iBooks Author
By Dave Ghidiu

DISCLAIMER
  • Regrettably, you’ll need a Mac to run the software
    • Product will only work on an iPad, or Mac
    • Mac Mini is a good choice
      • Get RAM from www.crucial.com
  • Ask questions WHENEVER
  • If you don’t speak Mac, it will take a little while to get used to the interface
  • Plug for the March 3rd talk
    • CreateSpace, KDP, Sigil, Calibre
  • Not going to review fundamental text formatting
    • Spacing, fonts, etc., although they may come up in the scope of the presentation
  • If you have thoughts to add, please do so WHENEVER
  • If you see a shortcut for what I’m doing, please remember that I don’t prefer Apples, and consequently I only use my MacBook for iBooks Author; please let me know if you see me doing something that can be done quicker!

 REQUIREMENTS
  • To develop an iBook on a Mac, you will need:
    • OSX 10.6.6 or later
    • OS Mavericks X has an iBooks application that lets you consume iBooks, as well as test them from your computer

  • To view an iBook in development, you need:
    • An iPad 2 or better
    • OS Mavericks X

  • To use more than the stock templates, you’ll want:
    • Free templates found in the App store
      • Templates for iBooks Author Free
      • Designs for iBooks Author

  • To place books into the iBooks marketplace, you need:
  • To understand a little bit more about iBooks, you’ll want to read:

 WHY iBOOKS?
  • Features of iBooks are better than most eReaders
    • Reader experience
      • Highlight
      • Comment
      • Glossary
      • Study cards
      • Widgets
      • Sync across devices
      • Portrait vs landscape
    • Previewing is simple and doesn’t require other devices or software
    • iBooks are WYSIWYG
    • Downsides:
      • Can only be used on Apple devices
    • VoiceOver technology is available for most text and objects
    • Version control is easy and effective
  • Most mobile devices can render eBooks
    • PDF
      • Scrolling/viewing issues, especially on mobile devices
      • Annotation is difficult
        • iAnnotatePDF ($10) is a phenomenal app
      • Version issues
    • Most eBook formats are fairly universal
    • You can read a Kindle/ePub/Nook on almost any device
    • Typically, you are looking at ePub, Kindle (.azw), .mobi
    • Plug for the March 3rd talk
      • CreateSpace, KDP, Sigil, Calibre
    • eBooks wrap
    • “Kindle: Your Highlights” is a great place to see annotations
    • Annotating on most eBook formats is easy
    • Sync across devices

TEMPLATES
  • The templates in iBooks Author are very appealing
  • Supports ReadAloud and JavaScript
  • You can override any part of the template
    • Create your own template for your brand!

ELEMENTS
  • Book Title
    • This is the cover of the book
      • Will appear in iTunes and iBooks

  • Intro Media
    • Apple recommends using mp4 files
    • If left empty, this will not appear in the book
    • Apple also recommends 10 seconds or less, although the opening to Life on Earth is 33 seconds long (and is awesome!)

  • Table of Contents
    • Generated automatically
      • Make sure you have a good handle on the organization before you start!
    • In general, eBook authoring depends on styles, so make sure you get in the habit of using them
      • In iBooks Author, only “Heading 1” and “Heading 2” are included in the Table of Contents

  • Glossary
    • Generated automatically
    • Can be augmented later
    • Flashcards
    • Pictures are not supported in pop-up
    • If you leave the Glossary blank, it will not appear in the final product


  • Pages
    • You can change the type once it’s made
      • But only the flavor of the page, not the type of page
    • Types of pages
      • Chapter
        • Preface
        • Chapter
      • Section
        • Section
          • When creating new sections, make sure the title changes
        • Section Text
        • Copyright
        • Dedication
        • Foreward
      • Pages
        • Default
        • 1 Column
        • 2 Column
        • 3 Column
        • Blank

 OBJECTS
  • Objects are anything besides text in your publication
    • Images
      • Use the “Adjust Image” button to enhance images
      • Use the “Edit Mask” to crop, reposition, reframe images
      • Use the Inspector: Widget to declare the image “Maximize on tap or click”
      • Pick a sweet border
      • Play with the opacity and the shadow
      • Can’t be more than 25 megapixels or 50 megabytes
    • Videos
      • Apple claims that any video supported by QuickTime can be inserted (except DRM)
      • Files will automatically be optimized
    • Shapes
      • Can be used as frames for images
        • Use the “Edit Mask” option to tweak images placed in shapes
      • Can be used as text boxes
        • Simply start typing in them
    • Widgets
      • There are nine types of Widgets
        • Gallery
        • Media
        • Review
        • Keynote
        • Interactive Image
        • 3D
        • Scrolling Sidebar
        • Pop Over
        • HTML
    • Use the Inspector when dealing with objects
  • Orientation
    • Inline
      • Objects are “inline” with the text, and move with the text as the text moves
    • Floating
      • Objects will reside, unequivocally, where they are placed
    • Anchored
      • Objects are “attached” to specific text, and when that text flows to another page, the image comes with it (and is placed in the same location on the new page)
    • Text Wrap
      • Defines how the text will flow around the object
      • Objects can be placed behind text
    • Rotate most objects by holding COMMAND while on a corner handle


LAYOUT
  • Aligning
    • Aligning gives a very professional feel to publications
    • The concept of aligning is very subtle, but makes a huge difference
    • Distributing is a form of aligning that also provides professional appeal
    • Alignment guides (blue lines) appear (temporarily) when moving objects
      • By default, these lines appear when lining up objects to relative centers
        • Go to iBooks Author ➣ Preferences ➣ Rulers
          • Make appropriate choices
    • View ➣ Rulers
      • This enables you to create your own guides
  • Order
    • Send Back vs. Send Backward
    • Bring Forward vs. Bring to Front


DISTRIBUTING
  • Show Document Warnings (under VIEW)
    • You’ll need an account
    • To publish a book, you’ll also need ISBN numbers:
    • Books can only be 2GB if they are being distributed in the iBooks Store
      • Instead of previewing, export to iBooks, load into iBooks
      • Export options
      • Text
      • PDF
      • Free as an iBook
        • Through store (70%)
    • Rights
      • You retain the rights of any original publication
      • Beware of infringing on other's copyrights

TIPS
  • Inspector - use it for adjusting properties of everything
  • Have content organized WELL (before you create the iBook)
  • Tag glossary words, but go back and define them later
  • Be aware of copyright!
  • Formatting/aesthetics
    • Don’t mix fonts
    • Ellen’s PowerPoint Tip
      • PowerPoint made it really easy to make a really bad presentation really fast
    • Chris Rock
      • You can drive a car with your feet, but that doesn’t make it a good idea!
      • Don’t use colors/functions just because you can
  • Sometimes I copy and paste a few words into a sentence, and then the sentence into a paragraph. And then multiple sized paragraphs. And then copy and paste that.
  • I use crayon colors because it is easier much easier than managing hex colors
  • Timber matching
    • Stereo
  • Image editing can be done in iBooks Author
    • Although use other software if you are capable and need to
  • Use styles


LINKS


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