Family Journal with Photos Printed as a Book

[WSC3]

I'm working to create my own boook cover in Word and converting it to PDF. The on-line tools have the front cover on the left and the back cover on the right. The help docs don't state a preference.

1. Does it matter? The on-line example seems backward, but if that's what they want, I can do that.

2. Will someone proof my cover at LuLu to make sure I haven't made a huge gaff of some type before they print it?

3. I used text boxes in Word according to the specs on the help page to separate the covers and spine. It seemed pretty straightforward to do. Anything tricky I need to know about?

Thx.

[kevinlomas]

"Scott Cox" wrote:

I'm working to create my own boook cover in Word and converting it to PDF. The on-line tools have the front cover on the left and the back cover on the right. The help docs don't state a preference.

The 2 piece cover has the front on the right and back at the left, but the one peice will have it the other way around because if you take a dustjacket off a book and open it out so you can see the outer, then that is exactly how it is.

1. Does it matter? The on-line example seems backward, but if that's what they want, I can do that.

See above, but unless you want a dustjacket or the picture to go from the front right across the spine to the back, or want a picture on the spine, then you do not need to do a one piece.

2. Will someone proof my cover at LuLu to make sure I haven't made a huge gaff of some type before they print it?

Nope, it's all done by 'robots' who do not 'look' at anything. It is you who checks everything

3. I used text boxes in Word according to the specs on the help page to separate the covers and spine. It seemed pretty straightforward to do. Anything tricky I need to know about?

Converting it to a PDF. Word will not do it.

BTW, there is a section further down the forum exactly to do with creating covers.

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[Keith Dixon]

Quote:

Will someone proof my cover at LuLu to make sure I haven't made a huge gaff of some type before they print it?

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That's why you have to buy a proof copy. :wink: We've all been there. Eight proofs in my case, including three to do with the spine text and/or resolution of the image on the cover.

If you put your book into Distribution then someone will check the placement of your text in respect of the edge of the book, so that your title or name (or other back cover text) isn't so close to the edge that it might get chopped off. But that's the only time someone might inspect it.

[WSC3]

Kevin:
Oops. You're right. I followed the specs for sizing in Word exactly as indicated on the web page and then converted it to PDF. I left that part out of my description in my original question.

Just to be clear: I'm going to upload a single PDF file of the covers/spine as indicated on the web site. Is the front cover on the right or the left? (No dust jacket, just a cover.) I'm not sure what a 2 piece cover is, unless you mean the one created on the LuLu page.

Can you send me that link for how to create covers?


Keith:
I'm not familiar with a proof copy. Is that different than just buying a copy and then adjusting it for problems? My effort is a single copy book for my wife for Christmas; I'm not planning any wide distribution, so I'm trying to keep costs down.

Can I just get the cover printed? The body of the book should be pretty straightforward.

And how much lead time do you recommend for the final copy (esp. at Christmas)?

Thx.

[kevinlomasart]

just take a look at an opened book

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So if I deliver them the text and cover both in PDF, how long to get a book before Christmas? One copy.

Thx.

[Belinda D'Alessandro]

This help page will tell you how long it takes to manufacture and ship a book including holiday deadlines for books to reach you before Christmas (after you've finished the publishing wizard and ordered a copy): http://www.lulu.com/en/help/shipping_faq

[kevinlomas]

"wscdot3atcomcastdotnet" wrote:

So if I deliver them the text and cover both in PDF, how long to get a book before Christmas? One copy.

I am still not sure you 'get it'. You do not deliver anything to lulu, you upload them to the project creation wizard (who is not a person but a computer) of your choice and once you have gone through those motions you can buy your creation from off your storefront.
Currently on lulu's Homepage there is a snowflake banner at the top which I assum when you click it will tell you postage deadlines etc. Well at least there is on the English and Sterling settings.

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[jdotcook2007atyahoodotcom]

I finished my photo book such as the opening poster, but I am having trouble finding my book except to edit it. How do I buy "my" unpublished book? How do I put it in the cart? I can't find it anywhere except "my lulu" but the option to buy or put in the cart is not there.
Thanks! By the way I am a newcomer and just discovered Lulu in the past week.
Jill