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

There are no available registration dates at this time.

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 magazines to editioned photo books, portfolios, exhibition catalogs, and family photo albums. 

Image Credit: Kara Birnbaum

Participants in this workshop will use the Blurb plug-in in Adobe Lightroom to design an image-driven book. At the end of the week, students will be able to purchase their book through Blurb.  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, colorways, paper, and bindings that suit the concept of their book for a cohesive and engaging design. 

Computer literacy on a Mac is required. Basic Lightroom and/or Photoshop skills are not required but beneficial. There will be lectures on Lightroom as an image processing tool at the beginning of the course, followed by a focus on layout/design/color management later in the course.

Blurb works best for fairly simple, image-driven books. For complex and highly customizable layouts that feature words and images, we suggest the InDesign: Digital Design for Publication course. Check out examples of books published through blurb on their website!

Header Image: Amanda Piela

Share This

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.