* Desktop Author currently only supports non-interlaced GIF, JPEG and Bitmap (JPG and BMP) image types. Using other types such as PCX may produce unpredictable results.
* If you have images with large areas of very few colours, using Bitmap (BMP) type images will produce smaller final DigitalWebBook file sizes.
* It is highly recommended that you keep all the images you use and the .DML source file (this is the file the Desktop Author saves) in the same folder. ie keep all the images and DML files for Book1 in Book1 folder, all the images and DML files for Book2 in Book2 folder, etc. That way, you can keep all the files together when you move the folder.
* If you are trying to duplicate a page layout select the "Copy Page" button and it will copy all the elements of the page to the clipboard. You can then go to another page and paste it.
* If the editor is slow to respond, click the "Refresh" button. Note: this will clear all your "Undo" steps.
* If you have large amounts of text, you can copy and paste the text directly from Microsoft® Word. Please note that because of the different program styles, the editor may not be able to pick up all the formatting. This technique may also work with the majority of web pages if you view them using Microsoft Internet Explorer.
* It is highly recommended that you stay with the "safe" Windows fonts such as Times News Roman and Arial. That way you can be sure that your DigitalWebBook will display the same on most computers.
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Here some tips gathered from various places to make small attractive books.
Full size image backgrounds will look nice but may increase file size
considerably if you do not re-use them.
Try to re-use as many images as possible, just copy and paste from previous
pages.
Logos with only a few colors and headings with custom fonts are ideal when
imported as BMPs.
Try to use plain text as much as you can. Text compresses the best compared
to images.
You can also use a graphics program like Macromedia Fireworks to cut up an
image and optimize each section individually then import and assemble them
in the editor like a jigsaw puzzle, e.g. large flat colour areas or fine are better as BMPs or GIFs while photos are better as JPGs.
The editor will try and compress BMPs only. GIFs and JPGs will not be
compressed because they are already compressed.
Always try and import the image into the author at the correct size. If you
make an image smaller in the author by dragging the corners, it will not
change the actual physical file size of the image. The image editor can resize the image for you if you need it.
To align images exactly, right click on any image and use positions or use
arrow keys to move. The co-ordinates are at the bottom of the program in the
status bar.
When linking text, keep text left aligned before linking otherwise you might
loose a link. This is a strange bug in Microsoft's RTF system. Remember link
only works with same font type and styles and colors e.g.. do not link across bold and normal text, link separately.
If you get out of alignment text, this is probably caused by some unsupported hidden control codes from the word document, if that is where you copied it from. If you want to be absoutely sure of text then I suggest save the original as TXT file first then copy and paste from the text file.
Try using in a program like photoshop or if you dont have any, a shareware
graphics program to manipulate the images. do not resize the images using
the book editor. import them as the correct size they appear in the book on the screen.
Try increasing the compression ratio of the JPG images you are using. It will be a trade off between size and quality. remember every litle bit counts. Quality anywhere between 65% to 80% will produce good results. You will probably not be able to see any difference in quality past 85%.
Scanning at 72 dpi as this is screen resolution. Although, some people who scan at 300 dpi then use photoshop to convert to 72dpi and then resize to correct image size. this sometimes results in better quality scans.
If you are doing headings or text logos in special font I suggest using any
graphics program to create them. Make sure that background color is same as
the books. And save them as 4 or 8 color BMP files for small size before importing into the book editor.
Headings make a lot of difference to appearance of a book as do
strategically placed small images e.g. corner decorations. It adds a little
to size of book but overall feel is better. You could also use a background image that the text can float on.
Also create a small button with link to contents page on the first page in
an unobtrusive position. You can can copy this button once you have linked
it. Then goto next page and paste it again, and so on. I would suggest also doing the same thing with a close
button.
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