Eight Essential Tips for Successfully Printing Your Ancestral Book Authored by Prudence
Filed Under: Design, Crafting
Graphic resembling a newspaper with an image of a book and the caption ‘Eight Essential Tips for Successfully Printing Your Ancestral Book’ Print options (Opens in a new window)26Pin on Pinterest (Opens in a new window)26Share on Facebook (Opens in a new window)Tweet on Twitter (Opens in a new window)Share on Tumblr (Opens in a new window) Crafting a book about your family’s history has never been more accessible. With numerous layout applications available and the convenience of handling everything from home, even printing, the process seems straightforward. However, the lack of guidance on production techniques can be a stumbling block. That’s where I come in, offering practical advice to ensure your project’s success.
Understanding the Importance of Production Techniques A friend of mine was preparing a family history book for his mother’s 80th birthday. He chose PowerPoint for the layout, skillfully blending photos, narratives, and family trees to captivate readers. But when he hit the print button, several issues arose:
- Narrow margins led to text being cropped due to binding.
- Background images and colors didn’t extend to the page edges.
- Chapters didn’t begin where intended.
This situation highlights the importance of understanding production nuances before diving into content creation. Let’s explore my approach to document preparation, ensuring a smooth printing process.
Guidelines for Printing Your Family History
- Envision the Final Product: Start by deciding the format of your finished work. Will it be a traditional book, a ring-binder, or something else? This decision influences the rest of your planning process and helps avoid last-minute changes or formatting issues.
- Page Size Matters: Determine the size of your family history book early on. Verify the production specifications to avoid resizing issues later. Ensure that your layout application reflects the correct page dimensions, as presets are not always accurate.
- Managing Margins: Margins are crucial for binding and readability. Check the printer’s specifications for suggested margins or start with standard measurements. If your application doesn’t support margin settings, use a guide to ensure consistency throughout the layout.
- Understanding Document Bleed: Document bleed refers to extending images beyond the page edge to avoid white lines during printing. This is essential when your artwork reaches the edge of the page. If your app doesn’t automatically add bleed, adjust the page size to include it.
- Background Images: Use background images judiciously to maintain focus and readability. They’re great for adding depth to quotes, case studies, family trees, or chapter introductions. Balance the page’s visual elements to ensure the text stands out.
- Two-Sided Printing Considerations: The binding method affects layout decisions such as margins, page numbering, and overall page count. Choose appropriate paper stock to prevent ink show-through and guide the reader with thoughtful page design.
- Choosing the Right File Format: Regardless of your design software, the final file should be in PDF format. Confirm any specific PDF settings with your print shop to ensure compatibility.
- Image Resolution: High-resolution images are vital for print quality. Ensure your photos are at least 300dpi at the intended print size. Calculate the necessary size for lower-resolution images to maintain clarity in the final product.
In conclusion, effective planning is key to printing your family history. From deciding on the book’s size and format to managing technical aspects like margins, bleed, and image resolution, each step is crucial in bringing your ancestral story to life. With these tips, you’re well-equipped to design and layout your family history book.