Tutorial - Create book from pdf file
Here we explain you, how to create a book as pdf and import it into the Drudix book designer.
Note: If you stay with your cursor on the underlined words, you will get an image about the described option.
1. Introduction:
In this tutorial you get to know, how to create a pdf file from your original documents, to import them into the Drudix book designer. The function, creating a pdf file from a document, exists by default in many word and image processing programs. If the used program doesn't support this function, you can use small help tools for free. The functionallity and the way of handling them is also explained in this tutorial.
Note: The functionallity, create a pdf file from a document, is for example useful for people who are writing a dissertation and are searching for a qualitative high and cheap solution.
2. Create pdf file from different programs
Some of the current word and image processing programs can save their documents as pdf without additional software.
If your program doesn't have this function, you can use small help programs, which pretend to be a printer and over which you can "print" your documents. In fact the programs save the document, which shall be printed, as pdf file on your hard disk.
2.1 Exteral programs
2.1.1 FreePDF XP
To use FreePDF XP you need Ghostscript first. You can download these programs by using the following links:
Follow the installation instruction of both programs. Afterwards FreePDF XP will be added to your list of printers. Now open the print function of your program and select FreePDF XP as printer.
After this the adjoining window appears.
Here you can enter the name of the pdf and make modifications regarding the quality.
Click on the button "Send to Desktop", to save your pdf on your desktop.
If you click on the button "Save as", you can assign a storage location for your PDF.
To get more information about the functions of the program, read the installed user manual.
Important: You must not encrypt the pdf file, because the Drudix book designer can't open encrypted pdf files!
2.1.2 PDF Creator
To download this program, please click on the following link:
Follow the installation instruction of the program. Afterwards PDF Creator will be added to your list of printers.
Open the print function of your program and select PDF Creator as printer.
After this the adjoining window appears.
Enter the name of the pdf and the author.
For extended settings click on the button "Options".
If you click on "eMail" you can send your pdf via e-mail.
Press the button "Save" to save your pdf on your hard disk.
With this program you have several possibilities to convert your original document into a pdf file. If you want to know more about these possibilities, read the help file of the program.
2.2 Common word processing programs:
2.2.1 Microsoft Word 2007
Click on the adjoining symbol in the upper left corner of the program.
Click on the menu item "Save As" and select the option
"PDF or XPS"
.
If the option "PDF or XPS" is not displayed in your program, you need an Add In. This will be provided to you for free by Microsoft.
Now save your document as pdf file. Assign a storage location, where you want to save your pdf file. Afterwards click on "Publish" to finish the process.
Note:
At previous versions of Microsoft Word you must use one of the above-mentioned programs to create a pdf file.
2.2.2 Open Office
In Open Office you are able to save your original document as PDF by default. You have two possibilities for that.
To save your document with the standard settings, we recommend to click on the symbol in the tool bar, which is marked in the adjoining image.
Look adjoining image. Enter the name of the pdf file and click on the button
"Save".
If you want to configure extended settings when saving, open the menu "File" and select the option "Export as PDF"
.
We recommend to apply the adjoining settings in case you have many images in your original document.
If you have a slow internet connection, it may be adviseable to reduce the quality.
The quality should not be under 80%.
Important: Don't encrypt your pdf, because Drudix book designer can't open encrypted pdf files!
2.3 Important notes: Page numbers
When you create a document in a word processing program, the page numbers are standard at the same position.
But in a book that is not the case.
If you apply the page numbers from the original document, they won't be indicated like it is typical for a book. They will be indicated on the right botton like they are in the original document.
The following images shall clarify this:
You can adjust the page numbers either in the used word processing program or later in Drudix.
Note: If you create a dissertation, which has to be printed single sided, note that you adjust the page numbers correctly in your word processing program as well as in the Drudix book designer.
3. Your design in the Drudix book designer
3.1 Import of the pdf files into the Drudix book designer
Open the Drudix book designer, create a new design, select your book type, book format and the book options.
After this you get to the step "Please select your design mode".
Now select the option
"Design book from a pdf file"
.
After this click on "Next" to proceed.
Note: Encrypted PDF files are not supported!
Choose the PDF files you want to work with. For the content of your book you can choose several PDF files you want to use.
Furthermore you are able to import an additional pdf for the book cover.
Note: The pdf for the book cover must contain two pages for books with spine linen and one page for all other books with a cover. The one page of the cover pdf will be used for the front and the back of the book.
3.2 Important notes: Bleed in the Drudix Book Designer
To avoid the white lines on the edge of the the page it is important, that you put your frames and images either over the cutting edges (lines where the paper gets cut) or not exactly on them.
Do not put them very close or exactly on the cutting edges!
This white lines occur, if the paper lies minimally wrong at cutting, or if the images and frames are exactly on the cutting edge.
The following images will show you the problem:
The red lines in the left image symbolize the cutting edges. The white lines, which occur out of it, are normally smaller than one millimeter. But they are still visible and distracting.
So we recommend to put the images and frames not exactly on the cutting edges.
Another possibility would be to put the images and frames over the cutting edges.
The bleed is maximal three millimeters.
The following images show how it should be:
By clicking on the following link, you get to know how you can order your finished design: Tutorial: Book order