Explore the possibilities of publishing your work in book format, while learning the dynamic tools that Lightroom & Blurb have to offer for self-publishing.

Dates:
Apr 23, 2024 - May 2, 2024

Levels: Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced,
Workshop Fee: $325
Workshop Duration: 12 hours over four 3 hour sessions
Workshop Location: Online
Class Size: 10

Note: This Course will be held in a live, online format using the Zoom Platform.
The class meets Tuesdays & Thursdays, Apr 23, 25, 30 & May 2 from 9am-12pm ET.
Students will need to have Adobe Lightroom installed on their home computers.

There are a lot of online platforms for self-publishing, but the Blurb plug-in for Lightroom stands out as a great option, especially for photographers. Blurb offers many styles, papers, and bindings, allowing students to create affordable, high-quality, image-heavy publications ranging from editioned photo books to exhibition catalogs and family photo albums.

Participants in this workshop will use the Book Module, (Blurb plug-in in Adobe Lightroom) to design an image-driven book. (First-time users of Lightroom are recommended to take the 2-day introductory course to learn how to incorporate Lightroom into their workflow to catalog and edit their photo collection.) Through lectures and group discussions will investigate traditional and contemporary book designs and layouts for inspiration and context, while also covering the essentials of Lightroom workflow for Blurb to provide students with the skills to execute their vision.

Students should bring a rough edit of digital images they hope to include in the book. Part of the course will be dedicated to editing and sequencing images into a meaningful narrative. Students will also learn how to choose typography, layouts, paper, and bindings that suit the concept of their book for a cohesive and engaging design.

Course Requirements

Computer literacy and working knowledge of Lightroom Classic are required. Lightroom’s Book Module works best for fairly simple, image-driven books. Students must have Adobe Lightroom installed on their home computers. Various subscription options including month-to-month billing, are available on Adobe’s website.

For complex and highly customizable layouts that feature longer manuscripts, we recommend the InDesign: Digital Design for Publication or InDesign: Advanced Projects courses.

Image: Kara Birnbaum, Header Image: Amanda Piela

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Instructor: David Allen

David is a seasoned designer with over 15 years of experience in digital printing, art direction, and book design. In 2018 he founded Render, (renderpublications.com) a design and publication company dedicated to meeting the needs of small business and nonprofits. David has taught fine art and multimedia courses in art centers, professional workshops, and colleges. Also a practicing artist, he shows regularly in invitational, group, and solo exhibitions; his work was recognized in Maine Home and Design’s Annual Art Issues of 2017 and 2012.