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Author Topic: Learning how to do layout for fan books - I need advice, have you done any?  (Read 6107 times)

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Red Pins

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Learning how to do layout for fan books - I need advice, have you done any?
« on: February 17, 2019, 11:53:18 PM »
So, I've been toying with trying to learn desktop publishing for a while now, since I know absolutely nothing, and every project I make is done in Word 2013 for that reason.

I go a PM today over on the official site from a guy who's project is stalled because he can't find anybody willing to do it.  I'd like to help the community to do stuff like this, since I collect fan books and want to encourage people to do more.

What I need is to talk with experienced people, who either do it professionally or have experience learning it themselves, to suggest a layout program and help point me to a good instructional set of video tutorials or a textbook for somebody whos never done this before so I can start learning how to do it.  For example, I'm looking at Scribus, an open-source program right now, although I was also getting interested in GiMP while I was making my own record sheets for another project. 

Can anybody help?
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Takiro

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Re: Learning how to do layout for fan books - I need advice, have you done any?
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2019, 12:27:52 AM »
Afraid I am a little out of date my friend but I'll tell you my very short fanbook publishing history. Everything I wrote was done on Word and revised until perfected with layout when I created a PDF using Adobe for my copies. At first I emailed everything until Knightmare came along here and hosted a place for online downloads. My stuff is all based on BattleTech works so I tried to copy the feel of those projects which inspired me as close as possible even if the were not exact. Sourcebooks I claim the most credit for by TRO2800 which is a landscape layout was all Knightmare.
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Red Pins

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Re: Learning how to do layout for fan books - I need advice, have you done any?
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2019, 02:11:30 PM »
Quote from: Takiro on February 18, 2019, 12:27:52 AM
Afraid I am a little out of date my friend but I'll tell you my very short fanbook publishing history. Everything I wrote was done on Word and revised until perfected with layout when I created a PDF using Adobe for my copies. At first I emailed everything until Knightmare came along here and hosted a place for online downloads. My stuff is all based on BattleTech works so I tried to copy the feel of those projects which inspired me as close as possible even if the were not exact. Sourcebooks I claim the most credit for by TRO2800 which is a landscape layout was all Knightmare.

So, you did a background on Adobe, and put the text in a text window?
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Learning how to do layout for fan books - I need advice, have you done any?
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2019, 03:40:38 PM »
This is where a software like Scribus or other desktop publishing applications are great (I wrote Scribus because it is free).
They are far more flexible than Word. You create your template and you can move text and pictures all along.
It might take a little to master such a software but I think that to improve the quality of the production, it is worth the time invested
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5

Takiro

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Re: Learning how to do layout for fan books - I need advice, have you done any?
« Reply #4 on: February 19, 2019, 05:54:49 PM »
Quote from: Red Pins on February 18, 2019, 02:11:30 PM
So, you did a background on Adobe, and put the text in a text window?

Everything was laid out in Word from text, headers, footers, and art then dropped into Adobe Writer 6.0 for final product. Bare in mind that this is ten years ago so things can probably be done quicker and easier now.
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Red Pins

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Re: Learning how to do layout for fan books - I need advice, have you done any?
« Reply #5 on: February 20, 2019, 01:13:43 AM »
Do you think it would work the same way, into Scribus?
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Ice Hellion

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Re: Learning how to do layout for fan books - I need advice, have you done any?
« Reply #6 on: February 20, 2019, 01:13:25 PM »
Quote from: Red Pins on February 20, 2019, 01:13:43 AM
Do you think it would work the same way, into Scribus?

I think so.
I will check.
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"In turn they tested each Clan namesake
in trial against the Ice Hellion's mettle.
Each chased the Ice Hellion, hunting it down.
All failed to match the predator's speed and grace.
Khan Cage smiled and said, "And that is how we shall be."

The Remembrance (Clan Ice Hellion) Passage 5, Verse 3, Lines 1 - 5
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