Pages to be used for Typesetting

Question

Level 1

4 points

Pages to be used for Typesetting

Hi,

I have just written a manuscript and am self publishing. I find it really strange that apple with it's love for design and creativity does not have the capabilities to perform basic typesetting functions. Unless I'm very wrong (Most likely). I don't need anything fancy, just a simple paperback, numbered pages, drop-letters, margin freedom etc. I find it weird that there isn't even a template on pages for a book....... Please someone tell me I'm wrong.

MacBook Pro, OS X Mavericks (10.9.4)

Posted on Jul 6, 2017 5:32 PM

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Answer 1

VikingOSX

Level 10

124,190 points

Jul 7, 2017 4:38 AM in response to Kellie23

Pages v6.2. Lots of fussing with exact line spacing and for the drop cap itself, negative baseline shift. Baskerville body text at 18pt with a 42pt Champignon A and -25pt baseline shift.

And in MacTeX 2017:

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Answer 2

Jul 6, 2017 5:59 PM in response to Kellie23

A book is a very basic template that you can create for yourself

Since it can be virtually anything and we have no idea what you want, it is hard to suggest a solution.

You have not mentioned what version of Pages you are using, but you need to make a distinction between Pages 5 and 6 which have cut down functionality and Pages '09 which allows many more useful features such as layout breaks and facing pages and greater control but not perfect CMYK color management.

Automatic Drop Caps have never been in any version of Pages, but you can do them with a combination of Paragraph & Character Styles.

Pages is not the only DTP software on the Mac, have you looked at the large number of alternatives available?

Peter

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Answer 3

Kellie23 Author

Level 1

4 points

Jul 6, 2017 7:23 PM in response to Kellie23

Hi Peter,

Thanks for the reply. All I require is to have a simple paperback layout, page numbers where the introductory pages are roman numerals and page 1 starts at chapter one. As I said, nothing fancy at all, no images but drop letters is an important function to me. Not sure how to do it based on your suggestion but I will play around with it. I am just wanting to convert it all to pdf, see it previewed in my book layout and have it convert with the exact parameters that I have set it up in.

You have mentioned some other programs, I have been trying to google programs but have had no luck. Because I am such an amateur on so many levels, I don't talk tech talk so I'm finding things a little difficult. I have been trying to use Libre writer but I find it too complex (That might give you an indication how amateur I am). Any suggestions you would have I would be really grateful to hear them.

Thanks

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Answer 4

Jul 6, 2017 9:00 PM in response to Kellie23

Kellie

1. Find a paperback you like

2. Measure its layout, margins etc with a ruler and reproduce that in Pages

3. Divide the Introductory pages from the Main pages by clicking in the text at the end of the Introduction

Menu > Insert > Section Break

4. Click in the Footer/Header of the introduction and right click > Page Number

5. Click in the text of the Main Part of the book and then on the Document tab of the Sidebar and set the Footer/Headers to not follow from the previous.

6. Right click on the page numbers of the Introduction and choose Roman numerals for the page numbers

7. Set everything else want, fonts, Styles, Colors etc and...

8. Menu > File > Save As Template

I'll find my instructions for making Drop Caps and post the link below.

Peter

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Answer 5

Jul 6, 2017 9:32 PM in response to Kellie23

List of DTP/Advanced WP capable software for Mac with wide variety of prices and capabilities

Adobe Indesign

Quark Xpress

Swift Publisher

PrintWorks

iStudio Publisher

iCalamus

Publisher Plus

Desktop Publisher Pro

Word for Mac

Scribus

LibreOffice

NeoOffice

OpenOffice

NisusWriter

Mellel

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Answer 6

Jul 7, 2017 10:41 AM in response to Kellie23

Also:

Lucidpress

Peter

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