Eugene Tyson said:

Set up a new document.

If the book is 210 (w) x 297 (h) mm, for example.

You want to insert the width for the new document to be 210 + 210 + Spine Width

So if your spine width is 10 mm then your cover size is 210 + 210 + 10 = 430

At this point I usually give the cover 2 columns and make the gutter 10mm (the width of the spine) and this gives me a visual grid using the guides.

Front cover goes on the right

Back cover goes ont he left

Spine goes in the middle.

For the spine Text, draw a text frame that is 10 mm in height.

Insert your text.

Rotate the frame so that the top of the letters face the front cover, and the bottom of the letters face the back cover.

Place the text frame in the Spine Area – adjust the position so that the text is visually centered on the Spine (in CS4 you can rotate the page view via the Pages Panel to make it easier)

Once you have this done, make sure your document bleeds the correct amount off all sides.

Then you're done.

If you have anything going on the inside of the cover, insert a new page, and 

put the Inside Front Cover to the left hand side

put the inside back cover on the right hand side

Leave the Spine Area on the inside free of ink, as if there is ink on the inside of the spine the glue won't stick to the book.

Thanks, I get it now!

Jongware said:

Aha. Opinions — with a capital “O”!

Here's mine: A blank page is professional; a blank page with only a header or footer is not professional (typically, printed Word documents are littered with these).

A blank page that says “Intentionally left blank” is a logical contradiction which I cannot process. It must be something American — afraid of being sued for having a blank page for no apparent reason at all.

A left hand side blank page is extremely normal. A right hand side blank page is plain weird, and should be avoided in “a professional book”.

A blank page is not meant to do anything. It's sole reason of being is to allow the next chapter to start on an odd page again. If you don't want blank pages at all, drop the requirement of starting chapters on odd pages. They are mutually exclusive!

Pariah S. Burke said:

Kc0079:

Sorry about editing your post. There was a problem with the display of your frown emoticon, and I needed to check the code in your post. I didn't actually alter the content of the post, but it prefixed the edited by me line anyway.

Regards,

Pariah Burke

Thanks, I get it now!

Jongware said:

Aha. Opinions — with a capital “O”!

Here's mine: A blank page is professional; a blank page with only a header or footer is not professional (typically, printed Word documents are littered with these).

A blank page that says “Intentionally left blank” is a logical contradiction which I cannot process. It must be something American — afraid of being sued for having a blank page for no apparent reason at all.

A left hand side blank page is extremely normal. A right hand side blank page is plain weird, and should be avoided in “a professional book”.

A blank page is not meant to do anything. It's sole reason of being is to allow the next chapter to start on an odd page again. If you don't want blank pages at all, drop the requirement of starting chapters on odd pages. They are mutually exclusive!

Pariah S. Burke said:

Kc0079:

Sorry about editing your post. There was a problem with the display of your frown emoticon, and I needed to check the code in your post. I didn't actually alter the content of the post, but it prefixed the edited by me line anyway.

Regards,

Pariah Burke

yes, David I understand that. What do I do with an extra blank page? If my chapter starts at page 33 and end at page 39, and the next chapter starts at page 41, what do I do for page 40???? I know a blank page can be inserted, but what do I do with it??? This happens at least 6 times throughout the book. Any suggestions??

yes, David I understand that. What do I do with an extra  blank page? If my chapter starts at page 33 and end at page 39, and the next chapter starts at page 41, what do I do for page 40???? I know a blank page can be inserted, but what do I do with it??? This happens at least 6 times throughout the book. Any suggestions??

Thanks everyone for the responses!

Hank,

I have completed the entire book including headers in word, trying to get it to Lightning Source in a pdf file. But instead of purchasing Adobe 9 to convert the book into a pdf file, I chose to purchase Adobe indesign CS4, because it had the PDF export and the page layout I could use again for the next book. Now, since I am new to CS4, I am getting frustrated trying to learn the software and package my book for distribution. It seems I almost have to redo the whole book formatting in Indesign now.  Any suggestions would be appreciated.

KC