Orthogonal Thought | Random musings from the creator of Cooking For Engineers and Lead Architect of Fanpop

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Adobe Software Needed…

Posted 14 November, 2007 at 10:53pm by Michael Chu
(Filed under: Books, Cooking For Engineers)

So, I've been seriously contemplating getting started on the fabled Cooking For Engineers cookbook. With the limited amount of free time I have while working on Fanpop, Cooking For Engineers, and other projects, I imagine the project will take about a year to complete. I plan on doing design, layout, and writing myself so it has the same feel as the website (and hopefully higher quality).

I've worked with Adobe software extensively in the past, but over the years I haven't spent any money on upgrades. My only software that is up to date is currently Lightroom for managing my photography workflow. I have a copy of PageMaker 7, but I'm hoping that I won't have to use that to layout an entire book. I've been playing around with the trial version of Adobe InDesign CS3 and I find it quite usable and familiar (I've used FrameMaker extensively and some PageMaker and Illustrator). What I really need is a copy of Adobe Creative Suite 3 Design Standard and I was wondering if anyone who works at Adobe could possibly get me a discount. You'll get an acknowledgment in the book - I promise…

Send an e-mail to michael@cookingforengineers.com if you can help with getting a discount.

Update 11/28/2007:
Here's an early mock-up of a two page spread. I don't quite like the look of it yet, but it gives an idea of what I'm aiming for. Only got one more week on my demo copy of InDesign though. Click on the image to download a 2.7MB PDF.
Cookbook mock-up

5 comments to Adobe Software Needed…

Barbara Cooper, April 11th, 2008 at 8:15 am:

  • Excellent design, Michael!

    I've only recently discovered your website, and am delighted with it. I made eight of your New York Style Cheesecakes for Christmas presents (every one fabulous) and your Dark Chocolate Cake for my son's birthday (WOW!), and am excited to see your plans for a printed version of your fantastic recipes!

    Having been a graphic designer for a little over 30 years, I can tell you your design is one to be proud of. It is clean and clear and simple and sharp — just what you'd want in a follow-up to your website. Keep up the great work!

Michael Chu, April 16th, 2008 at 7:58 am:

  • Wow, that's a lot of cheesecakes!

    I've been hoping to have more time to work on the cookbook, but I think I might have been a bit optimistic that it would take about one year. I'm starting to reduce my commitments so I can at least start writing regularly on Cooking for Engineers and then after that I'll resume work on the book.

    Thanks for the compliments!

Barbara Cooper, May 9th, 2008 at 9:36 am:

  • You're quite welcome. Let me know if you want some help.

Patty Reis, November 24th, 2008 at 6:44 am:

  • If you're a non-profit, 501(3)c, http://www.techsoup.org can give you a wonderful discount on the whole adobe design suite, $160 last time I looked…
    click on 'techsoup stock' on the right to find the products available.

    I'm an engineer and love your site!

Michael Chu, November 24th, 2008 at 1:49 pm:

  • Thanks for the tip! I ended up buying Adobe Design Suite but haven't had much time to work on the cookbook. I'll keep at it.

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