InDesign CC: Book Production, Putting the book together

Identify and fix common word processing issues to prepare a manuscript for InDesign book production, including hidden characters, double returns, double spaces, improper line breaks, and inconsistent spacing.

Explore sourcing graphics—from stock photos to screen captures and photos you shoot—and compare vector versus raster, tracing photos into vector paths for scalable InDesign layouts.

Learn how InDesign handles vector and bitmap graphics for book production, overcoming presentation software limits, using postscript vector formats, and layering scalable, high-quality imagery.

Compare vector images with raster scans, showing vectors remain sharp at any size. Learn how vector art offers resolution independence, smaller file sizes, and flexible grouping for design.

Learn why InDesign handles vector drawings and book graphics with built-in type controls, gradients, swatches, and more, often replacing Illustrator for production and covers.

Learn to improve office graphics in InDesign CC by converting PowerPoint charts to vector, comparing bitmap vs vector results, and using InDesign’s drawing tools and shortcuts for sharp, scalable graphics.

Use the pen tool in InDesign to create and edit curves with anchor points and handles, convert points with the option key, and refine paths with the direct selection tool.

Utilize frame tools and the pencil to draw and edit shapes, convert to rounded or beveled rectangles and polygons, and refine corners with direct selection and corner options.

Explore combining paths to build complex shapes in a book production workflow, outlining text, adjusting fills and strokes, and using compound paths, exclude overlap, and punching holes.

Compare vector and raster graphic formats for print and ebooks, noting resolution, color depth, and transparency. Understand how InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator workflows influence file handling and output quality.

Learn to leverage the links and swatches panels in InDesign to manage graphics, link vs embed, update links, and build a consistent color palette.

Learn how to copy and paste from Illustrator into InDesign, preserve transparency, and manage anchored objects that move with frames while expanding appearances and using gradients and brushwork.

Master body copy styles in book production by selecting readable fonts, setting 10–12 word lines, applying left justified alignment with indents.

Discover paragraph styles for book production, including lists, headlines, subheads, pull quotes, and sidebars, and learn practical tips on flush-left alignment, indents, bullets, and description lists.

Learn to format a book from front to back, managing margins, folders, and graphics, and repeatedly review pages to maintain a coherent flow as pages are added.

Set up master pages with left and right page numbers, review client content, apply paragraph styles, and configure body text and headings for the new book in InDesign CC.

Explore practical formatting solutions in InDesign for book production, including font choices, color swatches, paragraph rules, alignment, and preparing layouts for print.

Explore how tables in InDesign CC function as grids of text frames with selectable rows, columns, and cells, and why they are challenging for e-book reflow.

Discuss front matter and back matter in book production with InDesign CC, outlining required items like title and copyright pages, table of contents, dedication, foreword, and epilogue.

Learn to add the front matter to a letterpress book in InDesign CC by inserting pages, setting up a front matter section, and applying roman numeral and Arabic numeral numbering.

Learn to produce a table of contents in InDesign CC by selecting styles, setting levels and leaders, adding page numbers after entries, and updating or replacing the TOC with bookmarks.

learn how to insert and format footnotes in InDesign CC for book production, including placing, editing in text frames, and managing multi-column footnotes and common copy-paste issues.

Design covers for online visibility with clean typography, strong color contrast, and eight-word-max text readable at small sizes like 100 by 150 and 60 by 90.

Set up the front cover in InDesign CC by creating a book-sized document with bleed, centering and fading a cover image on a separate layer, then build the background.

Finish book covers in InDesign CC by building layered designs with triangles, blending modes and effects, tuning typography, color swatches, and ensuring readability across color and greyscale versions.

Prepare your InDesign CC book for print and e-book formats, including Kindle print replica and downloadable media, balancing layout and font decisions across devices.

Learn to export public domain books from InDesign CC for print and download, converting color to black, adjusting swatches, paragraph rules, bleed, and font embedding for clean, print-ready PDFs.

Designing ePUBs demands a total print-to-ebook redesign, with styles to control layout for quick conversions, including internal and external hyperlinks while navigating platform rules.

Design your ePUBs by applying typography and readability margins from print, while addressing e-reader capabilities, embedded fonts, and platform realities like Kindle and Nook.

Discover epub design challenges in InDesign CC, optimize readable typography, manage paragraph styles and chapter breaks, and test exports across devices to ensure consistent, accessible book layouts.

Explore an InDesign CC book production workflow for an ePUB FXL layout. Clear overrides, justify body text, balance ragged lines, and turn off hyphenation, then optimize images for publication.

Convert the book for reflow in InDesign CC by preparing a single-page, non-facing layout, managing text frames, and sizing graphics for readability.

Export the book to a reflowable epub by configuring export options, cover image, and metadata description. Set table of contents, remove page numbers, and embed fonts before exporting.

Export a kindle reflow edition by applying amazon's guidelines: ensure rgb cover, 2700 px longest side, 1688 px shortest, under 5 mb, proper fonts, and correct text alignment.

Upload your book to CreateSpace by entering title details, inserting ISBNs into the InDesign file, exporting a PDF, and submitting interior and cover files for review and distribution.

Discover how to work with aggregators and distributors, manage exclusivity, and publish print and Kindle across platforms like drafting digital, Smashwords, Pronoun, Gumroad, and Amazon.

Learn how authors build a marketing platform by growing a following, launching a professional website, and using social media and online communities to market books.

Develop a professional author platform by investing in distribution options, crafting a strong website and author pages, building an email list, and using SEO, social media, and Gumroad.