While you're in there...." and "Is it possible...?"
These are two of the most common things I hear while working on a book design and layout.



I will tackle them one at a time.



The first one usually comes up near the completion of a book.

Let's say the client as already approved the design samples I presented (this is the 3 to 5 day process mentioned in a prior post), has presented me with final Word manuscript and I have written the tags and formatted the entire book drom title page through the index.



The client proofs the PDF and sees a few glitches and asks me to fix my mistakes -- or just, a glitch - a font that didn't format, a missing para break, etc. That's easy enough.



Here comes the tricky part.



The client also sees content changes he or she wants to make -- sometimes a line or two and sometimes quite extensive.



This is where the "While you're in there fixing the stray dot on page 46, can you change the copy on pages 14, 45, 67, 127, 177, 222 and 333 as well?" comes in.



Well...........................



Sure, of course I can change the copy on those pages.



But one step is left out of this equation:
"How much will it cost and how much time will it add if I ask you to change content of the already-typeet book?



Now we're talking the same language, I can give the cost for my time and a turnaround date.



When the client leaves out that critical question, it's often a bit "sticky" for me to have to interject time and money into a project that most likely already had a late start at the gate to begin with. (This is just the nature of the biz)



But this is a step, a process, and a part of doing business that I must do.



I usually state these terms at the start of the project very clearly but sometimes that gets lost in the excitement of getting a book ready for print - and it really is a very exciting process and can be overwhelming
for a new and self-publisher.



In any case, most often the client is understanding and friendly about it and either has me do the additional work and accepts the charges and timeframe or he/she decides to leave things status quo. There are a few exceptions but I will save that for another post of its own! ;)



Now, onto the second most common thing I hear: "Is is possible to...?"



This is one I can hear at any time during the book pre-press stage.



Let's say the client and I have come up with a design for the page layout - the headers, footers, front matter, fonts, leading, margins, Parts and Chapter Treatment, I have supplied samples pages, they are approved and I am knee-deep into the middle of formatting and typesetting the book - say about page 148 of a 300 page book.



I get a call or email from the client asking, "Is it possible to change the font and subheading for the book?"



Well...........................



Sure, of course it's possible, but let's consider what that means in terms of time, cost and overall work:



1. -- The font and subheaders affect how many words fit on a page and how the type will flow line to line, page to page and chapter to chapter.



2 -- It can determine if the chapter ends on a right hand page or a left hand page. If a chapter ends on a right hand page, I usually put in a blank left hand page to "push" the new Chapter to a right-hand page. If we are to change the font and the subheaders, this could throw that off and change the page flow, the chapter starts, the Table of Contents numbers and the running headers that usually have the chapter title in them.



So what is the bottom line here?



At this stage, since the book design was approved and the next stage is well underway, this means re-doing all of the work done to that point in the book and it must be billed for and the time built into the overall timeframe for producing the printer-ready files.



Let's say the book is fully typeset, title page thru appendices.



The client reviews the PDF and asks, "Is it possible for me to add some photos to six of the ten chapters?"



Well........................

Sure, of course it is possible.



See #'s 1 and 2 and substitute the words font and subheaders with the word photos and you have your answer on what it will involve.



Oh, and just to clarify, I am not complaining, I am explaining -- I absolutely LOVE my work, I love books, and my clients are a joy.

Remember - there's almost nothing that can't be done -- just remember to ask, "How much would it cost and how much time will it add.." along with your request.



Have a day like no other!