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FAQs - Design
 
- Do you provide design services?
- AsukaBook and Red Boot Design™ have partnered to offer a turnkey album solution. Please contact Red Boot Design™ for more detailed information.
- Do you provide free design software?
- Yes, please download and try ASUKABOOK Maker 2. This software does not require any Adobe or other paid design softwares. We do also offer a free plug-in for Adobe® InDesign®, ASUKABOOK InDesign Tool.
- What design program is recommended for designing an AsukaBook?
- We recommend our free design software, ASUKABOOK Maker 2, Photoshop® or ASUKABOOK InDesign Tool with Adobe InDesign.
- Can I use other programs such as FotoFusion or InDesign to create my album layout?
- Yes, you may use other design programs to layout a book, but you must transfer your design into AsukaBook blank templates and create a file with File Checker.
If you use our InDesign plu-gin, ASUKABOOK InDesign Tool, you will not have to transfer your design into blank Photoshop templates and use File Checker as the plug-in will do it for you!
- Do you provide color correction and retouching services?
- We do not retouch or color correct any of the files provided. It is your responsibility to ensure that all corrections and adjustments to your images have been completed before designing and ordering. Please make sure you soft proof your book files. We print exactly what is submitted.
- Can I order an AsukaBook by sending single digital images or film to you?
- Currently we only accept completely designed PDFs that were created with File Checker for orders. However, our sister company, Red Boot Design™, can design and order your book for you.
- What is the proper image size for the layouts?
- The cover and inside pages have predetermined resolution and canvas size, though they are not the exact size of the book as we must allow space for the gutter area and trim lines around the edges. Please do not change the resolution or canvas size, as this will cause problems with File Checker processing your files. Simply place your images onto the blank templates and design your book.
- Why are the templates required when designing in applications other than ASUKABOOK Maker or in Indesign with ABID?
- The templates have the correct dimensions, resolution, and color space that our printers need. You only have to focus on the layout and design of your book.
- Why are the templates blank?
- The blank templates allow creative freedom when designing so you can add as many images, color blocks and other graphic elements and enhancements to the layout. If you would prefer to use layout templates, we recommend using AutoAlbum from Kubota Image Tools, which provides over 500 predetermined layout templates.
- How do I get my page designs created with Kevin Kubota's AutoAlbum into an AsukaBook template?
- Your layout will be placed on the template and will automatically shrink to fit the template if it is larger. By using this method, it places the file as a SMART Object which is a unique single layer file. However, you can RIGHT-CLICK (control click if you do not have a right click mouse) on the layer itself and choose EDIT CONTENTS. This allows you to open a copy of the layered file in case you need to make any positioning adjustments later.
- What do the Photoshop guidelines on the blank templates represent?
- Turning Guides On:
View > Show > Guides or Command + ; (semicolon)
Cover
- The outer guidelines represent the area where the cover will be folded over the cover.
- The center guidelines represent the spine of the book.
Pages
- The outer guidelines represent the area where the pages will be trimmed.
- The center guidelines represent the center or gutter of the book.
Tip: Place your images at least 1/4 inch away from the blue guidelines to avoid any desired trimming.
Tip: Place image to the edge of the canvas to ensure a "Full Bleed".
Tip: Place important parts of an image (such as a face) or text away from the centerline to ensure nothing will be unintentionally lost in the gutter.
Please click HERE for more layout and design tips.
- Will the gray rectangle showing on the back cover and last page of my PDF be printed on the final book?
- There will be a small barcode where that place marker is located, but in the final book it is not as prominent as what you see in the template. Be sure to delete or turn off that layer before saving the jpg. The barcode indicator boxes will appear at actual size in the PDF file. Please review this file before uploading to be sure it is not covering any important information, as this is where it will print on your final book.
- How many images can I place on each page/side?
- You may place as many images as you would like.
- Can I add text as part of the design?
- You may add text anywhere on the design. Keep in mind the guidelines, gutters and bar code areas, as any text and image information placed there will be lost.
- What is the font and size of the Hot Stamp Text?
- The font type is Skia which is a Mac OS standard font. You have up to 30 characters including spaces and only a single line of text.
The approximate font size varies for each size of book. For example, a 10x10 is 24pt, an 8x8 is 18pt, a 7x7 is 16 pt, a 5x5 is 13 pt, etc.
- Do I have to place an image on the cover?
- No. The design is totally up to you so you can have an image on the cover or you can do something different. The cover file will be the 000000.psd in the downloaded folder of templates. Once you've opened that in Photoshop and made sure you can see the guidelines, you can design it however you would like. You can have an image wrap around to the back cover, a single image, or multiple images on the front and/or back. You may also leave it blank and have the color of your canvas as the printed color. You may also add text to the front and/or back cover as well as the spine.
- Do I have to convert my files to CMYK before submitting?
- No. Submit your files in either Adobe RGB or sRGB. The production center will convert the files to CMYK for you.
- How do I resize my book layout from one size to another?
- In Photoshop®, you may simply drag and drop or use the "place" option (under the "file" menu) to move your layouts into the smaller template. Be sure to review your file for bleeds and gutter concerns once the design has been transferred to new template sizes.
Both ABM and ABID offer automatic size changes.
- When saving images in JPEG format, which degree of compression should be used?
- We recommend the image quality be set to 11(Maximum) with "Baseline Optimized."
- Can you provide a proof sheet of my book order before it is printed?
- No, we do not offer proof sheets. We do, however, provide you with the tools to ensure that you receive a product you are happy with. We provide information on design tips and accurate color HERE. If you would like sample pages printed on the press with the type of paper and page finish used, please contact Customer Care to request them.
- Are there any restrictions on what can be printed?
- AsukaBook requires that you have copyright permission for all images included in your order. Additionally, your files will not be sent into production if they contain illegal and/or immoral content, or if the subject may be offensive to the public. We are also unable to print books with exposed genitalia or that show implied sexual acts.
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