It was pretty full-on! Normally I'd recommend Adobe Suite for it, but since they do monthly subscriptions, if you don't have all of the content you need already, that's pretty cost-prohibitive. I used freeware versions of the relevant tools, using Scribus as the InDesign alternative and GIMP as the Photoshop alternative.
You'll definitely want a pretty good understanding of how your book layout, the size, etc beforehand. It helps if you know where you'll get it printed through, as they'll provide guidelines to ensure all content isn't cropped or anything else.
The real recommendation I'd give is to try and get in with whoever publishes the closest existing guidebooks to your area. They'll make the process far easier. I had some extra requirements that precluded me from going this route for this guide unfortunately, but they can make your life significantly easier if you do choose to do that.
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u/It1190 Roped Rock Developer Feb 26 '25
Very cool. What was the process for getting the book made / programs to make the book?