Deciding what to include in your book can mean more than just words. All too often, we talk to people bogged down trying to include images, charts, checklists, and screenshots in their books.
As with everything, there is a right and wrong way to approach this, so in this post, we’re taking a little time to talk about the pros and cons of including images.
We’ll look at the constraints you need to be aware of, some tips to better use the additional information you’re trying to include, and the best way to think about the context in which your book will be read. The aim, as always, is to help you get your best book out there as fast as possible without getting caught up in all the image pitfalls.
There are a couple of constraints when you’re thinking about adding images. Whether you’re working with us or doing this yourself, this goes for.
Image Quality
For printing purposes, you need images of a much higher resolution so that when the image prints onto the page, it retains its sharp and crisp features. When adding imagery online, you are adding it at a resolution of 72 dpi(dots per inch). However, for print quality, most printers ask for around 300 dpi. There are a lot of associated constraints to this point as well, such as paper quality, the nature of the printing itself and the provider you’ve got.
Type of Image
Where possible, if you are going to include images, include something that’s stylistically consistent, so there’s a theme. If it is something that you need to have, and you feel that it does add value, there is something to be said for consistency throughout the set. Again, that adds constraints, cost, and time to it because now you’re looking for a consistent collection of images, and you might get 80 percent of the way there but not all the way there. It might then distract or detract more than it adds.
Copywrites
You must always ensure you have the correct permissions for the images you use. People often take screenshots or download artwork and want to use them in their books without researching the proper licensing around it. For a relatively cost-effective amount, you can buy images with the correct licenses you can use in the way you want to use them. Still, you must be very careful of just taking pictures from the web because it’s there.
In Conclusion,
These are just a few things to consider when placing images in your book. for a more in-depth look into this topic, click here to listen to Stuart and Betsey talk at length.
