Interest in Create a Photo Book Swap?

[RayPA]

I know there's a regularly occurring print swap for wet/analog prints, and a while ago RayG suggested a "digital negative" swap (wherein hi-rez files would be swapped between participants).

At that time, I was thinking out loud and suggested a PDF swap, and it's been nagging at me ever since. I don't know if there's an interest, but here's the idea:

• Participants create a PDF "photo book" of 5-7 images (related or not) and lay it out to include a title, photographer's name, image titles, introductory text (if they choose), poetry (if they choose), navigation (if they choose), music (if they choose), or whatever they choose (and in Acrobat there's a lot or whatever to choose). Or, it could be a simple series of images.

• The images are set at 72 dpi, and used strictly for viewing. Similar to the Lenswork Extended CD Magazine, except these images, being set at 72 dpi, are really only practical/useful for viewing on a computer screen (giving some relief to the copyright concerns—this would be no different from posting an image here in the gallery, or anywhere online).

• The end result (the PDF photo book) is either e-mailed, or burned to a CD and sent out (this latter option opens up a whole other set of design and presentationn possibilities [future gift ideas?])

The idea is to create a PDF book that presents your images as you'd like to see them presented and then share those images with other photogrpahers here at RFF. I know a lot of us entertain the idea of creating our own Lulu book of images; this would give some practical experience toward that end.

There would be no themes, the choice of images, the presentation, etc. would be up to the individual photographers.

Does this sound like something you'd like to participate in?

 

[Todd.Hanz]

sounds like a great idea!


Todd

 

[back alley]

who can teach me how to pdf?

 

[kaiyen]

Man, I just pdf'ed earlier tonight It was awesome.

allan

 

[ray_g]

I'm interested. Like Joe, I'd need to learn how to create pdf files, though.

 

[JoeFriday]

sounds good.. but I have no idea how to do that stuff

 

[RayPA]

Man, I just pdf'ed earlier tonight It was awesome.

allan

I usually step outside when I pdf. The wife appreciates it.

 

[RayPA]

sounds good.. but I have no idea how to do that stuff

Just can't get enough of it!

Joe and Ray, it depends on what program you're using. Photoshop has a 'Save As...' 'Photoshop PDF' option that you can then import into Acrobat, and then order the images. There are many ways to skin this cat. If we have a common layout program, like InDeign, maybe there's a template, with text and image placeholders we could use, or create and use.

 

[ray_g]

Hmm... is there a good simple tutorial on this on the web that you can recommend?

 

[ch1]

Like some others - it sounds great but my only current experience with .pdf files is work-related and consists of text that the sender wants to protect from any changes (I work in finance and law - so proprietary protection is paramount - and gosh, that was alliterative!).

Perhaps we could use a "tutorial" explanation?

Meanwhile, I'll check my PS about saving to .pdf as a first step.

 

[Gid]

This is a cool idea, technical difficulties notwithstanding! Perhaps we should do a "runners up" Lulu book

 

[kaiyen]

The easiest option might be to use the "Create PDF Online" feature at adobe.com. You can lay the whole thing out in MS Word, then send it online and have them output the file. You get the first 5 documents for free, so it won't cost anyone any money.

You won't be able to do as much of the music and whatnot that you can if you have Adobe Acrobat Pro, but it's a doable option.

I think this could be fun.
allan

 

[RayPA]

The easiest option might be to use the "Create PDF Online" feature at adobe.com. You can lay the whole thing out in MS Word, then send it online and have them output the file. You get the first 5 documents for free, so it won't cost anyone any money.

You won't be able to do as much of the music and whatnot that you can if you have Adobe Acrobat Pro, but it's a doable option.

I think this could be fun.
allan

This does sound doable, almost unviersally so. I've never tried it. Allan, when you state "output the file," do they send back a PDF?



.

 

[kaiyen]

As far as I can tell yes, it sends back a PDF. If there is enough interest, I'll go ahead and create a trial account and try it out myself.

allan

 

[cp_ste.croix]

cool idea...i'd love a copy of others work even if i can't figure it out myself...sort of reminds me of poetry chapbooks. Great Idea.

 

[RayPA]

As far as I can tell yes, it sends back a PDF. If there is enough interest, I'll go ahead and create a trial account and try it out myself.

allan

Yeah, if you don't mind. I'll try and do the same. I'd like to try the Word option, too.



.

 

[kaiyen]

Create PDF online test...

Create PDF online test...

It failed the first time, but worked the second. The attached is not meant to be an example of what my stuff will actually look like

 

[RayPA]

It failed the first time, but worked the second. The attached is not meant to be an example of what my stuff will actually look like

Cool it worked! Love the WordArt! The Adobe site has some good information on PDF's, if anyone is interested.

 

[kaiyen]

Oh, the Wordart is the one thing in that sample that _is_ an example of what my final product will look like. All wordart. All the time.

This is a neat idea, Ray. Let me know if I can help move it forward. I'd offer to do an inDesign template but I don't think many folks will have that...

allan

 

[RayPA]

I think so long as anyone who wants to participate can participate—and the PDF Online + Word option enables that—then we can play. I'm not sure about the format, whether this would operate like a print swap, or whether everyone who participates gets a book. Any thoughts?