more bookmaking stuff

I got a chance to go back to the book binding today.

I got a chance to go on a spree in Staples and buy different photo papers, and different papers for text. Now that's something I never thought about before. What paper is best for text?

My idea for the books is that they can be composed of different paper - one paper for the text (both sides), and one for the photos (single side). This is actually how a lot of early books were done: a different paper stock was used for the "plates" and another for the text.

It's inkjet friendly in the sense that you really don't want to print lots and lots of photos on double-sided paper. I know the paper can take it - but for me - every time I put the paper through the printer there's a chance that something will get screwed up on the down side. Some cat hair. Some splat of ink. Ink on the rollers. And of course, there is the money angle: double-sided photo paper is actually more expensive than two single-sided sheets. Plus, if you do go to single-sided for photos, you can choose your favorite paper.

I picked up:

- A linen paper that I like - 25% cotton - but heavy enough so that you don't have to worry about print showing through the other side. And about 8 cents per sheet. 8 CENTS PER SHEET.

- Some 100% cotton paper, which has a nice feel to it - but it's a little more expensive - 14 CENTS per sheet.

And various sorts of photo paper. I wanted to see which turned easily in the book, and wouldn't crack - and also of course the print looked good.

In the middle of all this book binding I upraded the 4800 printer firmware - so now it doesn't complain about "Invalid Media" if you try to print glossy prints from the print tray.

Then there was phumphering my way though InDesign. I'm sure there are quicker ways to do some of what I've been doing - but I've covered the basics:

Flowing text, Picture Frames, Styles, Bleeds (I'm not doing any of them in the first book), ligatures and a few other things.

The last thing I need to do is design the cover. But before that it would be useful to decide what the first book will be.