Attempting a new layout/background for a pdf...

[Cergorach]

I'm trying to create a 'new' layout for my OGL pdfs, the following desgn points is what i have in mind:

1.) Must be readible.
2.) Must look pleasing to the eye.
3.) Must be in a format that is familiar.
4.) Is not designed to be printer friendly.

Point 4 is probably going to raise a couple of eyebrows, the point is that this layout is intened for online viewing and not for printing (inkt hog). It might be used for a printed (pod) product though.

Demo2 is the old layout, while demo is the new layout. You might notice that the only thing i changed is the background, and nothing else (yet). I'm currently looking for comments on the grey/color background, i'll take another look at the rest when i've got the background 'perfected'...

 

[Prest0]

That's a very pretty background/boarder. Neat-o. Personally though, I don't see anything wrong with your old layout. It's very clean and easy to read.

If you're going for online viewing though, then you'd better switch to landscape layout instead of portrait. I don't know--is that what you were getting at with #3? Maybe this is just me, but I like seeing the whole page at once. There's a lot of wasted screen space with a portrait orientation and the result is text too small to read when viewing the entire page. I used Acrobat to rotate the pages just to see how much bigger the text, and it makes a huge difference.

The background does create some eye-strain when you're trying to read the text. How about making the text/leading somewhat bigger? It looks like you're using 10/12. You might experiment with 11/14.

My $0.02.

 

[Cergorach]

That's a very pretty background/boarder. Neat-o. Personally though, I don't see anything wrong with your old layout. It's very clean and easy to read.

It's not bad, but i'm trying to go for more eye candy, and the old layout just doesn't scream eye candy.

If you're going for online viewing though, then you'd better switch to landscape layout instead of portrait. I don't know--is that what you were getting at with #3? Maybe this is just me, but I like seeing the whole page at once. There's a lot of wasted screen space with a portrait orientation and the result is text too small to read when viewing the entire page. I used Acrobat to rotate the pages just to see how much bigger the text, and it makes a huge difference.

Hmm...
What i'm trying to achieve is threefold:
1.) High quality pdf that's basically the pdf i would send off to the printers to produce high quality color hardcovers (the only problem being that there's no money for that ;-)
2.) A printer optimized pdf that is used for people to print out the material presented.
3.) A web based book that is monitor optimized (with possibly controls to alter style, etc.).

The 'new' demo pdf is an attempt to fulfill plan 1 (the high quality pdf).

The background does create some eye-strain when you're trying to read the text. How about making the text/leading somewhat bigger? It looks like you're using 10/12. You might experiment with 11/14.

Hmm... The background might very well be a little to eye-straining for rules material, maybe i need to clean that up a bit. A seperate layout for the rules and a seperate layout for the 'fluff'...

It's actually 9/11, any bigger and it becomes a bit bloated (page wise).

Thanks for the advice

 

[rpghost]

The headings are hard to read, I'd suggest using some sort of font/color with a boarder.

Color is nice, but POD isn't going to be color, so make sure it greyscales good.

If it's eye candy you're after, why not add interactive elements and music? Like this test I did a while ago:
http://www.RPGNow.com/InteractiveSH_test.zip

James

 

[philreed]

Didn't the e-Publisher Guide include some info on this?

You will want the "PDF Creator." I've been reading it over the last few days and it looks like it's one of those resources I wish had been available years ago.

 

[Cergorach]

Didn't the e-Publisher Guide include some info on this?

You will want the "PDF Creator." I've been reading it over the last few days and it looks like it's one of those resources I wish had been available years ago.

Huh? What are you talking about? I'm asking for opinions on how to make the layout (background specifically) look cooler. The e-Publisher Guide was written with profit in mind, i'm not making this with profit in mind, i actually expect to 'dump' a whole lot of time and money into this (already have and i don't see bottom yet ;-) I'm doing this because i like doing it, i think it's fun and want others to 'share' in my fun, maybe others have a good idea to improve my fun (and in turn i increase their fun, etc.).

I know how to make a pdf and do just about everything with it, i don't need extra instructions for that. I want to make something that blows you away (layout wise) and thought that brainstorming with some of the folks on this board would help...

 

[philreed]

I know how to make a pdf and do just about everything with it, i don't need extra instructions for that. I want to make something that blows you away (layout wise) and thought that brainstorming with some of the folks on this board would help...

Sorry, I misunderstood what you were after.

 

[HellHound]

I prefer the first layout, honestly.

 

[jmucchiello]

I want to make something that blows you away (layout wise)

Well, not everyone likes or perceives background images as blows you away material. I prefer the plain layout. I don't buy PDFs for looks but for content. And I don't buy magazines with lots of background art (the WIRED syndrome). IMO, if you feel the need to distract me with eye-candy, you don't think the material is good. I am most blown away by PDFs that do NOT have stupid border art. Whitespace on a page helps the eye relax making it easier to continue reading.

Also, if on screen pop is what you are going for, you should be using a landscape format that puts the page fully in front of the reader. Graphics people tend to work on 2-page monitors (19+ inches) and forget that you cannot view pages side by side on a 15 inch monitor and read them. Landscape mode can mitigate this problem a bit.

Good luck. I assume my naysaying will not deter you since you consider what you are doing fun. But I hope you will include a plain version of your works as well for those of use not interested in visual pop.

 

[Cassandra]

I don't know if by this time I'm seeing exactly the same thing previous commenters viewed. I have to say that, FOR SCREEN USE, I like the new format. (Disclaimer - IANAGD: I Am Not A Graphic Designer.) The old format was fine, and would be preferable for anything to be printed, but I do enjoy viewing the text over that picture. If it were not grayed out under the text, however, it would be too much. In fact, I suggest you might want to take the gray a little closer to the bottom margin, because some of the long pages run over into the colored area, making them harder to read.

I think having that entire picture under printed text, even grayed out, would be too much. However, have one color/gray page at the beginning of each chapter would be nice. For the other pages, you could consider removing what is currently gray and graying what is currently in color, giving you decorative gray borders. That would be better for print, while maintaining some 'eye candy.'

Of course, that doesn't achieve your goal of making a single product for PDF and print, but you can't have everything!

Vicki Potter
Tabletop Adventures