Intermittens LayoutGASM

[Cramulus]

Project:

create a library of scribus magazine layout templates for Intermittens editors


What does that mean?

Scribus is the recommended program to lay out an issue of Intermittens. The goal is to create a bunch of layout templates that Intermittens editors can download. Then they import graphics and pour text into the frames, move shit around a bit, and ... voila!


How to help:

1. download scribus.
2. go to intermittens.org's template/tools section and download some of the stuff there
3. improve them and re-upload

OR

3. create new 1-page, 2-page, 3-page, 4-page layouts and upload them

OR

1. find existing magazine layouts on the net and upload them

OR

profit???

[Triple Zero]

cool. i'm now working on a layout that will fit 1 full-page title image* and 1 or more pages of text.

i just realized i didnt think and am layouting this in A4, european paper size, with an aspect ratio of 1 to sqrt(2), instead of the US "Paper" size with the aspect ratio of 1 to god-knows-what. lemme know if that's a problem.

ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING

BEFORE DOING ANYTHING IN SCRIBUS

READ THE MOTHERFUCKING TUTORIAL

http://docs.scribus.net/index.php?lang=en&page=tutorials/freedomyug/scribustutorial

IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING

READ IT

seriously, scribus is not that hard to use, not at all, but if you don't -quickly- read this tutorial you are going to spend AGES finding the simplest of features. like how to link two text boxes. it's an icon in the toolbar. while in InDesign you sort of get this little [+] icon in your text frame if it overflows. that kind of stuff. it's not hard, you just need to know where to find certain functions in order to get shit done.
also, I read somewhere (on the webpage that told me to read the motherfucking tutorial) that it contains a few useful basic tips on do's and don'ts in layouting and publishing. i dont think i've got to that part yet, but that's also useful right? plus it might give you some inspiration on doing stuff.

because basically this tutorial walks you through the creation of a simple 7-page magazine. which is EXACTLY WHAT YOU NEED RIGHT why yes, it is

okay then, stay tuned for my layout template.

*you need images. it actually hardly matters what sort of image. they just need to break the text a bit. get something from http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Photographs or just pick something random from all those gigabytes of digital camera pictures of your garden and that pretty old weathered stone wall you saw on vacation. now is the time those useless pics come in handy! if they are vaguely or metaphorically related to the article, even better. otherwise, let the law of fives do its work.

[Triple Zero]

aaaaaaaaaaaand done:



download Scribus file and such inna zip from http://ifile.it/w4a3c7x/scribus-layout-examples.zip

(Rat, or anyone, if this belongs on Intermittens.org feel free to put it there)

(edit: updated link)

[Cramulus]

that's sexy, zilch!

inter:mittens:

cool. i'm now working on a layout that will fit 1 full-page title image* and 1 or more pages of text.

i just realized i didnt think and am layouting this in A4, european paper size, with an aspect ratio of 1 to sqrt(2), instead of the US "Paper" size with the aspect ratio of 1 to god-knows-what. lemme know if that's a problem.

only a little bit of a problem--

the templates I've been creating / working with have followed the Magcloud.com specs. They're a print-on-demand magazine publisher, and if upi plan on distributing Intermittens, they will probably be the go-to site for managing it.

Chaoflux, the guy who runs ChaosNeverDied (aka counterculturechan), is setting up his own print on demand shop, and apparently have access to a magazine printer. If they're reliable, I'd prefer to go with them for print, but they're not set up yet.. So let's keep everything magcloud compatable.

Their specs are:

PDF Specs:

Page size: 8.25″ wide by 10.75″ tall

Additional bleed: 0.125″ on top and bottom edges, 0.25″ on the outside edge, no bleed on the inside edge

Resolution and format of images: 300 dpi, JPEG recommended.

Pages: Save as multi-page PDF, no spreads. Multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12, etc.) up to 60 pages.

Printers marks: None.

The bottom 4″ of the back cover are reserved for a MagCloud shipping label that has a white background (example coming). We recommend including some default content of your choice in this area, also with a white background, which can be safely covered by the MagCloud shipping label. The shipping label is not applied in the case of bulk orders, in which case your default content will appear.

Maximum size: 100 MB

if this belongs on Intermittens.org...

yeah, there's a templates/tools section on intermittens.org if you're logged in.

[Triple Zero]

okay no problem, I can probably change the layout easily. I will do so soonish. If anyone is going to actually use this template, let me know and I'll put extra megahaste behind it.

