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Post by srmoment on May 21, 2019 21:01:02 GMT
My family and I are gathering to celebrate my dad's 90th birthday in July.
Awhile back I got him to type out his 'history/adventures' on his antique typewriter which he prefers to modern technology! I would like to take that text and make it into either a booklet or a layflat photobook.
Has anyone done anything like this - is it better to use something like Word, or is it more flexible to use Elements to combine text and pictures and then have it printed in a small layflat photobook?
Your advice would be much appreciated.
Pat
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Post by cats4jan on May 21, 2019 21:23:17 GMT
It is always easier to type essays in Word - even if you end up creating your finished project in Photoshop. Long passages can be cumbersome when adding to a Photoshop project. Photoshop just is not good for working with text. After copying the entire story into Word, you can then excerpt certain passages of his text and combine it with Photos or other things you have scanned in or taken photos of - to make a complete page of that part of the story. Realize that photos of items can be a great addition to a page - especially if you do not have access to a scanner. I have had good success with taking photos of photos - as cumbersome as that sounds. After it's in Word, you can easily copy/paste text from your Word project into any Photoshop/Photoshop Elements project - using text blocks. If you are unfamiliar with text blocks - it's simple. Choose the text tool - drag out a text box, click inside the text box and paste your text. If all the text does not fit when you have pasted the text into your text box, just drag on the bounding box's bottom edge to make the box larger. Although you can use Word to make a project with both text and photos, I prefer PSE or Photoshop. After saving your project pages as jpgs, they are easy to upload to a site which prints books. However, if you are looking to make a simple project and know how to manipulate photos in a Word project, something that looks very much like a newsletter with photos scattered throughout your narrative, may be a very nice option. Both options are going to work very well. Unfortunately, you may have a time issue for getting your photobooks printed at an on-line place that specializes in photobooks. You may have to print it at an Office Supply store and if that's your plan, contact the store to see what format they prefer. They may want your project in pdf form. If you finish your project quickly, check the photobook printing companies for their turnaround time. Cost can be an issue with photobook printing sites - so if you are looking to provide everyone in your group a copy of your project, an Office Supply store may be a more affordable option. This site has some good examples of what a newsletter could look like:www.canva.com/templates/newsletters/These can be created in both Word and PSE - although if your project will be heavy on text and light on photos, I'd opt for Word. |
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Post by Sepiana on May 21, 2019 22:06:19 GMT
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Post by blackmutt on May 21, 2019 23:30:20 GMT
I have used Blurb which I believe can use pdf’s too not sure. Not cheap but nice. Check them out with Professor Google 😉
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Post by kdcintx on May 22, 2019 3:15:39 GMT
I've created several books, including photos and text, using Blurb and have been pleased with the ease of use and the quality. They are a bit pricey so wait for a sale. www.blurb.com |
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Post by srmoment on May 22, 2019 3:56:15 GMT
Thanks for your help. I have used Photobook Canada for some different types of photobooks and they have a very fast turnaround.
This should be a fun project!
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on May 22, 2019 4:13:59 GMT
I've never made a picture book, Pat so take what I say with a grain of salt ... just thinking aloud.
Was it an old manual typewriter with courier font (or similar font) or an electric typewriter with more-modern font? If it was very old-school type perhaps you could scan select parts of the typed pages and add the original text to some photos .. in old-school type. (The text would still be in the prose sections of the book....just some choice words added to photos. (I made a sample of what I am trying to say but won't post it here ..yet.)
Side note...I presume you know you don't have to re-type into word but can OCR the text your dad typed. Usually needs editing. You can also read the text to voice recognition software. Gosh my $200 Samsung tablet is about 98% accurate in transcribing the spoken word. Amazing.
Very cool project! Have fun. Good luck!
Clive
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Post by cats4jan on May 22, 2019 9:19:22 GMT
Clive - the idea of scanning in parts of the original is a very good idea. Maybe, that would be a wonderful way of beginning the project. (Remember- if one does not have a scanner, a photo will do.)
Actually, I'd probably take a photo of the entire bio sitting on a table - and use that as my front cover artwork.
___________________________________
Pat - this is going to be a wonderful project.
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on May 22, 2019 13:54:14 GMT
Ouch ... the server is acting up this morning! Just lost my post and have had trouble getting in here and got tossed a couple of times.
Janice your idea is great! "I'd probably take a photo of the entire bio sitting on a table..." (I misread this post. Sorry Janice.) This is the very epitome of Marshall McLuhan's famous saying, "the medium is the message." The very fact that Pat's father typed his story on an old Smith Corona (or ??) is part of the story and a great introduction! Love it! I like your idea better, but this is what I was thinking about. 
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Post by hmca on May 22, 2019 15:29:58 GMT
Ouch ... the server is acting up this morning! Just lost my post and have had trouble getting in here and got tossed a couple of times. Have had that same issue this morning....several times with two different servers. My idea was similar to your first one but LOVE Janice's idea. I have made many books using Shutterfly. They frequently offer 50% off coupons and have a fast turnaround. |
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on May 22, 2019 15:57:28 GMT
I erred by saying Pat vs Janice. Sorry Janice and Pat ... and now I can't edit my post.
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Post by cats4jan on May 22, 2019 16:44:56 GMT
Clive - I like the way that looks
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Post by srmoment on May 23, 2019 0:19:47 GMT
This is getting exciting. My dad used a manual typewriter complete with colorful mistakes and edits. I LOVE the idea of using it as is!
...and I just realized that I already scanned the original so now my job is easier.
...so when he was born, his mom and dad paid the local postmistress/delivery person a case of beer.
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Post by cats4jan on May 23, 2019 1:07:04 GMT
Can’t wait to see how you approach your project. No matter what, everyone will love it. Just because of what it means.
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pontiac1940
CE Members
Posts: 6,362
Open to constructive criticism of photos: Yes
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Post by pontiac1940 on May 23, 2019 2:42:18 GMT
colorful mistakes and edits. Snips of some lines could be great when inserted between the formal text or overlaid on photos. Good luck Pat! |
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