P: Ability to create custom book templates/sizes from scratch

Thank you all for all your responses. I really appreciate you taking the time!  I checked out the LBRE and want to thank whoever put all the time and effort into doing that and making it available to fellow users.  I tried using it but fear I am going to run into the same problems:

I scan thousands of photos and then create books for my clients.  The books that I make tend to be Family History books where each page, while it may start from a common template,  evolves into it's own customized page - depending on the story being told by each picture or collection of pictures.     I feel like I would spend hours in LBRE enlarging text boxes or recreating photo box sizes depending on what is required for each page.

I REALLY REALLY want to keep my Asset Management (DAM) & photo editing & book design all together in one application to simplify the workflow.   Is there ANYTHING out there that would work?  I've spent hours searching to see if there are any other feasible options but there just doesn't seem to be.  What have you guys done for your own solutions and why?

My new options seem to be:
- Stick with Aperture for another year and hope it won't crash and burn.  Then reassess and hope something will have changed in the market.
- Switch to LR for the DAM and Editing.   Find a separate software system for book design and just deal with the awkwardness that comes with having to adjust photo edits and library work in a different application.  ARG.
- Cry.

I'm leaning towards sticking with Aperture but feel like I'm on a sinking ship.  

http://picturesonpages.com/gallery/family/ This is an example of what I create.  I'm not sure that I can streamline the workflow well enough in LR but don't know any other options.


Thanks, 
Lisa

Frame sizes can be changed, added and deleted.  I haven't seen any options for changing page sizes.  
I would imagine that once a template page script has been created with a given page size, LBRE will just read the page size parameters and allow you to edit within that page size.

I have been able to change the page sizes editing the LUA scripts. I can also change frame sizes and positions. I was hoping that I could achieve the same with LBRE in a more user friendly way.

No, it just modifies existing page sizes.  I believe that one could modify the LUA scripts to do that, but it would take some experimentation.  The LUA script for each template page does encode the page size, but I can't image that LR would allow those numbers to override the current page setting.

Does LBRE allow you to change the page sizes in case you don' want to use Blurb?

I just finished a 235 page travel book (Africa!) in the LR photo module (printed with Blurb).  I used to curse the book module, but have found a workable solution using LBRE (LightRoom Book Editor).  Its not pretty, but it works.  Using it one creates/modifies the templates and then applies the templates to the book pages.  One can't directly edit the book pages in LR, its a 3rd party app that modifies the templates only.  To me, the benefits of editing raw files directly with LR make this worthwhile.  The other benefit include the outstanding stability of the LR book module;  i've never seen it crash and the resulting PDF from my last book was 1.3GB.
Please note that LBRE is not a polished tool.  Its open source code that a fellow LR user gratefully built and shared.   Be patient with it and it will serve you well.
To use LBRE:
- download the application from bitbucket
- shutdown LR
- start LBRE and it will read the Custom Templates folder
- create and modify templates for the page size that you want.  One can add, subtract and move photo blocks and text blocks.
- save the results back to the Custom Templates folder for LR (and close LBRE)
- start LR and it will read the new (or modified) templates
- apply the templates to the pages in the book module
Like I said, its not pretty, but it works and works well.
Good luck.
Kevin

The only work around to be able to customize templates is to edit the LUA templates
found in the Lightroom installation folders. This is not documented and it is not user friendly either because you have to type the coordinates and frame dimensions in a text file without the ability to do interactive changes. I use this approach with a excel sheet that generates the text. You can find some links with information about the LUA templates in other posts above. I have not found a way to rotate images.

Lightroom should add custom book templates but has ignored requests from users.

1. You are 100% correct....there are huge advantages to avoid round trips to an external book editor. 
2. I use InDesign (when I have to) and absolutely hate the experience. The InDesign GUI belongs in the dark ages.  I groan when I have to consider using InDesign.
3. As a work around, I create high quality PDFs (with Titles and Captions per image) using Microsoft Mail merge and a script to remove blank lines). Works for me when I want to send a high quality proof to a client, but not good enough for a book. It takes me 5 mins to generate this pdf after I have done my first pass in Lr on a session.
4. I have given up on the book module a long time ago, but would love to return if Adobe would just fix the obvious.
5. Adobe is the company I use but who I have least amount of respect for. 
6. Titles and Captions in Lr Mobile gets the same treatment as the Book Module.

I am needing a new photo solution moving from Apple Aperture.  I am a heavy user of the Book module.  The Aperture book module met all of my needs, and the lightroom one is sadly lacking a few key elements that will keep me from using this software.  What I would like to see, which is available in so many of the book software is this:

Fully customizable templates.   Currently in LR, I am only able to increase or decrease the padding around a picture but I can't change the actual size of a photo cell.  I need to be able to completely customize the size of a photo box and add or subtract photo boxes as needed.   I also would like to be able to put a photo box on an angle, and add a border. 

Please let me know if there are any current workarounds to these concerns, or plans to change the current software with these accommodations. 

I realize that InDesign (though far more robust than what I need) could accommodate these wishes,   it is just SO MUCH BETTER to have the book module in the same software.  That way, once you have your layout, it is far easier to make any photo adjustments within the same environment and not have to export, and mess around outside of the photo environment.  

Thanks,
lisa

Despite the many requests for this feature it appears to fall on deaf ears. Many users have the capacity and ability to print their own books using commercially available paper and covers.

The default page sizes in the Lightroom book module are very limited. Surely it would make sense to allow users to create page sizes as there are other books available. I realise that you can output to a PDF and reset the page size but it would be nice to create the entire book within Lightroom.

One of the issues is that very few, if any, paper manufacturers sell photo quality paper in 12" x 12". Most manufacturers sell paper either in regular ISO, 8x10 or rolls. There are very few other formats available.

Not everyone wants to pay Blurb to produce a book or in my case a small portfolio.