Meeting Summary: Perpetuating The Use Of Cool Technology with Mark Poulalion

Wed, Sep 28th, 2011 at 5:30 PM

Winter Park Civic Center

Event Details

On September 28th, the Adobe InDesign User Group, had about 70 members in attendance and learn how Mark Poulalion is “Perpetuating the Use of Cool Technology” by designing Bonnier’s magazines to be read on the iPad. Everyone enjoyed pizza, chili, and the opportunity to mingle during breaks.

Below is a summary of Mark Poulalion’s presentation, which was demonstrated with the help of Bonnier’s ad designer Will Fry.

Mark works at Bonnier that publishes 50 different magazine titles – such as Parenting and Popular Science. His background is design and he got roped into iPad conversion of print magazines. Bonnier uses Mag+ and Bonnier Reader to convert print magazines for iPad users.

Reason for conversion from print
About recreating the magazine experience: immersive, intimate, and easy.
Make publications that feel like they were made for this device.

Mag+
Started working with this program October 2009 and by the launch of the iPad on April 4, 2010 had Popular Science Magazine converted and on the iPad for the launch. In 2011 Mag+ becomes Moving Media+ - worked out all the original program bugs.

Build with Mag+
Threefold process: Production environment start with InDesign, App framework, Publisher’s toolbox.

Each doc file contains slides that are stacked. Slides are like pages that you slide up and down.

One article takes approximately 20 minutes from Print to iPad – this is the minimum.

All pages become JPEGs after the threefold process is complete.

The #1 issue is text readability!

Pricing: all Apps are free and tools to build are free, $2500 for 5 months of free publishing and unlimited downloads, $500 continuous publishing each month

www.magplus.com gives you all the info.

Mag+ lets creators do what they do best: designing pages, telling stories, connecting with readers. Design 1 time and get both orientations – horizontal and vertical.

Production with Mag+
Open print files
Copy images and text and paste into slide for mag+
iPad page size height is 62 inches - allows for plenty of vertical scroll
Use paragraph styles in mag+ - iPad testing proved 12 pt is the minimum for readability

Mag+ gives layers for media etc. (mag+ plugs into InDesign)
Place video – will automatically put onto media layer - embed movie from a file or the internet
Embed HTML 5 files - this is the only way you can get animation on an iPad
Create hotspots that link for website or jump link to another slide
Red line is the transition line that goes to the next slide
Download the iOS simulator iPad to review your design on your computer

Export to final issue opens Photoshop and renders all images to the proper size, creating JPEGs and PNGs. The final format is .mib.

Publish .mib files by uploading to a server (you pay to house an issue on the server).

Sell the issue in iTunes. Note: Apple must first approve the App before you sell issue.


Production with Bonnier Reader
Design the page using InDesign.

Make PDFs and run through a processor called TWIST that resizes and renames, creating a series of JPEGs.

Twist makes the JPEG sizes 1536 x 2048 at 264 ppi. This allows for the zooming in to look good and you don’t need to redesign the print version of the page.

Import the JPEGs folder into Bundler
Produces a vertical and horizontal view for each JPEG
In the Bundler you create the hotspots to link to other pages

This process allows Bonnier to go from print to iPad in about two 2 hours.
The electronic version usually comes out a little bit before the print.

Flying is a magazine that is created with Bonnier Reader.

Thank you

Thank you for supporting our raffle!
All raffle proceeds pay for our excellent meeting facilities and food.

Raffle Winners:

Free e-book from O'Reilly Media Inc.:
Candy Pelley
Meghan Llewellyn
Brad Haas

eDocker2 license:
Kerrie Johnson

InDesign Magazine one-year subscription:
Mari Ani Camchong
Brad Haas

Markzware Q2ID v5.5 (Quark to InDesign Adobe plugin):
Edwin Rodriguez
Aristides Rodriguez

Adobe InDesign Software (grand prize):
Jackie Loschiavo (first time attendee!)

Comments from attendees

“Very good speaker. Interesting topic that is right on target for today’s designer.” –Mark Pino

“Helpful to see and hear about new and cutting-edge stuff. Great to keep up and learn new things during job slump.” –Carolyn

“Building great. Food terrific. Fascinating topic. Very knowledgeable presenter.” –Edwin Rodriguez

“With technology changing so fast, I appreciate even just becoming acquainted with what's developing as this presenter did.” –Anna Jelstrom

Next Meeting

November’s Meeting will be Part 2 of Doug’s Tips and Tricks!
See you November 16th.

Reminder: Ryan with Rasmussen College created Orlando InDesign User Group Facebook page. Check it out for discount posts and other great information.



_______________________________________________________________
Edward Feldman, Founder and Chapter Representative | efeldman@mac.com
Douglas Mitchell, Co-Chapter Representative | trainingbrain@me.com
Victoria Mandracken, Scribe | vfmandracken@gmail.com
Michael Hamilton, Meetup | frfensocc@hotmail.com
Randylyn Masse, HR and Volunteer Team Manager | randylyn1@me.com
Pat Patterson, Cater | cuineden@mac.com

Adobe InDesign User Group is a special interest group (SIG) of the Florida Macintosh User
Group (FLMUG). If you or your company wishes to sponsor or present please contact Edward
Feldman via email at efeldman@mac.com. Suggestions for meeting topics are welcome.