Trying to decide which program to buy for publishing books

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Cathy Bowman on January 28, 2010 at 12:20pm

Hi Kimberly,

You're right about Quark or InDesign -- those are the two page layout programs that are most common. I use InDesign and really like it. I've never been very proficient with Quark, but the few times I've had to use it for specific projects, it's been very frustrating for me. Personally, I think it's harder to learn. If you've used any of the other Adobe products (PageMaker or Illustrator), you'll catch on to InDesign very easily. InDesign is a little bit less expensive, too. So that's my recommendation!

Cathy Bowman
About Books, Inc.
www.about-books.com

Permalink Reply by Kimberly Allen on January 28, 2010 at 1:27pm

Thanks for your input Cathy it is appreciated!

Permalink Reply by Dan Kohan on January 28, 2010 at 2:15pm

Kimberly, both are professional design programs with a steep learning curve. Most designers these days use InDesign, with Quark falling to a distant second place (although it's still popular in some markets). There are really no other programs that are acceptable for professional book layout.

Both programs cost many hundreds of dollars and will take you weeks to learn to use properly. And you may have a great native design sense that will allow you to design attractive books out of the gate, but you probably don't. You're probably better off contracting the layout to a designer or typesetter rather than doing it yourself. (Not to get all self-promoty, but that's what I do.) The fastest way to turn book stores and book reviewers off your product is to present them with a design that doesn't look professional.

Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Kimberly Allen on February 1, 2010 at 1:27pm

Thanks Don, I will keep this in mind!

Permalink Reply by Sandra Adell on February 3, 2010 at 8:12pm

Hi, Kimberly:

If you don't already have some level of proficiency in interior book design, I would contract it out to someone who does it for a living. My new book, CONFESSIONS OF A SLOT MACHINE QUEEN, was designed by James Arneson [Jaad book design]. I am very pleased with the outcome and I know that it's the quality that libraries [one of my targeted markets] are looking for. Also, working with a designer was quite an education. I was fortunate to have hired someone who was very generous in terms of explaining all that I needed to do. Right now, he's finishing up with my website. I tried to create my own site through dreamweaver, but just had too much to do, like working out a business plan for my new publishing company and marketing materials for the book.

Permalink Reply by JustYourType.biz Book Designer on February 4, 2010 at 10:01am

Hi Kimberly,
If you are new to the business, I would strongly suggest hiring a professional to design, layout and properly and professionally typeset your books - there are many "rules of the road" that an untrained eye and unskilled person would have no clue about but that will set your book apart from a do-it-yourself book.

Best wishes in your publishing ventures!

Sue Balcer
JustYourType.biz Book Designer

Permalink Reply by Cindy Downes on March 16, 2010 at 4:18am

Hi Kimberly,

I self-publish using Quark and been using it since late 1990s. It is expensive and I've tried to change to InDesign, but I'm so used to Quark I can't seem to make the change. I love Quark. But it is very difficult to learn. However, not impossible. If you decided to do your own designing (which can save a lot of money for a new author), check out Lynda.com for training. For $25.00 per month, you can get all the training you need on Quark or InDesign or any other software for that matter. My favorite design resource for learning how to actually design a book, is the NonDesigner's Design Book by Robin Williams. This is a classic and extremely helpful.

Permalink Reply by Kimberly Allen on August 24, 2010 at 10:19am

Thanks Cindy! I will definitely check that resource out!

Permalink Reply by Chest Press Publishing on September 2, 2010 at 5:47pm

Something that I think many people forget when trying to make these decisions is that there is free help available. While I use InDesign for my projects, the magazines I've worked for tell me that Quark is still the industry standard--either does the same thing and is acceptable to submit to a printer.

But I am reminded of my college days, during which I would jump at the chance to do free work for authors and publishers who would simply contact the English department with a query that they 'needed help' designing or laying out books 'for a reference'. Students in most universities have access to cutting edge software (Quark and Indesign included) for free, and are just dying for a chance to get their feet wet. Sometimes if you let a student have limited access to your files or images--especially if you're a full-time employee and part-time writer--this can be a huge help to you, as many publishing and writing interns are being taught how to use these programs. In terms of payment, a great reference or simple mention in your acknowledgments page will be something the student will always treasure.

While this isn't exactly the question that you asked, I think it's an answer that you may be able to use--if not on this project, than on one in the future.

Permalink Reply by 1106 Design on December 5, 2010 at 10:44am

Most book designers use InDesign now because it's much more powerful and produces much better type than Quark. That being said, Dan's advice below is solid. Training and experience in book design is going to result in a better final product. There are many rules to follow in book design, and beyond that, there are aesthetic considerations that just make a book look like a book. Here are two files for a project we worked on this year. The "before" file was created by the client who purchased InDesign but who had no experience in book design. The "after" file is what we created for him.

I don't think it's wrong for designers here at SPAN to discuss what we do and how we do it. After all, none of us are experts at everything, and this Publishing 101 forum in particular is dedicated to helping new publishers learn what they need to know to avoid costly mistakes.

Michele DeFilippo
http://www.1106 Design.com
Your book. Designed. With hand-holding.

Attachments:

• HappyMind (before).pdf, 157 KB
• Happy Mind (after-40 pgs).pdf, 972 KB

Permalink Reply by Sandy on December 10, 2010 at 8:58am

Looks interesting for a first time author like myself and also will check out the website.  Thanks this is a good post.

Permalink Reply by 1106 Design on December 10, 2010 at 10:05am

You're welcome, Sandy. Feel free to ask me any questions as you move forward. I'm happy to share everything I know, and if I don't know, direct  you to others who can help.

Michele

 

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