Going Bold: Your Input Makes a Difference
Oct. 10
3:16 am
First, thanks so much to everyone who shared their opinions on the “Bolding of Keyboard Shortcuts” in my Lightroom 2 Book. Besides your comments on the bolding, I really thought there were some other great ideas there as well, so I wanted to comment on them here.
- Based on your comments, I’m moving forward with bolding all the keyboard shortcuts in the book I’m finishing up now, “The Photoshop CS4 Book for Digital Photographers.”
- I talked this week with my publisher about the possibility of including a tear-out card with keyboard shortcuts. We’ll have to see what the costs involved are (adding a second perforated card ain’t cheap), but I like the idea a lot.
- I love the spiral bound idea (and I never realized you could just pop down to Staples or Office Depot, and they’d spiral-bind the book for around $4.00. That was very clever!). The problem is; most major bookstores won’t carry spiral bound books because their books are shelved with the spine facing outward, so readers in the store can see the titles. However, here’s what I proposed; that we do a special limited-edition run (which would have to cost slightly more because of the expensive of spiral binding), that we could sell direct through Kelby Training. That way, we could easily measure the demand for this type of binding going forward. Hey, it’s a start.
I’ll keep you informed on any progress and any challenges we run into along the way, but in the meantime I wanted to let you know how much I value your input, and appreciate you all taking the time to share your comments. It does (and just did) make a difference.
Hey Scott, How about a covered spiral binding? That way bookstores would have their title on the spine, and us geeks would have our lay-flat guides. Some cookbooks are bound this way, it’s really handy.
Photoshop 4 will be my first foray into the Photoshop family. I have recently started ding more photography and have slowly gotten into the swing of the electronic side of things.
I have both of your photography books and your Lightroom 2 book (LR2 is sweet).
Is this book going to be a good “beginners” guide for Photoshop, or should I get something else to learn PS and then read this book for the specifics on PS4?
Some spiral bound books can have a fold-around cover that covers the front edge of the pages. So the spiral spine is put into the shelf while the fold-around cover, which is printed like a normal spine shows, when shelved.
While, given the choice, I would probably buy the spiral-bound version if it wasn’t much more expensive, I really just don’t care that much - but the tear-out card with keyboard shortcuts is a great idea. Yes, please!
I love the idea of offering a spiral-bound edition through the website!
In fact, Joe McNally’s “The Moment It Clicks” is so popular in that format that there are at least 3 or 4 websites showing how to perform the operation.
Thanks, Scott for the tip that those stores do spiral-binding at a small cost….my copy of McNally’s book, and my new Lightroom 2 book are both headed there tonight!
Scott, regarding the spiral binding: I’ve seen books that have spiral binding and still have a cardboard cover that covers (goes over top of) the spiral binding, allowing them to have a title on their spine. Just passing that along in case it’s of value/interest.
Hi Scott,
I like your compromise. I would definitely buy from your web site to get the spiral bound book. It’s worth the extra money to me. Again, the bold key strokes are great! You are a man of innovation!
Dennis
Hi Scott;
I feel like I know you! Just received the special signed copy of the LR 2 book and have just finished reading the acknowledgments and have begun the “Seven Things…” section, which is why I am sitting here at the computer: following step (1)First, go right now to… to watch the short video, which is downloading right now. I just wanted to make a comment about your acknowledgments: First, I think it is fantastic that you give all the credit due to God and His Son Jesus Christ! For many writers (actors, whomever), doing that would take a lot of courage (risk). I am guessing it comes easy to you, though. Second, really cool that you take the time to appreciate your family, your friends and others around you who make you what you are! Super.
Re the possibility of spiral bound editions, I would be all over that like ants on a cheese doodle! Go for it!
That’s it. Got to watch your video so I can dig into the LR2 book! God speed in finishing your CS4 book, which I will, of course, have to add to my ever-growing Scott Kelby library!
Jacques
Hi Scott,
I LOVE the idea of a tear-out sheet with the shortcuts on it…..if a perforated sheet is cost-prohibitive, maybe just a page at the end of the book that we could photocopy would work.
