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I've now released 6 PDFs in landscape format and have heard a little response. Is this format actually working for people or would everyone prefer a more standard format?
Ambient has also released a couple of PDFs in landscape. Are there any other releases using this format?
I think it works well for those who mostly read the pages on the screen and sometimes print out a couple. I don't particularly think it works well for a POD version of a book though - so keep that in mind.
Originally posted by rpghost I think it works well for those who mostly read the pages on the screen and sometimes print out a couple. I don't particularly think it works well for a POD version of a book though - so keep that in mind.
James
That's why I did a completely new layout for the Possessors POD.
Originally posted by rpghost I think it works well for those who mostly read the pages on the screen and sometimes print out a couple. I don't particularly think it works well for a POD version of a book though - so keep that in mind.
I 100% agree. I have the POD version of Three arrows, and it is kind of annoying to read the book that way.
As for the screen being landscape, I don't see any problems with it.
Yes, we admitted tha tthe landscape POD for Three Arrows was an experiment, and it is one we won't do again except for the upcoming sadle-stitched edition of the Kid's Colouring Book.
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Originally posted by HellHound Yes, we admitted tha tthe landscape POD for Three Arrows was an experiment, and it is one we won't do again except for the upcoming sadle-stitched edition of the Kid's Colouring Book.
I experiment all the time and like to see others do the same. I don't think you did anything wrong by trying it.
I'll admit first that I haven't printed out any of my pdfs so far, too expensive.
I actually prefer the landscape version that Philip has turned to and I'm glad to find out that Three Arrows is landscaped as well. I was going to wait to purchase the POD of Three Arrows, however, because I do prefer to have printed material when available. (Which means I'll probably pick up the POD version of Possessors, even though I've already got the pdf )
What's the big problem with the printed version of Three Arrows? The only problem I could see is if it is bound along the top of the landscape layout (the long side) rather than where it should be bound on the left hand side (the short side). If that's true, than I can see how it would be a pain. Why couldn't the binding be on the short side, if it isn't? Is there some difficulty to setting it up that way?
Originally posted by mirthcard
What's the big problem with the printed version of Three Arrows? The only problem I could see is if it is bound along the top of the landscape layout (the long side) rather than where it should be bound on the left hand side (the short side). If that's true, than I can see how it would be a pain. Why couldn't the binding be on the short side, if it isn't? Is there some difficulty to setting it up that way?
It is... though I'm not sure it's that simple to bound on the other edge. As covers are made from large 11x17 sheets and folded over and then glue stuck on the inside for binding. So you'd not have the binding on the other side with that format for POD.
Originally posted by HellHound Yes, we admitted tha tthe landscape POD for Three Arrows was an experiment, and it is one we won't do again except for the upcoming sadle-stitched edition of the Kid's Colouring Book.
It makes sense for a coloring book... but, for a source book it does not. I never really thought about it, until I got 3 arrows. For the screen, landscape looks good, if not preferable to portrait. I never thought about it, until I got that POD.
I think what it boils down to, is you really do need 2 PDFs with each book. One for printing and one for looking at on the screen.
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Last edited by Rifter; 11th March 2003 at 05:30 PM..
I prefer what Phil Reed did with Construct Mechanus - a landscape version full of graphics for reading onscreen and a portrait version for those to print.
I dont have Ambient's latest, but I had hoped it would be something similar.
But then again I do not know how hard it is for pdf publishers to give 2 versions for each product - a layout for those who like onscreen and a portait for those to print. And to save on printing costs make the portrait printer friendly.
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Having just reviewed one of your landscape products, I have to say I think it's the greatest thing for PDFs since, well, PDFs!
You have the black-and-white portrait file for easy printing, and then the color landscape file for easy on-screen viewing. I found I could set my Adobe to full screen mode and see the entire pasge, without having to squint to read the text, and without having to scroll down, up, down over and over to read the columns between multiple pages.
Absolutely awesome. Other PDF publishers should take note -- this is THE way to release a product meant to be actually read on a computer (considering I don't print most PDFs if they are over about 20 pages, though I may print sections of them as I need to use them).
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Originally posted by maransreth But then again I do not know how hard it is for pdf publishers to give 2 versions for each product - a layout for those who like onscreen and a portait for those to print.
Well, it takes exactly twice as long. I fiddled with landscape layout for some pages on my still late book and while it helped in some places, it made some of the images I bought misshaped for the pages.
But I will attempt the two layouts when I'm finished with the book.
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Down on the list: seemingly real close to releasing a notebook essential. It's in layout! Has been for months now. (Just nod politely so I won't cry about this.)
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Question: What margins do you need in a "non-print PDF"? I was thinking about landscape mode for on-screen and portrait for print when I realized, I don't need 0.5-1 inches of margin on screen. Thoughts?
__________________ Joe Mucchiello, Head Honcho at Throwing Dice Games
Priority One: Fatherhood.
Priority Two: Sanity.
Down on the list: seemingly real close to releasing a notebook essential. It's in layout! Has been for months now. (Just nod politely so I won't cry about this.)
"I've never heard of the term Flavor lawyer..." -- Scribble
Originally posted by HellHound For the actual text, I use 12mm margins with an 8mm gutter on average.
But my layout uses the full edges of the page design
Well, 12 mm is nearly 1/2 an inch. My point was what is the point of having the text so far away from the Acrobat Reader window border. It's not like a printed page where the user might want to hole punch or otherwise bind the pages. The whole point behind border art is to make the border less boring. I'm asking if anyone's thought about removing the border entirely for their screen PDF?
__________________ Joe Mucchiello, Head Honcho at Throwing Dice Games
Priority One: Fatherhood.
Priority Two: Sanity.
Down on the list: seemingly real close to releasing a notebook essential. It's in layout! Has been for months now. (Just nod politely so I won't cry about this.)
"I've never heard of the term Flavor lawyer..." -- Scribble
The only reason to have a border is if you wish to have an art page border or for neatness sake. In Construct Mechanus there is a border, no art border, and I found that this was easy on the eyes. I am not sure what it would be like if the text went all the way to the edge of the page, except decrease the number of pages.
__________________ Duct tape is like the force - it has a light side, a dark side, and holds the universe together.
Apparently I'm in the minority; I strongly dislike reading off a screen, and print nearly every pdf I buy. The only two landscape pdfs I have are Possessors and Three Arrows, and I've only printed Possessors. I'll probably print & read 3 Arrows in the future, but I'll otherwise avoid landscape format products for now. They're simply too inconvenient for me to work with.
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