How to best design book cover series spines?

[defaultp2vwu2y917az]

I'm designing a series of book covers. Specifically, I'm trying to open up 4 different cover files and work on all the spines as if they were one file, and yet have them saved to their individual file when I'm done.

I'm using photoshop, but "arrange windows" is the closest I've come to what I need and it's not getting the job done very well. Is there another tool, or even adobe program that is better suited for this?

I appreciate your help.

[J E L · Accepted solution]

Hi @defaultp2vwu2y917az, InDesign is the better software to use for back cover / spine / front cover layouts so they can easily be exported to PDF with the proper trim size for printing, if printing books is your goal. I'm not exactly clear what you mean by "work on all the spines as if they were one file." Do you mean apply the same spine art to all 4 covers? In Photoshop, you could take the cover image file and extend the canvas to the spine width determined by the page count or printer specifications, and then add your spine text and elements, either by cut and paste, drag and drop, or place. Don't forget the bleeds if those are required.

ETA: If you have one file with 4 spines, each on a separate layer, you can export each layer to its own file.

[defaultp2vwu2y917az]

Thank you. I'm going to take a look at InDesign. I think it might be what I'm looking for. 

[J E L]

Great, if you have any questions, you can visit us in the InDesign forum!

[defaultp2vwu2y917az]

Thank you.

[davescm · Accepted solution]

+1 to Jain's remarks.

Use Photoshop to prepare images and InDesign for layout. If there is a common image then just prepare it once and change the text in InDesign for each layout.

Dave

[defaultp2vwu2y917az]

Yes. Thank you. This is what I need to learn. Looks like I need to update my adobe membership so that I can get InDesign. Thank you

[defaultp2vwu2y917az]

"ETA: If you have one file with 4 spines, each on a separate layer, you can export each layer to its own file."

This might work. If I could have 4 separate book cover files, and then 1 file for just the spines to make sure the art is perfectly even, how would I set up the save/export so that it automatically updates the book cover file?  I worry that if I drag, cut/paste I'll be changing the dementions.

[J E L]

If you are talking about InDesign, your files in Photoshop are automatically linked when you use Place to insert them in your ID document. Changes made to the files in Photoshop will auto update (or prompt you to update) the changes. If you are doing this in Photoshop, I'd have to look at your exact setup, and there are probably a few ways to do it, but I think you'd use smart objects and use Place Linked. I've never done exactly what you are attempting, so maybe others will give you more help.