Software for designing and building a cookbook

Hello everyone,

I’ve recently gotten interest in graphic design, but I’m still very much so a newbie trying to figure things out.
I have been lurking briefly in this forum. I hate to be the guy that breaks the silence because he needs something, and I’m not sure this is the right place to post this, but here I go.

I’m trying to write a cookbook, and while I have the recipes figured out and a pretty clear idea in my mind with what I want to do, I’m not sure where to go next to find a good software to use and to put things ‘on paper’.
I thought this would be a good place to ask you guys and girls if you have any recommendations of software to use to design and build a recipe ebook.
I have been trying to mess around with free software, but didn’t have luck finding one that fits my needs, and before paying for one, I wanted to see if I could get some opinions from people that have more experience than me and might be able to point me in a direction.

Thanks!

 

This is my very first post on this forum, so ‘Hi’

The issue is not the software. The industry standard is InDesign. All my clients (I spend most of my time designing books) insist on it. That and so far, it is the best thing out there. I good second is Affinity Publisher. Far cheaper, but yet not as feature-rich. All that said, fundamentally, for a cookbook, what you need is a good understanding of typography, hierarchy, legibility, etc. It is never about the software. It is about the designer. That is like asking, what is the best hammer to make a boat with. First you need to know how to make a boat.

After that, you need a good understanding of the print-process. I think if you have only just got into design, I’d look at getting a designer to help you. A book is a pretty ambitious project for a first try. There are so many (expensive) pitfalls you can make if you don’t know what you are doing.

Finally, if you want to be a pro graphic designer. First stop is a university education, then 4-5 years studio experience. Despite popular belief, it is not a ‘cool’ career that’s easy to get into. It requires dedication, talent and a lot of years before you can call yourself a pro.

Hope this helps

 

Hello! Don't worry about breaking the silence, that's what this forum is for. As for your question, there are several software options that can help you design and create your recipe ebook. Here are a few suggestions:

Adobe InDesign: This is a professional-level desktop publishing software that is widely used in the industry. It has a bit of a learning curve, but it offers a lot of flexibility and control over the design.

Canva: Canva is a user-friendly graphic design platform that offers a variety of templates and design elements. It's a great option for beginners or those who want to create something quickly and easily.

Microsoft Publisher: This is a desktop publishing software that is similar to InDesign but with a more user-friendly interface. It's a good option if you're familiar with other Microsoft Office products.

Apple Pages: This is a desktop publishing software for Mac users that offers a variety of templates and design tools.

 

Adobe InDesign is a professional desktop publishing software widely used for creating print publications, including cookbooks. It offers a range of layout and design tools, allowing you to customize the appearance of your cookbook with text, images, and graphics.

Adobe InDesign is a professional desktop publishing software widely used for creating print publications, including cookbooks. It offers a range of layout and design tools, allowing you to customize the appearance of your cookbook with text, images, and graphics.

 

As suggested Adobe is the way to go (Adobe being Industry standard). However, in addition to learning software (get it wrong an you can make some very expensive print mistakes), you have to learn all about print production, which is a life-time subject all on its own. Then there’s typography. Again another life time could be spent just on this. I am not saying this to put you off, but if you want to learn, good on you. However, it might not be a bad idea to start off with a slightly less ambitious project than a book.