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Post by tasmanianartist on Nov 8, 2020 2:47:35 GMT
After having typed my reply, I got logged out and lost the text. So here it goes again ... I'm relived to read that potet found the 'save as PDF' function in the menu. I agree with @bizzley about the dangers of inporting the Lulu-supplied template into Photoshop (or other) to work from, for reasons elaborated above. For what it's worth, here is my method on iMac in Corel Painter, since I don't work on Photoshop/PC: First (obviously) is to chose the Lulu-supported book trim size, create the interior to that trim size, print to PDF, then upload to Lulu. At that point, Lulu informs you that they've added a blank margin all around to account for images that go edge to edge - if you have just text, you can safely ignore it. At the same time, Lulu supplies you with the template for your cover. I copy that onto my desktop. Then I open a new file in Corel Painter to the exact OVERALL size (including bleeds, margins, wraps, etc), and to my preferred resolution, which is usually 300dpi. With Corel Painter's handy horizontal and vertical centre lines, I can then easily place all bleeds, margins, wraps, spine, etc, as separate layers one by one, which takes mere minutes. Thus, after a few minutes, I've created my own interactive template, with the measurements given on Lulu's template. When the cover is done to my liking, save off as jpg, then print to PDF, then upload to Lulu. My iMac screen is large enough to have the Corel Painter file open on one half, and the Lulu preview on the other half. If the Lulu preview shows that I need to correct something, I can do that immediately, and visually, nudging the element in question to fit better, go through the process of making a replacement PDF, upload again, and check again. This also takes merely minutes.
Edit: Corel Painter has PDF function, as has the iMac, but I prefer to PDF from a one-layer file jpg, rather than from the huge, open multi-layered file. I've yet to try and see how it turns out, especially using the various PDF compression filters I've built.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2020 4:30:46 GMT
Glad it all worked out for potet. Everyone was so helpful. However we all use different programmes to make our covers. I use Paintshop Pro and there is no option to "save as PDF" as you can with Photoshop. Also my "print to PDF" with 995 wasn't accepted by Lulu, which is why I used an on line converter.
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Post by JesusNinja on Nov 8, 2020 6:34:22 GMT
I've never had any problems loading the Lulu template pdf into Photoshop. I have also made a jpeg of the pdf template and loaded that. The size came out the same without any corrections.
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Post by JesusNinja on Nov 8, 2020 6:36:51 GMT
Thank you Potet
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Post by tasmanianartist on Nov 8, 2020 6:42:08 GMT
That just makes me wonder whether these types of complications were one of the reasons why Lulu did away with the wizard altogether - while the 'Flash' gismo beeing discontinued would not have stopped someone from producing a similar program to use, it may have been the multitude of image manipulation programs that thwarted that idea out of the sheer magnitude of problems. Even Lulu would not have the manpower to attend to each individual uploader who is getting stuck. This way, they supply a template, and leave the details to the author. I must admit, it was daunting at first, but then I put my mind to it, and have found that I learned something new, and something that made me independent of Lulu.
