iBooks Author change background of template

At the point where you have the background selected, go up to the Arrange menu, and select Unlock. You can then toss out the background, and drag another one into place.

I'm not sure though, about what size to use. It seems to be wanting 1024 by 748, but I thought the iPad was 768. Also, I an curious about how this will be affected with future iPads with higher resolution screens.

Do you mean you permanently want to change the built-in template? It would probably be better to copy one of them, and then alter the copy. Anyway, yes you can access those images - they are part of the application bundle itself.

Go to the application in the Finder, Control click on it, and select 'Show Package Contents'. Under Contents/Resources/Templates/ you will see the six template bundles. Again, Control click on one of them, and select 'Show Package Contents. You should be able to find the image in there.

Please note that I don't know what happens if you change one of them.I think it should be no problem, but I would quit the app first before trying this, and also make a backup copy.

But remember that you don't have to change the internal structure of the template just to change any particular page (or type of page). From the View menu, select 'Show Layouts'. Then in the Layout section, select the particular type of page you wish to change. Over in the right pane, drag in a standard rectangular shape. Using the Metrics pane of the Inspector, change it to 1024 by 748. Set the position at 0 and 0. Then from the Arrange Menu, select Send to Back. In the Graphic section of the Inspector, select the type of fill/colour/opacity/etc. that you want.

From now on, every instance of that type of page (as you selected in the Layout section) will have that background.

I changed Background as I deleted the bg-pic as mentioned above - replacing didn't work.

In the TOC it still shows the apple pic, do i have to mark my bg-pic as a background?

I just like to have a book with the same style but with some more colours and without this textured and bordered bg-pic-

I wanted to do the same. I've first unlocked that green paper and then copied it out.

Edited the color from green to brown in Photoshop, and saved it under another name.

Dragged that into the templates, and arranged it at the background. Locked it again.

Then I changed type color to dark brown as well. Now I have a brown template book.

I also had that Apple pic on top of everything. I simply removed it, reveiling what's behind.

HTH - Stefan

MediaTycoon wrote:

I wanted to do the same. I've first unlocked that green paper and then copied it out.

Edited the color from green to brown in Photoshop, and saved it under another name.

Dragged that into the templates, and arranged it at the background. Locked it again.

Then I changed type color to dark brown as well. Now I have a brown template book.

I also had that Apple pic on top of everything. I simply removed it, reveiling what's behind.

HTH - Stefan

I suspected this would work. I just haven't had time to try it yet as part of creating new templates.

I have been very successful in creating new types of chapters and pages on the fly using the placeholder function. I merely DUPLICATE to work with a new page or chapter. You can drag and drop pages between book too.

My first quick and dirty iBook was an "Using iBooks Author" Manual pulling Apple's IA help files together so I could view them on the iPad.

When I get around to it I will update that file. If others would like to work with what I started and help update it I will give them share to .iba on BOX or DropBox for that purpose. My upload limit is 100MB per file on BOX.

Here is the folder link to my finished first draft of file built on Apple's instructions in iBooks format.

http://www.box.com/shared/t76yqfdl6p470abx4s3r

All that information is pretty much just all Apple moved to iBook format as I tested a few features of iBooks Author. I created that iBook as a tool for helping my friends deal with the new IA program.

If you only want to change colour of the template background, try this:

• View (toolbar icon) > Show Layouts.

• Click on the chapter page

• Go up to Arrange (top menu) > Unlock

Now you can access the Adjust Image palette. It's the left icon right under the View icon in the toolbar. This will allow you to play with the look of that background colour.

(A big thanks to you guys, btw. I was stuck on how to select that background in order to play with it.)

Carolyn

Oh, and if you'd like a new background, now that you have the background selected, just hit the delete key. Drag and drop in a new background. It will come in on top of everything. Go Arrange (top menu) > Send to Back.

I'd recommend saving as a new template unless you really don't want the original to come back to.

C

In my case, I simply want the background color of the text of a chapter to match the default off-white background of the chapter first page. Can't figure out how to do that. Text background is pure white.

That default off-white background is also a pasted item: a gradient.

It can be copied and pasted on a white page and then send to the back.

Stefan

Hi Carolynfromxxxxxx,

I'm unable to "unlock" after selecting the Chapter. (I.e. it's shaded that "inactive" grey). Is there something within that i'm to select that will make the unlock option available?

The rest of it i can try once this hurdle is passed.

Thanks already.

G.

G,

What template are you using? And are you clicking on the element you want to unlock?

Carolyn

Carolyn,

I'm using a template from Templates for iBook Author Free (the one with a camera on it, if you're familiar with this template bank)

I'm clicking on "chapter" in the left after it's enabled on the "Show Layouts" command. Even if i choose a specific element (such as a media placeholder), the "Unlock" option does not come up.

Regards,

G.