PO BOX 505, Wyandotte, OK 74370, USA
Phone 01-918-542-4148
Phone Hours: 9-3 CT/M-Th | Emails generally answered within one working day
Designing Publications
Click on underlined text for more information.
Do | Don't
Basic Format
Elements-click for more links | Add "Oomph"
Digital |
Elements |
Font |
Footnote |
Header/Footer |
Indexing |
Insert Items |
Watermark - Ghosting |
Foldout |
Layout |
Margins|
Book Size |
Page Numbers |
Photos |
POD Options |
Title |
Packaging and Shipping in future
Let us do the
work for you!
Begin by being comfortable: It is recommended that a
manuscript preparation individual learn as much as they can
about the chosen method of manuscript preparation. Don’t
handicap yourself from the start by knowing just enough to
get by. Even if your computer system is all you have
available, so the choices seem to have been made for you,
it’s important to feel comfortable with your system. The
first hurdle for a non-computer user author is to feel
comfortable turning on (booting up) the system. From there,
take a class, utilize online help and forums, and build your
list of friends you can call for help, or even just check
out a few “Dummies” books at the library to begin. It may
surprise the writer how much being familiar with their tools
actually strengthens their finished book.
Is your vision for your project not fully developed yet? Consider looking over packages to decide what choices you may wish to make? GCI now offers several packages for hard cover, soft cover, and electronic in varying quantities. GCI packages are all fully customizable but contain popular options to get you started.
There is no "silver bullet" for proper publication design or format. However, there are some very basic rules to get you ready to go:
Do make sure your book has consecutive page numbers - on every page.
Do take your budget into consideration.
Do include some contact information in books (post office boxes, pre-paid cell phones, and "disposable" email addresses are just a few ways to provide contact while help protect privacy).
Do be creative. Click for ideas and examples of fonts, elements, header/footers, margins, indexing, photos/graphics, page numbers, and inserts.
Do use as much space in the manuscript as you can afford, being careful to balance with white space.
Do follow Copyright and other laws.
Do consider archival quality.
Do consider book inserts for audio, video, and archival inclusion.
Do seek help. Click for ideas and examples of fonts, elements, header/footers, margins, indexing, photos/graphics.
Do have fun.
Do consider using your information to produce different editions for different uses or audiences.
Don't do anything in your genealogy or history book that you'd hate to come across, as a reader or a researcher.
Don't over-clutter pages - often trying to reduce publication expense.
Don't use small type if you want older people to enjoy your work.
Don't condense everything to "save pages" into an unreadable manuscript.
Don't give up.
Basic design elements to consider
page numbers (can be in header or footer)
chapter/section treatments
index treatment and layout
photos - quality, content, and captions
reverse of title (verso) also referred to as imprint page (be sure to alter this page for every edition and format)
Consider adding an Electronic element or more
Some general ideas to make your publication special
Try out a different layout (or two or three) than single block text.
Use clipart or stock photography to liven up pages where you don't have personal items - within context.
Some ideas for Hardbound (HB) or Sofbound (SB) publications
Add a CD or DVD of extra material - even color photos for printed b/w in book.
Brown ink on cream paper is an economical change from b/w as opposed to full color. This gives a nice "old time" feel to any photos as well.
Print on non-white paper.
Brown ink on cream/ivory paper is an economical alternative to using parchment for medium to large publications - for ultra short publication, or black on cream/ivory is a great choice as it economically reproduces better than textured/parchment paper.
Good alternatives to black and white can include both paper and ink: brown on cream, navy on gray, dark blue on light blue, etc.
Use colored paper (to match cover) as section dividers.
Place information you might otherwise place on the endpapers (HB) or inside of cover (SB) as the frontice piece and the last printed page in the book for economy.
HB: Match your end papers to the cover (main) color.
HB: Use specialty material for end sheets (end papers).
HB: If offered, use stock pre-printed end papers such as marbleized, etc.
HB: Consider dust jackets versus color covers.
HB: Use custom printed end sheets (end papers).
SB: Print on the inside of the cover.
Post Publication: Hand number (or stamp) each book.
Post Publication: Sign each book.
Some ideas for Electronic edition publications
Cross link your table of contents to book sections.
Cross link index entries to text. This is a benefit less and less as fully searchable formats are produced.
Cross link jargon with glossary entries.
Cross link family members and/or multiple entries.
Produce an electronic edition exclusive: Make a cross reference area for specific family members with clickable links directly to all book content about that individual.
Family books - make a Google map available.
Maintain a supporting blog, social network, and/or website.
Offer free updates.
Imbed or cross link objects such as video.
Format pages with background/wall paper - include graphics in layers.
Produce different editions specifically for the pros and cons of a given electronic format.
Layer graphics and clip art with photos and documents for a more professional look.
More ideas can be found on the starter page.
This area will be growing, so check back often. If you have a suggestion, let us know and we may just publish it here - crediting the source, of course!
For more suggestions
on this subject and more, order our book:
G550-$20.00
WRITING Family History Or Genealogy For Pleasure and Profit
Complete Edition, by Gregath Company,
Inc.,
*updated* 2015. ISBN:
978-0-944619-00-1, 8½x11",
softbound book, 132 pages, suggestions & examples of all facets of your project
for the typist and/or computer user. Note: All G prefix books 100 pages or more, this one included, that are SB can be special ordered in hard cover edition -
contact
for details.
Also available on disk. |
Click here for more
information.
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