Great Cookbooks printed by Interpress

The Art of Creating a Great Cookbook

There are countless cookbooks to choose from and we wanted to see what makes someone choose one from the many. The question here is, what makes a good cookbook really great?

We did some research and found some answers. Of course, the obvious is great recipes, but that’s not enough to make a book of good recipes into a great, sellable cookbook, there are specific components that can make a big difference.

Image from Ruby Slippers CookbookThe first item is to have great photographs which is essential. Colorful pictures of foods well prepared with beautiful garnishes are very inviting to any cook of any skill level. What we found is even better, is to have a picture of every recipe so that the finished dish can be compared to how it “should” look. This is an important feature that many readers want. If not pictures of each recipe, then as many as possible.Image from Ruby Slippers Cookbook

Having the picture on the same page, the page immediately before or after the recipe is the best positioning. Each image has a purpose and needs to be well placed.

The most important item that influenced customers is to have the ingredients and instructions on the same page. If this isn’t possible, they should be on pages facing each other so that each can easily be referenced. It can be frustrating to have to turn the page back and forth in order to find out if you need one teaspoon or half of something when you are already well into the recipe either measuring, cutting or peeling.

Sample of Wire-O binding

Here is a sample of Wire-O binding

Another important feature is to be able to open the book as flat as possible. This can be achieved by using the right kind of binding. Wire-O binding allows the book to lie completely flat, while sewn and hollow-spine could also be a good option.

Details like, pan size, how to prepare (should items be chopped or shredded), correct cooking temperature all add to the appreciation of the book.

A recipe and ingredient index are invaluable for quick referencing for what you need. Easy to find ingredients for many cooks is as important as the recipe. If you cannot find the items needed because it’s not available, it takes the joy out of cooking.

Some people like to know if there is a story behind the dish they are going to prepare, a history that creates something more than just a good recipe. Has it been passed down through generations or an accidental creation? We printed a beautiful, cookbook called “Ruby Slippers Cookbook – Life, Culture, Family & Food After Katrina” which has recipes that have been passed down through many generations and what the impact of Katrina had on the families still living in the New Orleans area.

Spaghetti ImageWe found that some cooks are looking for something new, different, exciting, something they may have never tried before and might take them to a far corner of the world. It may be a new flavor or a whole new method of cooking.

We have printed many cookbooks over the years and it is always enjoyable to work with authors whose passion is to share their secrets in cooking. Let us help you share your treasured recipes into book form as soon as possible. Don’t hesitate to contact us to find out how and to turn your dream of having a book for future generations into reality.

 

 

 

Keeneland Now

Let’s Go to the Races

With the Kentucky Derby and Preakness Stakes behind us and the Belmont Stakes about to occur, we thought we would have a look at another time-honored race track with a historical, comparative eye, a title called Keeneland Then and Now.

Created by one of the foremost publishers of equine books, The Blood Horse, they present very authoritative, well researched beautiful books of subjects as varied as an Authoritative Guide to Betting Thoroughbreds to Keeneland Entertains, anything to do with the world of horses.

Keeneland Now and Then

The unique concept of front and back of the book so it is two sided.

The book that is of particular interest is a pictorial on the history of Keeneland, and has been cleverly designed as a two-sided book with one half dedicated to the history and development of Keeneland and the other half depicting the present-day activities. You simply flip the book over to view each side.

 

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DesignConcepts

A Treasured Resource for Practical Design

Unless you are an engineer, contractor or researcher, the subject of Post-Tensioned Buildings Design and Construction will be neither interesting nor understood- short a very technical subject. This is a book for a very targeted audience with numerous graphs and formulas that created a huge challenge for the book designers. Intermingled with text, images and architectural plans, the graphs and formulas needed to come together in a cohesive layout, ready for press, and it did, beautifully.

