EPUBs, Interactive PDF, and Tablet Apps

InDesign can export publications in EPUB, Interactive PDF, and tablet application formats using Digital Publishing Suite (DPS).  There are some major differences between EPUB, interactive PDF, and DPS.  EPUB is reflowable in e-readers, while PDF content is a fixed layout.  DPS is frequently used to publish digital magazines and periodicals.  It can have scrolling text options, pop-ups options with in-depth descriptions, and live/static HTML interactions.  The big difference with DPS is that it is the final document format is an app. (more…)

Adobe InDesign for Media and Publishing

As Adobe InDesign was originally used as a print-centric program and was upgraded to be more conducive for digital publishing.  Some of the formats InDesign uses to publish is EPUB, Adobe Digital Publishing Suite (DPS), and Interactive PDFs. (more…)

Standards and Hardware with iBooks

Technological decisions and compatible operating systems is all very confusing at times.  Choosing what technology to purchase and use can be complicated by knowing which software works with which app and/or device.  Even the choice of what smartphone to buy leaves you wondering which choice is the all-around best when compared to what you want to achieve from a device. (more…)

Repurposing Print Projects and iBooks Author

You can see my iBooks project at http://1hutch.com/digital-publication-project/

This week we were introduced to digital publications and how to create one using iBooks Author.  The assignment was a 10-page project to be created in iBooks Author.  After starting the project, it appeared to be as simple to use as PowerPoint with its drag and drop method to embed images and media.  Widgets can be used to implement the structure of iBook’s title page, chapters, sections, and pages. (more…)

3D Image Capture

This week I used a MakerBot scanner to scan an 3D image of a vintage “Brownie Camera” I had when I was growing up.  I first scanned it using the option for a darker image, and while it was better than the one I uploaded for the final product, they both had the appearance of melting wax.

I also used another scanner (3D System Sense) that is capable of scanning full body images, head shots, and other objects from small to large.  I scanned an Ostrich egg and an Emu egg.

Both of my scans are primitive, but it was a great experience to be able to use either scanner and upload them to Sketchfab.

Eggs
by 1hutch
on Sketchfab

https://skfb.ly/LwHn

 

WordPress Site and Backup Files

After last week, when the theme that I had built received an error message and crashed, I reverted back to a previously uploaded theme called “camp”.  I have made some minimal changes such as, making a static “Website fun!”  front page, a separate blog page, and added a calendar to the sidebar.  The navigation menu was a bit messy so it was also changed in the theme editor in the css template.

Bottom line…always keep a backup of your theme so it can be restored after a crash, which can happen often when you are learning to code in WordPress.

WordPress as a CMS

This week I had to back up and punt!  The site is under construction, and does not look very pretty.  1Hutch.com should look like a website operating as a CMS system using the front page as a static page and all the blog post set to that page.

Tweaking Themes and Templates

The “Editor” section found under the “Appearance” tab on the WordPress dashboard is where the coding in the templates of your current theme can can changed or adjustments made to the original theme.  The style.css is where I changed all the hover links, the first letter in the title, post heading, heading and background.  I used a hexadecimal coding system to represent the color chosen (#75001f/burgundy; #fff/white, and #444/dark gray).  Some of the coding places that this color was change was incorporated (h1: first letter to white, navigation li a: hover to burgundy, and .site-content a to white) in various places.

There is a warning that goes with tweaking an original theme, and that is WordPress updates to the original theme could cause all of the modifications to be lost. There is a remedy for this.  The recommendation is to set up a child theme within the parent theme making the child theme the last theme to be read.  According to WordPress for Dummies, “CSS rules state that the last instruction takes precedence.”

 

Theme, Media, and Plugin Management in WordPress

Managing your WordPress website’s appearance and how it functions can be achieved through various methods with the use of themes and plugins.

A theme is not only a design change, but it is a collection of files called template files.  These files work together to produce an interface on how the site is displayed and operates.  WordPress comes with three default themes. However, there are many other themes in the WordPress theme directory that are free to download and use or you may create your own theme. (more…)

WordPress for Publishing

WordPress, as a content management system (CMS), can serve anyone looking to publish online, from those familiar with html code to a novice/newbie wishing to publish content on the web.  As an open source CMS software system, anyone can publish content for personal, organizational, or business purposes.  It is possible to construct content as a blog, website or both. (more…)