For this blog post, you will design your first spread (2 content pages), the table of contents, photobook covers, and a professional page.

Equipment

Adobe Photoshop or Lightroom for appropriate adjustments (exposure, color, sharpness).
Adobe InDesign

Overview

• One spread from your photobook
• Table of Contents
• Photobook Covers
• Professional Page
• Submit all of these images in a blog post

Instructions

1. First 1 Photobook spread
It’s time to get rolling on your photobook! Review thoroughly the requirements for the type of photobook you will be creating, Wallgreens or Alphagraphics. Make sure you get the sizing correctly. You can find examples on those pages, and check out some past student work at Photobook Examples & Tips (remember, their photo project requirements might not have been the same as yours).  Create one photobook spread using your images that will be a part of your book using design principles that you’ve learned from COMM130. You may choose to use your Week 2 blog post as a springboard in your design, or start something new if desired. Make sure your have at least a few images, a paragraph of text and a title for this spread. Export this spread as JPEG at 72ppi; both pages of the spread should be shown on a single jpeg. The first part of your filename should be your name. Example: JakeSpencer-spread1.jpg. Then you upload it to your blog, see sample.

2. Table of Contents, Professional Pages, Covers

• Create your cover:  Create a new InDesign document and design your front and back cover of your photobook. Add book title and your name. The dimensions for your book will depend on whether you print your book from Walgreens or Alphagraphic. (Click on the links to learn more about printing from both of these businesses.) Do one of these for the front and one for the back. If you are printing from Walgreens, you will add the spine text as you are in the develop mode on their website. 
• Contents Page:  Include page titles and page numbers for each section of your book. Page numbers are not required on individual pages.
• Professional Page:  Name, portrait (with attribution), blog URL, Social Media, Contact info. Artist’s statement. Identify your work. Example: Photography, editing, layout design, writing by “Your Name”
To learn more about how to export your images based on where you are printing your books, please follow the links listed above. 

 3. SUBMISSION: Do not submit until everything is complete. Once you submit, be sure NOT to change anything on your post, until after it is graded. When your assignment is complete, click “Open” on this page and submit the following:
1. A working hyperlink to your blog post (not home or log-in page)
2. A screenshot attachment showing your ENTIRE blog post.
*Follow these instructions of how to capture a screenshot of your blog post and how to correctly submit in I-Learn.

Sample: Doug Phan’s blog

 

Rubric

NOTE: Meeting the minimum requirements is “average” and constitutes an 80% or B- grade, according to the University Grading Guide. To receive a higher grade, students should excel. However, quality and/or difficulty is more important than quantity.

PHOTOBOOK BLOG POST
√ SIZING: Spread saved as one jpeg, showing 2 pages  – Covers, TOC, Professional Page exported as individual pages – Exported at 72 ppi
√ PROCESS: Detailed paragraph (3-5 sentences) about the process
√ PHOTO QUALITY:  Light – Focus – Composition – Creativity
√ APPROPRIATE EDITS for professional display
√ DESIGN QUALITY: Design Principles – Typography – 1+ Paragraph of Text – 1+ Title
√ SUBMISSION: Link submitted was a true hyperlink and linked directly to the completed blog post.

CAUTION: YOUR ASSIGNMENT IS NOT COMPLETE UNTIL YOU SUBMIT A LINK TO IT HERE. However, you are allowed a one-time extension, if you choose to use your mulligan. Please read about it in the syllabus. We check your blog post for completion right at the deadline, so please do not add things later. Everything needs to be complete when you post the link.

Advanced Options, Tips & Tutorials

Google the following topics to find inspirational examples, tutorials and videos.
Attend Visual Society meetings to learn more advanced options and get inspired!

GOOGLE IT:  Search Google for photography print portfolio ideas.
PINTEREST:  Check out this Pinboard with all sorts of cool tips and tricks for InDesign.
Working with color schemes in InDesign:   In a multi-application workflow, easy access to the exact colors you need is especially important. Helping you to organize, share, and manage your color swatches is one of the key goals of the 2014 release of Adobe InDesign CC. View tutorial
5 Top Tips for Designing Good Photo Book Layouts: We all know that composition is important to keep in mind when taking a photo, and it’s just as important to think about composition when you’re designing a photo book layout. Here are five top tips for designing good photo book layouts. View Tutorial