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Bookcover of A Day On Amelia

A Day On Amelia Island – a Little Masterpiece

 

If you’ve never visited beautiful Amelia Island, you are missing something. But, if you were lucky enough to have a copy of the title, “A Day on Amelia Island”, you could experience some of the many wonders that Amelia has to share.

Amelia Island sits at the north eastern most part of the Florida coastline and is part of the Sea Islands chain of barrier islands and has 13 miles of beautiful beaches, an abundance of natural wildlife and a rich history that has created beautiful and diverse architecture. These three combine to provide the material for this wonderful book.

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choosing the right paper

There Are Many Types of Paper for Your Book

 

Choosing the right type of paper is an important part of the overall quality of your book. You can start by looking at the type of book you have. Whether a novel, an art book an instructional book, a children’s picture book, a sketch book or a medical reference book, each book type would most likely use a different type of paper.

Paper comes in shades of color from bright white, cream, ivory, vanilla and gray, even white comes in a variety shades and brightness. There are various finishes that also have a number of options in color and brightness. The two basic finishes are uncoated and coated. Uncoated paper is easy to read and often used for novels and one-color books. Coated paper comes in a few different finishes and is used for photography books, children’s books and anything with color images since the reproduction of color is always better on coated paper.

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Publisher or Printer: Which are you?

I’m often asked if our company will publish a book for a potential client. At this I find I need to clarify and reply, “Do you want us to print or publish your book?” This usually opens the conversation to what is actually needed: The caller wants the book printed.

In this case, the caller is the publisher and our company the printer. Then there is often an exclamation at the discovery that they are about to become a publisher.

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Amelia Island book transforms rich photography into tour guide

When you visit Amelia Island, Florida, you will most likely find a copy of Tidewater Amelia in your hotel room. Why? It so beautifully features many of the historic homes, inns, churches and other structures that are part of the rich history of Amelia, Cumberland and Fort George islands. For many, it serves as a tour guide with hundreds of carefully crafted photos of the nostalgic buildings that once comprised the various 18th century communities.

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The Greatest Thing Since Sliced Cheese

Published by: Kraft Food Holdings

Special Event booksSpecial Event books

How do you condense 50 years of some of the most creative and innovative products into a keepsake book that is manageable in size? This was the challenge for two senior Kraft employees to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Technology Center in Glenview, Illinois. Here’s how it went:

  • In 1998 Kraft Foods Inc. celebrates the 50th anniversary of the technology center with festivities. Two senior staff members, Ann Bucher and Miranda Miller, volunteer to prepare a display of some of the patents and inventions that were born from the Center.
  • They begin researching the archives and by interviewing some of the old time inventors and found that a display would only scratch the surface of the rich history of innovation and the idea for a book was launched.
  • This extensive research takes the next seven years to complete. A seasoned designer, Connie Scanlon of Bogfire Inc., is engaged to begin the process of collating, designing and laying out the book from the large amount of gathered material.
  • Connie Scanlon consults with InterPress staff for details of manufacturing. Paper weights and type, printing specifiKraft 4cs, case material, binding options and production lead time are all discussed in the initial consultation.
  • Kraft requests a budget quote from InterPress for a 650 page coffee table book.
  • After viewing a dummy sample book made by InterPress, Kraft and the designer decide that 650 pages is too thick a book and reduce the number of pages to 524 after additional editing is done.
  • InterPress begins the lengthy process of proofing using wet proofs, the most accurate proofing method. Printing of old, restored photos is a challenge for any printer and often the dpi is not adequate for sharp, clear reproduction. The production department at InterPress took up the challenge allowing for multiple rounds of proofs to ensure the excellent quality needed for this All-American keepsake.
  • InterPress staff help to formulate the final specifications including a round backed spine which will allow the book to open flat with the large book- Matching head and tail bands and a nice matte paper are chosen. Final copies will be individually shrink wrapped.
  • Wet proofs are done using a proofing press and sent to the designer for approval. Multiple rounds of proofs are submitted after color corrections are made by the designer. Read more