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Your Text: Microsoft Word vs. Design Programs
If you are a writer and this is your first time printing a book, you (or your designer) will need to make a few decisions that typically were made by a publisher. If you need design and editing help, click here to see a list of independent experts who can help you. Now that you are both writer and publisher, your first decision will be how you want the inside of your book to look. This means you will have to choose between printing the text of your book from an application like Microsoft Word or choose a more professional application like InDesign or Quark.
The advantages of Microsoft Word, or any application like it, are: it is installed on your computer, you will be using it to write your manuscript, it is easy to figure out how to use the type styling functions, and the end product is good enough. The disadvantages of this method are: it will not look as professionally crafted as an application like InDesign, and Microsoft Word can only render a non-professional PDF for printing – okay for text, but really not a high enough quality for color covers.
The advantages of a professional design application are: you can import your Microsoft Word manuscript easily, you will be able to craft your type (giving it a more professional look), and saving your work to the professional level PDF/X1-a is simple.
Your Cover: Microsoft Word vs. Design Program
Unless you are planning on having a very simple cover, we strongly suggest that you or your designer create the cover using InDesign or Quark. A cover can be very complicated, with many layers of type and photos and these applications are designed for this purpose. The professional level X1-A PDF can be made with these applications – which are critical for cover art to print as you envision. If you have any questions or need professional design help, click here to see our list of independent experts who can help you.
Determine Spine Width
Another good reason for using a professional level design application like InDesign is its lay-out capabilities. One question that always comes up is about spine width.
Until you upload your text into the Snowfall Design Interface online, take a book of similar size and approximate page length, measure that spine and use that measurement as a guide.
Once you have uploaded your text you will find a drop down menu in the cover section that will give you the precise size of the book spine. Readjust your spine width based on this accurate calculation and then re-load the file.
Please Note: The importance of printing a proof
Snowfall Press offers, we think, the fastest route to market for your book. But we urge you not to wait until the last minute to see if your design will print well. Please plan ahead and print a proof, a couple of proofs if needed, to ensure your design looks exactly like you want. It is always better to print a few inexpensive proofs (which are actual books), than to print a quantity of books that are not the way you envisioned. Once your book is the way you want it, Snowfall can print it and deliver it faster than anyone.
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