Have you started laying out your book yet?? You should have! Well at least you should have started thinking about how you might want it to look.
This applies to everyone, but especially to thesis students - you have a lot of work to do, and often the idea of putting a book/report together on top of everything else is daunting. Here's a few pointers on the subject (note - I will keep adding to this list, also if you have any questions, ask away) :
- Sketch out (even roughly) page layout ideas. This is something we all know how to do from wall presentations every other week. You're just translating your knowledge into a slightly different (and longer!) format.
- Still on layout, think of clever and simple ways to keep your book interesting - you may end up with well over 100 pages, so it needs to be visually delightful. One easy way to achieve this is to have some page templates. Here are some examples:
a) Clearly define chapter/section headings - you should try to keep these on the right hand page consistently.
b) Create standard templates for body text/drawing layouts etc, and then create special pages - a full bleed image, a significant photo and quote, whatever - and spread these at intervals throughout the book - have a contrast between the ordinary and the extraordinary. This will create a good pace, whether somebody is reading the book or just quickly leafing through.
c) Be totally consistent, always use the same style for each of your templates - fonts, positioning etc. Obviously you can play around within this consistency once it has been established, but if it is not there from the beginning a book can look cobbled together.
(I will try to get back again soon with more on these points, and show some examples to illustrate.)
- Get to know InDesign. At the same time, imagine the real product. Do small test prints. Remember to always allow at least a 3-4cm margin for binding. This will vary depending on the amount of pages you have, but it is a good rule of thumb. Also, use placeholder text and images, then all your finished work will just slot into place.