Graphic designers, editors, etc. Need help explaining reader's spreads.

[grace0418]

Anyone have a good way to explain reader's spreads to someone? I've tried two different ways and don't think I'm getting through. They're asking why the cover looks skinny and vertical while the inside pages look too wide and horizontal.

First I said
"The proof is laid out in reader's spreads, which means the cover looks like a closed book or magazine, then the interior pages are open with two pages visible, and so on until the back cover, which is again how it would look closed. Does that make sense?"

It didn't.

Then I said
"What I mean is when you're looking at the pdf of the cover, you're looking at one page (8.5x11, vertical). When you're looking at the interior pages, you're seeing two at a time (two 8.5x11 pages side by side, adding up to 17x11, which is why it looks horizontal). Think of reading a magazine. First you just see the cover. Then when you open it up, you see page 2 and page 3 at the same time, then 4 and 5 at the same time, and so on. It helps you get a better idea of how the final product will look when you're actually paging through it."

I don't know how else to explain it. And the person is in a different time zone so I can't show her. What else can I say?

[Redstone]

1. Can you post a sample of what they want? I do this stuff for a living,

and may be able to help you.

But my computers are all going utterly insane tonight for some reason, so please reply via Private Message if you would, OK? I may not be able to see your reply in the forum.

Redstone

[grace0418]

5. It's confidential stuff so I can't post it.

I may just have to draw her a picture. I know I'm a graphic designer and this stuff is easy for me to understand, but the concept just doesn't seem that difficult to grasp.

Thanks Redstone (I'll send you a pm too)

[unpossibles]

2. walk her through looking at a magazine or book

have her put a magazine or book on the desk in front of her and look at it. Then have her open it with the pages spread to see the size/dimension change.

I'm kind of shocked about this, but I suppose I shouldn't be.

[grace0418]

6. dupe

delete

[grace0418]

7. I was thinking of sending her a photograph of a magazine cover, then a photo

of the same magazine open. I don't know what else to do. After a decade and a half as a designer, I'm not shocked by much any more but this one had me shaking my head.

[Gormy Cuss]

3. If the second explanation didn't work, can you send out a format that displays one page at a time?

It sounds like the person can't visualize.

[grace0418]

4. I did that too, but it's important that she sees how the spreads relate to one another.

If she changes one page at a time, it could be a total mess.