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iBooks Author vs Adobe InDesign

On the surface it appears that “Free” iBook Author delivers a near knockout punch to Adobe’s InDesign. The latter is advertised as being a Desktop Publisher. If someone is designing textbooks, lesson plans etc. that all seems to be capable within iBooks Author. Of course a compelling reason for making the switch is cost, i.e., free vs hundreds.
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Ray

Comments: 3 Responses to “iBooks Author vs Adobe InDesign”

    12 years ago

    I don't think so. InDesign is for any desktop publishing project. iBooks Author is for textbooks. That's only a small portion of the desktop publishing market. And a lot of people making textbooks aren't even using InDesign, but just using Word or Pages.
    Plus, there is the whole issue being discussed in the blogosphere about whether the EULA for iBooks Author restricts you to creating books only for iBooks. It seems it does, unless Apple clarifies this soon. So you would most likely create a textbook in something like Word or Pages, then distribute everywhere expect iBooks from that. Then import it into iBooks Author and create an "enhanced" version for iBooks.
    InDesign does cost, like, $700. Which is why I'd imagine that people creating textbooks, unless they work for a publisher, are using Word or Pages to do it now anyway.

    J M Landwermeyer
    12 years ago

    Which would be harder?
    A. Inport the material for the book into iBooks Author and export to other formats.
    B. Inport into Pages, then import to iBooks Author for the enhanced version.

    I am currently putting the information for the book together in Scrivener. I would like to have the interactivity that is available in iBooks Author in my book.

      12 years ago

      I would do B. Not only would I think that would be easier and more versatile, but it is in accordance with Apple's EULA for iBooks.

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