To have an efficient process in creating this new book project the workflow must be established and followed, if not to the letter at least in general, depending on the type of book created. The process of making something can be occasionally unpredictable, but there are general steps which can be relied upon.

Phase 1: Scoping

Timeframe and planning: what needs to be done, how it needs to be done.

Phase 2: Creating content

Researching subject area. Writing material. Editing text. Sourcing and/or creating images.

Phase 3 Design

Page set-up, page layout, choosing typeface, inputting and arranging text and image elements.

Phase 4: Pre-production

Preparing for print. Saving and storing. Backing up all work. Printing proofs, checking pages, inputting corrections.

Phase 5: Printing and production

Instructing, liaising and sending to printer

I suppose that in light of these phases, I am currently Scoping and doing the necessary research in relation to preliminary project phases. (As opposed to research meant for the creative parts of the project, which is in the second Creating content phase.)

The subject matter for the project is still a bit of a grey area, but in general terms I can ascertain what steps I will take to complete the book.

First, I would have to research the subject and write the content of the book. This step will also be accompanied with preliminary sketches and brainstorming tools such as mind maps. If I intend to use any images other than my own, I would need to look into those as well.  After the content is more or less coherent and usable, I will start experimenting with color, composition and narrative as widely as I can within whatever constraints printing gives me. This step could take three or more days. It would depend on the complexity of the images I want to create.

Second, when I have created an initial design which works, the images and text must be taken into a digital medium, the text must be written, fonts chosen, layout established, etc. Major changes to the initial concept will be made as I refine the ideas. According to the list above this is the Design phase and next it lists the Pre-production phase as separate, but these two are overlapped to the extent that they are a single phase in my own process. Especially the “backing up work” element. Then I would be printing proofs over proofs until I am happy with the images. My desktop printer only works in black and white, though, and I am sure I want to use color in the finished product. I will have to create some proofs at a nearby copy shop as well to check the colors. But to be honest, I may not be too picky about how the colors look for this project. I imagine they will be fine as long as I keep the document in CMYK and use the Photoshop gamut warning tool that limits color choices to printable shades.

Third comes sending out to the printer. I do not know exactly if I will be sending the content online or whether I will choose a local printer to help. I am not even sure if I will like any of the binding options they have. I may end up just printing the pages and the cover and binding it myself. Preferably, I would find someone who could do both.