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How to make eBook look "interesting"? (Like Pat's from SPI)

by Bkelly301
8 replies
As always (after I spend hours struggling to figure things out myself), there's usually a simple solution for what I'm looking to do.

I've written and sold several eBooks before, but they were always just very "book like" with just headings, text, and page numbers...maybe a few pictures here and there.

But I downloaded Pat Flynn's free eBook from his SPI site, and its a really cool looking PDF file. There's all kinds of images scattered throughout the text, with little colored balloons highlighting key points...etc.

Does anyone know how to make eBooks cool and fancy like that?

Thanks!
#ebook #interesting #make #pat #spi
  • Profile picture of the author Steve B
    Yes, have a book layout designed by a professional graphics designer. If you can't afford a custom done-for-you design, purchase a book layout template that suites your fancy.

    You can purchase all the little icons, balloons, boxes, etc and do it yourself as another option. If you go this route, however, be aware that your final product won't be nearly as good looking and effective as one created by a professional designer that understands how to use all the various elements of design like texture, color, typography, spatial relationships, etc in a coordinated and visually appealing way to get the most out of the layout.

    Steve
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  • Profile picture of the author onSubie
    Any word processing application like MS Word or OpenOffice for Free.

    You can change fonts, font size, font color, insert images, insert graphics, insert tables, text balloons, text boxes.

    You can make any type of document you want with MS Office or OpenOffice.

    If you aren't good at graphics, hire someone at fiverr and then put the images in your document.
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  • Profile picture of the author high_plains_drifter
    Typography and Layout should be left to the professional, and certainly not done in word processors like word or open office.

    Most publications are designed entirely in Adobe InDesign, thats what I use for my clients.

    The icons and graphics used are probably custom designed by either an illustrator or the designer themselves

    Usually illustrators and designers work together on projects like this.
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  • Profile picture of the author Matthew Trujillo
    If you don't have the time to figure it all out, what I would suggest to you do is hire a freelancer. There are some on Fiverr.com that probably specialize in this. If not you can try Warriors for Hire section, ODesk, or even Elance.
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  • Profile picture of the author TymBolla
    Yeah you probably need to hire a graphic designer for that... those who have an eye for those sort of things!
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    • Profile picture of the author Bkelly301
      Cool thanks all!

      So should I write the content of the book first and then hand it over to a designer? Then let the designer know a rough idea of what would go where? I'm not really sure how the process works.
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  • Profile picture of the author Slade556
    Write all the content all the while you have a rough idea in your head of how it would be laid out. After you have given them the notes of what you are looking for a lot of them will be able to place the text for you based on your preferences. I've also had them hand over their "template" and I filled it in myself and it wasn't nearly as painful as I thought it would be.
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  • Profile picture of the author Bkelly301
    Cool thanks a lot!
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