i saw some lulu books at osp west, and they are adorable!

what kind of books are you guys printing? it doesn't seem to be the photo books. they are the wrong size for what i saw, so i'm assuming they are the other books?

any help on the file types and how to get stuff to lulu correctly???
i started to watch the tutorials and got kind of lost. when i make a .pdf it looks like crap. should i be sending something for them to convert?
i've seen the post with the large books, and they look great!

how did you do this?

any help would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks so much for asking about this Robin! I'm getting ready to do my first Lulu book, and I was wondering the same things!

Here are a few things I've come up with regarding Lulu.

1) Lightroom. I've tried TONS of layout programs, but none that I've found works as quickly and perfectly as Lightroom. It's SO easy to layout books in Lightroom. There are plenty of layout programs available, but it seems tough to find one that will automatically post the file name or description. Again, Lightroom makes is so easy.

2) Color management: It's very important that you tell the Adobe distiller that the working color space is ProPhotoRGB because that's what Lightroom works with (beta version). Then, make sure Acrobat converts to sRGB during the conversion.

3) Embedded fonts. Make sure all fonts are embedded. The gotcha is Acrobat has a list of fonts that it instructs to NEVER embed. If you're using one of those fonts, you must move the fonts you're using out of the NEVER EMBED list.

4) I call them image catalogs or portfolios instead of "proof" books. I really don't consider them true proofs in the sense that they're not on photographic paper and not really properly color managed.

5) Lulu likes single files instead of many smaller files, for some strange reason.

6) The hardback books really look just as nice as the softback in regards to the print.

7) When you order the book, Lulu will tell you EXACTLY what size to make your cover file.

8) The cool part is you can publish your book without having Lulu printed anywhere on the book. These things are VERY popular. The largest one I've made is 740 pages and it worked great.

good luck!
michael

Michael about covered it. However, I use CS2 to create everything. Contact sheets or layouts (if it's a small book and I feel like being creative). And then I use CS2 to take all of the PDFs created in a folder, and make a PDF Presentation to combine them all into one large PDF file. If you upload each page as a separate PDF, don't expect lulu to print them in order! That's why submitting one large PDF is best. I FTP my PDF file up to them. Then create the cover based on their specifications.

LOVE the fact that lulu doesn't brand their stuff! I always put my logo on the back cover.

I got the impression from there pricing page that the hardcover books are not available in color (except for the cover), especially the larger dimension books. Is this not true?

You're scaring me. I have a 600-page book I'm submitting. It has 10 separate chapters, each one its own pdf. Lulu then compiles those into one big pdf. When I downloaded that compiled file for proofing, the order is perfect.

Are you telling me that once it's printed, it won't be in the order that the compiled pdf is in?

Not at all. If you've proofed their compiled PDF and it's fine, you're good to go. BTW, the few problems I've had with Lulu they've been very quick to remedy. My last big book, I did see some banding toward the back of the book, like the printer was running out of ink or something. Two times they've quickly printed out a replacement and shipped letting me keep the bad copy. One book had a smudge looking hole in one of the pages. I had to take a photo of it, but once they saw the problem, it was replaced. They're a very good value, I think.

how do i get it to PDF's? - told you -i'm not getting this!

do i need something for PDFs?
what do you mean by single files versus many small files?

i have a guest book that i want to print as a sample. it's be designed as 2-page spreads. do i need to separate the pages and upload as single pages?

should i be creating a 'PAPERBACK BOOK' versus a photobook? does the hardback come in color? i only see a b&w option.

has anyone tried the cd/dvd option?


lots of quesitons


thanks for the help!

Robin, do you use InDesign? Mac or PC?

Robin,

I don't know anything about LuLu Books, but I just did a Blurb book and I did two page spreads and they look great.

I used their dimensions for my layout in FF, then I used two full bleed images for the spread. Dragged the image to the left side of the page, then dragged the same image to the right side, then just moved it until it lined up.

I like the blurb books they are very cute and cheap. About $35-40 delivered.

I just signed up with this company, but I didn't have time to try them out this time, but it looks like they have a guest book with signable pages.

www.apollo-imagizing.com


Hope that helps


Mel

i do not use indesign

pc

i have looked at the blurb books, also. i'm working on a special project and the lulu book is what i am after at this time.

i feel so stupid!

No problem! I miss you Robin!

thank you thank you thank you - all!!!


michelle - i will always think i'm related to you since you were so kind to give her my b-day!
i miss you, too!

i can't wait to share my lulu project with y'all!

If it shows in order when proofing, then it'll print exactly as so. There's just been some reports of people who FTP a folder full of 300 individal PDFs having some issues with it.



I had the same experience with the banding one time and they handled it very fast and professionally! And because of that service, the issue at hand (the banding) didn't make me want to not use them again. So great for the price

No way! That makes two friends with Sydne's birthday! The other one is three years old
What a happy day!

Can't wait to see it! The first one or two books were a little frustrating process, but that's how it is with any first-time album orders, etc. After that, you'll fly through the process!

A guestbook with spreads would look great as an Asuka book.

hey jules, it actaully IS going to asuka.

the lulu thinking is totally separate. i wanted to use the guest book as a test to learn how to do lulu books. i'm working on a project that will be for photographers for clients, and lulu is how i want to set it up. y'all will know about it as soon as it's ready. it will be a little while, but i think it will be something you will all be able to use for your clients! i can't find anything like it. (bruce is helping me with some research.)
might be another hairbrained idea, or it might be a winner. we'll see.

thanks so much for all your help!