As an aside, I joined the on-line training at Kelby Training and I am absolutely addicted……I have learned more valuable tips in the last couple of months watching these videos than I have in 2 years of reading books. Your teachers are amazing and Matt Kloskowski has got me up and running with Lightroom 2 thanks to his outstanding series on Lightroom 2. I hope your Lightroom 2 Live Tour comes to Boston…..I’ll be there.
Thanks again for your amazing products……
Oh yea bindings aren’t the most flattering way to show off a book on the bookstore shelf. But offering the option from your website or the publisher would be a good way to try it.
Otherwise I can just see the Kelby crew taking stacks of books down to their local office supply store to have it done.
I’m definitely in favor of more spiral bindings. Besides your books, I am using one of those “Missing Manual” books on DreamWeaver that is almost 1000 pages.
Obviously, it does not lay flat very well.
Are you going to redo your redo/revise your 7-Point system to be in sync with PhotoShop CS4?
I really appreciate your Kelby Training. It is really a great value.
Scott, thanks again.
Your enthusiasm makes learning fun.
Jim
Sorry, my fingers stuttered.
I meant “redo/revise your” not “redo your redo/revise your”.
I must be about quart low on the caffine.
Thanks for being such a great teacher and photographer.
“Tear out Card” GREAT idea! I had to laugh when I read that because I am in the middle of making my own as I read the book. Do it Scott!
JB
I’ll vote for a covered spiral binding!!! best of both worlds!
I like the cpiral binding idea. I alway;s do this with ‘e-books’. It is cheap to do and effective. Whne your publisher prints your books, if you were to leave more white space on the left side of the page, it would be no problem for ’staples’ or other, to slice of a quarter inch of the book and then “spiral bind the printed book. Here in Canada it would cost less than $5.00 . Then anyone who wants a spiral bound boo;k could do it very simply indeed.
Even though I am 84 years old I enjoy your books and your blog and CS3, and so on. Cheers.. Roy.
Another option on the spine is one used for some programming reference books. The back cover and the hard spine cover isn’t glued to the spine of the individual pages, allowing the book to lay flat when open. Spiral would be the supreme option, but this works well for a table-top reference guide. These images are taken of the first edition of “Perl in a Nutshell” published by O’Reilly.
http://img521.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg7612bh3.jpg
http://img530.imageshack.us/my.php?image=mg7613zs4.jpg
I found a copy of the shortcuts somewhere on the internet, I printed them out 8X10 on photo paper. walla instant stand up short cuts guide.
keyboard shortcut tear-out…. just a thought but why not make a reference in the book on where to download it from. Just like the extra chapters and photo downloads you provided for The Adobe Lightroom Book for Digital Photographers. This will keep publishing costs down and folks who do not mind printing on plain paper or want thicker stock can print out their own preference. It would also save those of us who spill the morning coffee across the papers on our desk. lol … Whatever you decide I’m sure it will be great and well thoughout, cause your just such a thoughtful guy Scott.
All the best
Are you going to finally do the Photoshop CS4 Down & Dirty Tricks book this time around? It’s been a very long time since the last edition.
Donna up top has a very valid point, and it’s not just true for cookbooks. There are plenty of spiral bound books with printed spines. Most useful.
Personally I’ve even printed and spiral bound PDF manuals, such as the Lightroom SDK. Much more useful than on the computer.
Not my idea but, it rocks! Go to the pixsylated.com web site to see how he “pimped” Joe McNally’s “The Moment it Clicks” book. I did it to Joe’s book and Scott’s Lightroom 2 book. Makes the book a very good reference book that you don’t slowly destroy by bending, folding, taking notes on, spilling coffee on, etc. The laminated pages and cover just add to the spiral binderidea by making the book that much more durable.
David Leatherwood
Spiral binding would be ideal for me- no more trying to keep a book open on a page when you are following instructions
As an aside, if you do a cardboard sleeve/cover or some such thing to show the spine that the spiral bound book fits into/is covered with, then why not print the tear out cards on that? Best of both worlds.
Hi Scott,
Can’t get enough of your stuff or Matt Klowkoski. Just great stuff, either in books or videos. Just bought your latest LT2 book and Digital Photography 2 book. How come you we never have to chance to host your Photoshop (or Lightroom) tour in Canada (or Montreal for that matter) ?