Book Layout & Typesetting Course

Lesson 1 • Anatomy of a Book's Pages

Defines every structural zone of a page: margins, text block, gutters, and running heads. Builds shared vocabulary used throughout the course.

Lesson 2 • Visual Hierarchy and Reading Flow

Covers size, weight, contrast, and spacing as tools for guiding reader attention. Connects hierarchy decisions to reader comprehension outcomes.

Lesson 3 • Book Formats and Trim Sizes

Surveys standard trim sizes for trade, academic, and children's books. Students select appropriate formats based on genre and production constraints.

Lesson 4 • Print vs. Digital Layout Differences

Contrasts fixed-layout print design with reflowable and fixed digital formats. Establishes decision criteria students apply when choosing a production path.

Lesson 1 • Typographic Hierarchy in Books

Builds a complete hierarchy from chapter titles through body text and captions. Students design a style sheet that enforces consistent hierarchy.

Lesson 2 • OpenType Features and Special Characters

Activates ligatures, small caps, old-style figures, and fractions via OpenType. Students apply features to elevate text refinement in professional settings.

Lesson 3 • Tracking, Kerning, and Word Spacing

Distinguishes global tracking from pair-specific kerning and word-spacing adjustments. Students correct common spacing defects in composed text.

Lesson 4 • Type Classification and Selection

Surveys serif, sans-serif, slab, and display classifications and their historical contexts. Students match typeface personality to genre and audience.

Lesson 1 • Paragraph and Character Styles

Defines and applies paragraph and character styles to all text elements. Style-based formatting enables global updates and reduces manual errors.

Lesson 2 • Master Pages and Page Templates

Builds parent and child master pages that automate recurring layout elements. Students apply masters to enforce consistency across hundreds of pages.

Lesson 3 • Object Styles and Libraries

Stores frame formatting, text wrap, and effects in reusable object styles. Libraries extend reuse across multiple book projects.

Lesson 4 • Document Setup and Preferences

Defines bleed, slug, intent, and units before placing any content. Correct setup prevents costly reprints and export errors downstream.

Lesson 1 • Handling Widows, Orphans, and Breaks

Identifies and eliminates widows, orphans, and awkward column breaks using style and manual controls. Produces pages that meet professional editorial standards.

Lesson 2 • Drop Caps, Initial Caps, and Ornaments

Applies decorative chapter openers using drop caps, raised caps, and typographic ornaments. Students integrate these elements without disrupting baseline grid alignment.

Lesson 3 • Footnotes, Endnotes, and Sidenotes

Configures automatic footnote numbering, placement, and rule styling. Students also set up endnote and sidenote structures for academic and reference books.

Lesson 4 • Placing and Threading Text Frames

Imports text from word-processor files and threads frames across pages. Students manage overset text and reflow content without breaking the layout.

Lesson 1 • Placing and Fitting Images in Frames

Places images into frames and applies fitting options to control cropping and scale. Students balance visual impact with compositional accuracy.

Lesson 2 • Text Wrap and Image-Text Integration

Applies contour, bounding-box, and jump-object text wraps to integrate images with body text. Students resolve wrap conflicts and maintain readability.

Lesson 3 • Color Management for Images

Applies color profiles and rendering intents to ensure consistent color from screen to print. Students convert RGB images to CMYK and verify soft-proof accuracy.

Lesson 4 • Image Resolution and File Formats

Establishes resolution requirements for print and screen and identifies appropriate file formats. Students audit linked images and correct resolution deficiencies before output.

Lesson 1 • Index Layout and Typesetting

Typesets a multi-level index with correct indentation, cross-references, and locator formatting. Students apply two-column index layout and alphabetical dividers.

Lesson 2 • Table of Contents Design

Builds a styled table of contents linked to chapter and section headings. Students configure leader tabs, page number alignment, and multi-level TOC entries.

Lesson 3 • Preface, Introduction, and Dedication

Applies distinct but harmonious styling to preliminary text sections. Students differentiate front matter pagination using Roman numerals.

Lesson 4 • Title Page and Copyright Page

Designs the title page hierarchy and formats the copyright page with legal and edition data. Students apply typographic restraint to create authoritative opening pages.

Lesson 1 • Placing and Sizing Charts and Diagrams

Imports vector charts and diagrams and scales them without distortion. Students label chart elements with consistent typography matching the book's style sheet.

Lesson 2 • Sidebars, Callout Boxes, and Pull Quotes

Designs visually distinct sidebar and callout box frames that complement the main text. Students balance emphasis with page harmony using color, rule, and spacing.

Lesson 3 • Numeric and Text Alignment in Tables

Aligns decimal numbers, currency, and text entries within table cells for clarity. Students apply tab stops and cell insets to achieve optical alignment.

Lesson 4 • Table Structure and Cell Styling

Builds tables with header rows, body rows, and footer rows styled via table and cell styles. Students control stroke, fill, and padding for professional table appearance.

Lesson 1 • Packaging and Handing Off Files

Packages the layout file with all linked assets, fonts, and instructions for a print vendor. Students document file specifications in a production notes sheet.

Lesson 2 • Preflight Checks and Error Resolution

Runs preflight profiles to detect missing fonts, low-resolution images, and color errors. Students resolve each error category before proceeding to export.

Lesson 3 • Proofing and Final Approval Workflow

Establishes a structured proofing cycle with annotated PDFs and revision tracking. Students manage client or editor feedback and apply corrections efficiently.

Lesson 4 • Exporting Print-Ready PDF Files

Exports PDF files using press-quality settings with correct bleed, marks, and color output. Students verify PDF output against printer specifications using Acrobat tools.