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Post by potet on Nov 8, 2020 8:57:03 GMT
That just makes me wonder whether these types of complications were one of the reasons why Lulu did away with the wizard altogether - while the 'Flash' gismo beeing discontinued would not have stopped someone from producing a similar program to use, it may have been the multitude of image manipulation programs that thwarted that idea out of the sheer magnitude of problems. Even Lulu would not have the manpower to attend to each individual uploader who is getting stuck. This way, they supply a template, and leave the details to the author. I must admit, it was daunting at first, but then I put my mind to it, and have found that I learned something new, and something that made me independent of Lulu. I still think that an updated cover wizard would be a better solution for a majority of authors because, as Larika recalled, we use different picture processors.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2020 12:54:58 GMT
That just makes me wonder whether these types of complications were one of the reasons why Lulu did away with the wizard altogether - while the 'Flash' gismo beeing discontinued would not have stopped someone from producing a similar program to use, it may have been the multitude of image manipulation programs that thwarted that idea out of the sheer magnitude of problems. Even Lulu would not have the manpower to attend to each individual uploader who is getting stuck. This way, they supply a template, and leave the details to the author. I must admit, it was daunting at first, but then I put my mind to it, and have found that I learned something new, and something that made me independent of Lulu. Ingram Spark offers templates for all bindings and sizes and a Wizard for jacketflap. KDP offers both.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2020 13:00:13 GMT
PHOTOSHOPNow I feel so silly. Imagine, among all the formats offered by Photoshop to save a file, there is one for PDF! My mistake was to go to the print program, and opt for a virtual printer. The Photoshop PDF file was readily accepted by Lulu! This matter being settled I had to struggle with the various metadata demanded, but this is another story. Here is the Photoshop PDF option in "Save as": View AttachmentI did not notice it before. Why? I don't know. My eyes must have seen it, but my brain did not register its presence. So, Bizzley, thank you so much for your help. I don't need it now, and I wish I hadn't wasted your time. Interesting and good to know. I have actually never seen it.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2020 13:02:05 GMT
PHOTOSHOPNow I feel so silly. Imagine, among all the formats offered by Photoshop to save a file, there is one for PDF! My mistake was to go to the print program, and opt for a virtual printer. The Photoshop PDF file was readily accepted by Lulu! This matter being settled I had to struggle with the various metadata demanded, but this is another story. Here is the Photoshop PDF option in "Save as": View AttachmentI did not notice it before. Why? I don't know. My eyes must have seen it, but my brain did not register its presence. So, Bizzley, thank you so much for your help. I don't need it now, and I wish I hadn't wasted your time. Your questions were useful as is the knowledge obtained. For myself and others who need it in the future.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2020 13:10:01 GMT
Photoshop, apart from being the industry standard for graphic illustration, is of course owned by Adobe, the company that developed the PDF format. I don't think it's a coincidence that those people using Photoshop to create their covers are reporting having more success in producing results Lulu will accept than those who don't use the software. It is quite likely that when Lulu developed the new cover creation method they used and tested it on those same industry standard programs rather than the ragtag mix of older and cheaper software that those of us who can't afford Photoshop have to use. I know from experience that non-Adobe programs that output PDF can produce results that are unacceptable, and not just Lulu as I've had this happen on archive.org - but they at least suggest a successful way to fix it. I find the easiest and cheapest method to ensure compatibility is to use the free online converters Adobe offers at www.adobe.com/uk/acrobat/online.html especially for the final step of converting the JPG to a PDF. I also have to say that having created a cover PDF using the WP\DTP method to build the cover from multiple elements, having it accepted by Lulu only to find on viewing the Preview that it was wrong that I would reccomend the easier PDF-JPG-PDF workkflow method over it every time.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 9, 2020 5:57:52 GMT
"Invalid request token / possible request forgery (error 4). If you received this message in error, please go back, refresh, and try again."Why am I getting this every time I try to give bizzley's last entry the thumbs up. I refreshed several times and still keep getting the message--- strange. I'll leave the site and sign in again and see if I can give him the thumbs up. I don't have Photoshop and use Paintshop Pro which I like very much. PS. I just went on to google and checked the price of Photoshop. It is expensive! I'll stick with PSP and use Adobe's on line converter to make PDF covers. PPS It worked I had to sign out, then sign in again and then I was able to give bizzley the thumbs up. This has never happened before with me.
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Post by potet on Nov 9, 2020 10:04:57 GMT
PS. I just went on to google and checked the price of Photoshop. It is expensive! I'll stick with PSP and use Adobe's on line converter to make PDF covers. I bought it many years ago. I think I paid about 100€ for it. I was aware the latest versions are a lot more expensive. I have just checked it, and, apparently, you can only subscribe to it and pay: 23.99€/month. The default background is black. This is what the screen looks like with a creation of mine.
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