently trying to put together a print book at Createspace, but I need to pause to get some answers. I need software but am not sure which book-making program would be best.
At Createspace you can use their cover creator or just upload your finished pdf of the cover. My understanding is that most print-on-demand companies can work with pdf's. Is that right? If so, then I would like to be able to generate pdf's for both cover files and interior files. That way I could switch from one printer to another with the least amount of trouble.
My programming needs for now are pretty simple--I need to produce interiors and covers for novels. No graphics inside, just text, mirrored margins, gutters, header/footer ability and so on.
As for creating covers, I'll want as much flexibility as possible in a program, but user friendly. I'll be importing photos, manipulating text, inserting my own barcode boxes from online generators and so on. The usual stuff.
I'll use the standard trim sizes (6x9, 5.25x8.5 and 5x8). I don't know if the programs come with those templates, but I'd need those three to begin with. Are templates something you have to buy in addition to the program?
I'm currently using an old version of MS Word as a processor, and an array of ancient drawing programs and pdf converters. I want to be able to do all the book-making work with one software package.
Any recommendations on which package I should buy?
Thanks.
PS - In the future I'd like to do two other projects that are more ambitious than just straightforward text. One is a picture book using 150 scanned photos. That would require a larger template. I would also like to do a flipper book, like they used to put out in the 60's--sci-fi novellas, printed half one way, then you flipped the book around and upside down and the back cover became the front. The picture book and the flipper are the most advanced projects I can think of at this point, and it would be nice to have software that can handle them.
Thanks again.
At Createspace you can use their cover creator or just upload your finished pdf of the cover. My understanding is that most print-on-demand companies can work with pdf's. Is that right? If so, then I would like to be able to generate pdf's for both cover files and interior files. That way I could switch from one printer to another with the least amount of trouble.
My programming needs for now are pretty simple--I need to produce interiors and covers for novels. No graphics inside, just text, mirrored margins, gutters, header/footer ability and so on.
As for creating covers, I'll want as much flexibility as possible in a program, but user friendly. I'll be importing photos, manipulating text, inserting my own barcode boxes from online generators and so on. The usual stuff.
I'll use the standard trim sizes (6x9, 5.25x8.5 and 5x8). I don't know if the programs come with those templates, but I'd need those three to begin with. Are templates something you have to buy in addition to the program?
I'm currently using an old version of MS Word as a processor, and an array of ancient drawing programs and pdf converters. I want to be able to do all the book-making work with one software package.
Any recommendations on which package I should buy?
Thanks.
PS - In the future I'd like to do two other projects that are more ambitious than just straightforward text. One is a picture book using 150 scanned photos. That would require a larger template. I would also like to do a flipper book, like they used to put out in the 60's--sci-fi novellas, printed half one way, then you flipped the book around and upside down and the back cover became the front. The picture book and the flipper are the most advanced projects I can think of at this point, and it would be nice to have software that can handle them.
Thanks again.
