Originally Posted by
gwpriester
While I agree with you, if the only tool you have is a hammer, every solution looks like a nail. I have produced two books, published through Create Space, that I am very happy with. Yes, flexible page numbering would have enabled me not to number each page manually. But there are small things like the kerning and tracking adjustments that enabled me to eliminate widows or extend a paragraph by a word or two while being subtle enough as not to draw attention to itself. I did spend 15 years in advertising and 12 years in graphic design back in the days when we worked with typesetting companies who were staffed with professional typesetters and there was much to be learned from their skill and knowledge. My point is, it can be done. I looked at Serif Page Plus before doing these books and I was tempted by things like master pages, OTC support, and other as you point out professional DTP features, but in the end I decided I knew Designer well enough and knew what my vision for the typography was and so I used the tools I had and was able to produce two book. One of which won First Place for Adult Fiction in the National Federation of Press Women competition. The book did not win for the typography, but if it had been anything other that professional, it might have made a difference. The author and I also won best cover design in the New Mexico - Arizona book awards.
So it can be done.
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