Asukabook design question

[sageone]

Has anyone ever or recently designed an Asukabook using Adobe InDesign? If so, what is the process? Do you create your templates for each page to match the preformatted templates, design your pages, export each to a jpeg, then use the file checker to see if the package is acceptable? That's how I envision it working. If not, please give me the scoop, thanks.

I'm looking to do a 10x10 30 page EX book and two 5x5 EX books. How does the file checker know what type of book you're ordering? Is it by the specs of the first master page?

[mizuno]

The workflow you have described should work fine.

The filechecker is very clever.

[sageone]

are there any pitfalls in designing the book this way - other than going through the motion and the filechecker giving me the Heisman? I just dread having to deal with layers in photoshop especially with some of the ideas I have. Plus, I don't want to make photo tweaks and have to go back and forth between psd files. I'd rather have all photo changes automatically reflected in the indesign files. It's just an easier work flow to me. The catch is ensuring that the filechecker doesn't know the difference between a jpeg created in indesign versus photoshop. can it be that smart?

[Storybook Pages]

just curious - what are the primary workflow differences (advantages) to doing designs using InDesign vs Photoshop only?

[sageone]

it's basically dealing with layers in my opinion...when indesign, while items placed on the document are technically layered, you can manipulate all data at once versus ensuring your are on the correct layer to edit. For example, I if I wanted to bump down a picture of the bride, but I was on the groom pic layer, I would move the groom pic by accident unless I locked it in place. To me, the work flow is just easier in indesign. Plus, I can create templates that I can use over and over again and speed up the process.

[Storybook Pages]

thanks, Don. For simple layouts, 2- 6 images per 2-page spread...does Indesign speed up the layout design, and in general...how does it do that?

Appreciate your experience and feedback.

And (except for the cost...) why would I not use Indesign? in addition to Photoshop by itself.

[sageone]

I just find the fact that I don't have to switch between layers when manipulating the overall spread is quicker. I've never done a book in Indesign before, but I've designed plenty of brochures, magazines, etc. with it. I just use photoshop to tweak my photos.

I downloaded the photoshop templates from asukabook and tried to create the templates in indesign. here's what I discovered:

- yes, you can create the templates in indesign. You need to check the size of the canvas, set up your guidelines, etc. basically, mirror the photoshop file in terms of specs.
- after I was done, I created dummy pages. Then exported from indesign to jpeg.
- then I dragged the jpeg folder to the filechecker and it gave me a DPI error. Basically, I had to quickly change the DPI for each jpeg according to the specs of the file checker. I did that by bringing in the files to photoshop and changing them individually. It took seconds.
- Then I tried to upload the folder to the file checker again...no dice. It said that my color profile needed to be embedded. So, I used the scripts > image processor command to make all the jpgs use the RGB profile asukabook requires.
- Then I dropped the folder on to the file checked and it worked!

So, it seems like I am ready to go. However, the one issue I think I might run into is when I bump up the DPI in photoshop from 72 (which is what the exported jpeg files are from indesign) and bump them up to the larger specs required (271 for inside pages), my guess is that I'll loose sharpness. I did a trial run and the pdf the filechecked spit out seemed ok, but it wasn't as sharp as I expected it to be - or it wasn't dead on in terms of what the jpeg looked like.

Does anyone know of how you increase the dpi when exporting from Indesign?

[sageone]

update: I figured out the problem with the resolution. Once I have all the pages completed, all I need to do is save them in an .eps format, THEN open in photoshop which then it'll prompt me to convert to RGB AND ask for the appropriate resolution. Piece of cake. I'm going to start building the book tomorrow and will report back as I get going. You never know, it might just be easier to do this in photoshop after all this work! It's dealing with layers that gets me...especially if there are 4-5 shots per page, with a background, some thin lines, etc., etc.

[sageone]

well...stupid me. I have CS2 at work and CS3 at home. Apparently in CS3 the export jpeg resolution issue from InDesign has been fixed. Not sure if I can batch the conversion to RGB though. Maybe through image processor?