[Sheered Völva]

ONE VERY IMPORTANT THING

BEFORE DOING ANYTHING IN SCRIBUS

READ THE MOTHERFUCKING TUTORIAL

http://docs.scribus.net/index.php?lang=en&page=tutorials/freedomyug/scribustutorial

IT EXPLAINS EVERYTHING

READ IT

All right, as much as I hate tutorials (unless the tutor's a hottie), I'll read the damn thing.  But it's your fault if my head explodes!

[Cramulus]

OH JESUS UPDATE:

I uploaded the scribd files for LESSER POOP to intermittens.org
   none of the graphics are there, just the layout. So plug in new graphics, move some shit around, pour text, vomit diamonds


it's uploaded to ISSUE TEMPLATES under COLLABORATE.

feel free to steal this, chop it up, use it in any way you want



and please do the same with your final scribd files!

[Sheered Völva]

OH JESUS UPDATE:

I uploaded the scribd files for LESSER POOP to intermittens.org
   none of the graphics are there, just the layout. So plug in new graphics, move some shit around, pour text, vomit diamonds


it's uploaded to ISSUE TEMPLATES under COLLABORATE.

feel free to steal this, chop it up, use it in any way you want



and please do the same with your final scribd files!

Ah, it's no fun to steal stuff if you get permission.

Siriusly, thanks.

[Sheered Völva]

Triple Zero: I looked through the tutorial and, even though I didn't follow it exactly (I have a phobic reaction when I see too many rules in one place), it did help. Thanks.

EDIT: To anyone else who's as ignorant of this stuff as I am, reading the tutorial really didn't make my head explode. My brain leaked a little, but that's normal. Isn't it?

Siriusly, it did help, so consider checking it out.

[Sheered Völva]

Their specs are:
PDF Specs:

Page size: 8.25″ wide by 10.75″ tall

Additional bleed: 0.125″ on top and bottom edges, 0.25″ on the outside edge, no bleed on the inside edge

Resolution and format of images: 300 dpi, JPEG recommended.

Pages: Save as multi-page PDF, no spreads. Multiples of 4 (4, 8, 12, etc.) up to 60 pages.

Printers marks: None.

The bottom 4″ of the back cover are reserved for a MagCloud shipping label that has a white background (example coming). We recommend including some default content of your choice in this area, also with a white background, which can be safely covered by the MagCloud shipping label. The shipping label is not applied in the case of bulk orders, in which case your default content will appear.

Maximum size: 100 MB

I'm going to sound ignorant here only because I am ignorant. The bleed means the area around the edge that the printer will cut off, right?  So we have to make sure "0.125″ on top and bottom edges, 0.25″ on the outside edge" has the color the rest of the page has or we'll end up with an annoying white strip on the edge (if the page isn't white; don't have to worry about white, right?).  We can't have any content in the bleed, and not even close to the bleed because it may not be cut exactly. So we want to design the pages as 8 1/2 by 11" knowing that the edges will be cut off. Am I right?

[Telarus]

Sounds like you've got a good handle on it.

[Cramulus]

short cut: download one of the templates from intermittens.org - http://intermittens.theinvisiblecollege.com/tools/issue-templates and just delete the layout already there


thanks for slogging through new software to help collaborate. And in the long run using the standards will be very helpful.. eventually we're going to throw these into a multi-magazine collection pdf, and it'll be SO much easier to format if we use standard page sizes.

[Sheered Völva]

Thanks, Cramulus. I downloaded one that has eight pages.  I know you said it works better if we do pages in groups of 4.  I've made a number of stupid mistakes (nothing new for me), but think I'm getting the hang of it.

I have a couple questions for whoever knows:

1) Would it work better if I made the cover the first page of an eight page file?  Or is it better to do the cover as a separate file?

2) If I lay it out with eight pages in one file, is it easy to reformat it for online reading, i.e. where they just see one page at a time?

[Cramulus]

1) Would it work better if I made the cover the first page of an eight page file?  Or is it better to do the cover as a separate file?

Yeah, make the cover page 1.

2) If I lay it out with eight pages in one file, is it easy to reformat it for online reading, i.e. where they just see one page at a time?

Yes, when you export the PDF, you'll have the option of selecting whether you want the user to view individual pages or full spreads.

[Sheered Völva]

1) Would it work better if I made the cover the first page of an eight page file?  Or is it better to do the cover as a separate file?

Yeah, make the cover page 1.

2) If I lay it out with eight pages in one file, is it easy to reformat it for online reading, i.e. where they just see one page at a time?

Yes, when you export the PDF, you'll have the option of selecting whether you want the user to view individual pages or full spreads.

Thank you, Cramulus!

By the way, what's up with your current pic?

You are known for always wearing fake mustaches.  Where's the mustache?