ISBN location on back cover interferes with cover design [ Edited ]

[kimmylight]

Hi all,

I didn't find a post about my particular ISBN question. I hope someone here will be able to help...

Is it me or is the ISBN impossible to modify? We have our own ISBN (I'm in Canada). When I look at the result of Lulu's "we put an ISBN on your cover", I find the white barcode box is overlapping the book's color border. It just doesn't look good.

On Createspace, you can add and use your own ISBN. On Lulu, you don't seem to be able to, unless it's located in the last option to sell your books on Amazon, com, which almost doubles the cost of each book, but even then I didn't see any option for the ISBN/barcode on the back cover.

Does anyone have any insight into all this? I'd like to have a barcode, but don't want it to be located so low on the back. Why can't we control the location?

Many thanks,

Regards,

Andre

[glenn_rico]

Hi, I am Glenn Rico a professional Graphic Designer specializing on book designs from interior to cover designs. Regarding your concern on ISBN placement on the back cover, there's actually no specific rule on ISBN placement at the back cover as long as it wouldn't place on the flap area for the jacket type cover. There are ways to place the ISBN or the barcode in an artistic manner that it will not interfere with the design and content. I hope I have given an insight regarding your ISBN concern. Please don't hesitate to contact me at glennricoorat@gmail.com for more enquiries regarding book designs.

Sincerely,

Glenn Rico

[kimmylight]

Hi Glenn,

Thanks for the quick reply...

The concern I have is that the option I select seems to force Lulu to apply the barcode themselves, and I have no say where, how far from the bottom, etc. I'd like to have a say. Or get the barcode so I can add it myself, but it doesn't seem to be an option...

Thoughts?

Regards,

Andre

[Ken Anderson]

Andre the simple solution is to use the Advanced One Piece Cover Designer. You can download an ISBN Barcode image at the start of the publishing wizard or create your own and just add it to the one piece cover.

[kevinlomas]

Lulu do have specific rules as to where the ISBN goes, and that is why it gets placed there. (And is in fact where most barcodes are placed). But I do not recall a problem with where it is placed. What border?
But if you mean a border on an image that you upload as a full back cover image, then change the height of the image.

[ErinW]

Hi Andre,

Here is a chart you may find helpful on when Lulu adds an ISBN to your cover automatically:

http://connect.lulu.com/t5/Cover-Formatting/Will-Lulu-add-a-bar-code-to-my-cover/ta-p/33280

As others have mentioned, you can avoid this by creating your own one-piece cover, and using the advanced one-piece cover uploader.

If you would like to go this route, you may want to review this article on dimensions for one-piece covers:

http://connect.lulu.com/t5/Cover-Formatting/What-dimensions-should-my-one-piece-wraparound-cover-hav...

I hope this helps!

[kimmylight]

Well I hoped it would be that simple, except that what I see on my end is:

"We added a barcode to your cover"

"Some of the options you chose are only available through a printer that requires every book to have a barcode."

Once I uploaded an image for a one piece cover, it automatically shows a barcode box.

Could someone gove me step by step instructions? i'm unsure why but something gets lost in the translation!

Regards,

Andre

[Ken Anderson]

If you do not have an ISBN then Lulu will add a reference number barcode. That is always in the same position and you cannot change it. See http://connect.lulu.com/t5/Cover-Formatting/Will-Lulu-add-a-bar-code-to-my-cover/ta-p/33280 The only way around it is to go for Distribution with an ISBN. if your book is not eligible for distribution then you will have to live with it.

[kimmylight]

Hi Ken,

Thank you, however, we do have an ISBN. Just doesn't have anywhere to enter this info, that  I can see...

Blessings,

Andre

[kevinlomas]

In the early stages of the Wizard. You may have to buy a Dist pack first for your type of book.

http://connect.lulu.com/t5/ISBN-Distribution/What-Distribution-Services-does-Lulu-offer/ta-p/33503