In a nice, but unanticipated move by Blurb, one of the big Print on Demand (POD) self-publishing services, they now have provided the capability of using Adobe InDesign to create your book and then upload the PDF to Blurb for publishing. The full details are here.
Here are some features:
Use Blurb InDesign templates or create your own InDesign templates following their guidelines
Use CYMK color space from deisgn to print and avoid the use of sRGB color space
Now I am not an InDesign user, but I know that many are, and the fact that you could not use a PDF to Book workflow was a big issue with not using Blurb. So I am not the one who is going to be able to evaluate this option. In fact, I don’t even own the Adobe InDesign software. So maybe this software will go back on my buy list.
And of course, this is announced just as SoFoBoMo 2009 is coming to an end. So an option for SoFoBoMo 2010, eh?
Best regards, Doug
Couple of things I note: InDesign not necessary if you can create your own templates. Pity the sizes weren’t published in their how-to guide.
CMYK not necessary, their current sRGB conversions are pretty good. I expect CMYK will give better black but a a little care always necessary.
pdf in X-3F format required 9pre-press format).
Workflow suggests covers and content are separate files, wonder how that works? easy enough to template.
I see this fitting naturally into my Scribus-based workflow (which also has full CMYK & colour management support).
Comment by Martin Doonan — June 25, 2009 @ 8:00 pm
Martin, Big Thanks! Although some of these details are kinda lost on me, re: 9pre-press format.
BTW, when I had figured out the proper photographic conversion to sRGB with PhotoShop (CS3), I did not have any issues with the color management for the printed Blurb book. But for some, the use of CMYK might be very important.
Comment by Doug Stockdale — June 25, 2009 @ 8:07 pm