Get yourself a FREE 3D Ebook Creator
Hey there, sorry I have not been around much in the last few days, I have been a busy blogger!
I don’t know if you have noticed but their has recently been an increased interest in people wanting to create Ebooks for their websites, and wanting a nice graphical representation to show off their new publication.
So I decided to create my first 3D Ebook Creator action so that anyone can create a professional looking image which will hopefully promote downloads.
This action and easy tutorial is for Photoshop CS2 and above;
If you do not have photoshop CS2, then I will explain a FREE service that I am offering to provide you with this graphic, customized for your new publication.
How do I create my 3D Ebook?
- First you need to download the action and template files.
Details for downloading the Photoshop CS2 action and template can be found at the end of this post.
- There are two files in the folder, once unzipped; EbooktemplateFront.jpg and EbooktemplateSide.jpg. These are your flat Ebook templates. You should create you cover graphics on these files, or paste them into these files and save as a jpg. Do not change the file name or file dimensions.
- Install the action by dragging the file “Forests-Ebook-Actions.atn” onto your Photoshop CS2 icon. This will open Photoshop.
- Select Window>Actions and a palette will come on the screen, here you can see the new action installed (see image below for visual ref).
- Now open the template file “Ebookactiontemplate.psd“.
- Select the layer “Start by selecting this layer” and then select the action “Forests 3D Ebook Action Standard“, as shown in the image below.
Now for the fun part….
- At the bottom of the Actions palette there is a play button, press it!
- You will be prompted to place an image twice during the course of the action. First time select the file “EbooktemplateFront.jpg“, once in the document, hit return and the action will continue. Second time repeat this process but select the file “EbooktemplateSide.jpg“.
- You will be prompted to save the image now…. so save it in whatever format you desire. The image can now be resized or uploaded to your site as is to be used to promote your new Ebook.
What if I don’t have Adobe Photoshop CS2?
I will be working on a version of this script (or similar) for Photoshop 6. Hopefully I will also be able to create a script for GIMP but for now I have an offer.
You just need to sign up to my RSS feed (optional) and Mailing list to download the template (see below for details) and then send an email to forest.parks@gmail.com with your flat front and spine files. I will create your Ebook in 3D and then email it back to you completely free of charge. This offer may be limited if demand gets too high.
How do I download the template and action files?
I would appreciate it if you first signed up to my RSS feed, but this is optional. Also if you enjy it, a little blog post about it would be great.
Then sign up to my Mailing List using the form below. Once confirmed an email providing details to a passworded page and a download link will come to you, almost immediately.
By signing up to the Mailing List you will receive all future templates (I plan to expand these to many styles) and actions as well as other exclusive content and TheRandomForest site updates.
We will never give out your email address.
Please leave a comment or any questions. I would also very much like to see your creations, so please do let me know when you have any.
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June 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 am
Great post! If only it would create that actual ebook and not just the image…
June 2nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
Ha ha, cheers Jeff. I am sure you can buy plenty of Ebook makers from around the web…. I would be dubious of the content though!
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:35 pm
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June 2nd, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Forest,
Cool. This will be really helpful.
Would you mind if I plugged it in a post at my site so everyone can benefit?
Let me know.
Aaron
June 2nd, 2008 at 1:54 pm
Hey Aaron, please do spread the word. I would be delighted to have this spread around a bit more.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:08 pm
good stuff forest. I think having something visual will increase downloads. Not a fan of buying or selling ebooks, but if you affliate lace the ebook and give it out for free, it could become quite profitable.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:34 pm
Excellent work Forest! I’ve never really used actions for much other than saving certain file types. I’ll have to see how and where I can implement something like this in my daily chores.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
@Noob,
Thanks for coming by.
The idea for this template is simple… over the next coming weeks the templates will get increase and you will have an automated action for many different types of products. You could create an icon to publish with your monthly earnings reports or something like this. Basically once there are a wide range of templates you may find other uses for such imagery.
@Bryan,
I am sometimes lazy and don’t bother creating them for repetitive tasks…. every time you do create one you wonder why you don’t just do this all the time!
Your PS skills are obviously pretty good, you could do some great things with actions.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:51 pm
@bloggernoob,
While lacing an ebook with affiliate links seems like a good idea, in reality it generates very very little income and click throughs.
Curious: Why are you opposed to buying or selling eBooks?
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:31 pm
Maybe I’m behind the times, but damn, I’ve never heard of a 3D ebook. That’s crazy. I guess its kinda cool, I’m just not sure I see the point. But then again, people like different, so different is usually good.
June 2nd, 2008 at 8:35 pm
@Mr P, Hey there,
Tis is purely a graphical representation of the ebook that you could create. People like to use them on their sites so that the link and copy look more professional.
June 3rd, 2008 at 6:58 am
Well I can add this to the list of things I learned today, had no idea about that kind of thing. Thanks.
June 3rd, 2008 at 7:44 am
Wow! You have indeed been very busy. This is very interesting and I certainly like the idea of the e-book going 3-D.
June 3rd, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Ooooooh. I gotcha. I completed misunderstood the idea behind it. I always did have trouble with reading comprehension :p
June 5th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
[...] http://www.therandomforest.com/2008/06/02/free-3d-ebook-creator/ [...]
June 6th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
Hey Forest, count me in Ive been looking for a psd action script for the longest time
June 6th, 2008 at 12:30 pm
Hey Shane,
Fantastic… just sign up to my mailing list using any of the sign up boxes on this page and once you hit that confirm button, it will send a link straight back to you for the download. If you need any help with the action or anything just shoot me an email, forest.parks@gmail.com
I went over and subscribed to your site.
June 7th, 2008 at 5:52 am
[...] all) marketers aren’t always the best artists! Forest Parks over at The Random Forest Has a free 3d e-book and e-cover design action script for photoshop you can [...]
June 8th, 2008 at 6:09 am
[...] To read more and see the full tutorial you can visit my post: Get yourself a FREE 3D Ebook Creator [...]
June 24th, 2008 at 6:20 pm
That is 3d? It looks like 2d to me. Am I missing something?
June 25th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
@Cohnsey…. technically you are right but it looks 3d and that is the point :). It provides a nice visual appearance for you to push your virtual product.
July 31st, 2008 at 6:22 am
Noob - I think you are wrong about not being able to make decent money form affiliate links in free ebooks. See - http://www.caroline-middlebrook.com/blog/stats-analysis-for-april-2008-1308-earned/
Forest, I use Paint Shop Pro - but could be persuaded to use the GIMP if you convert it to this format..
July 31st, 2008 at 8:46 am
Hey Jordan…. I initially did mean to do the convert but after looking into it the actions in Gimp looked a little complex and I decided to offer the cover as a service instead…
Basically if you have the flat images… email em to me and I’ll email the 3d cover back. It’s a very quick thing for me to do.
July 31st, 2008 at 9:05 am
OK. Thanks. Maybe I’ll get round to it at some stage in the next year or so!
August 1st, 2008 at 2:28 am
Photoshop is not easy enough for beginners. I recommend to use Quick 3D Cover. It is probably the simplest 3d-application to create 3D cover with only few mouse clicks.
http://sharewarecheap.com/Quick-3D-Cover_software_949.html
August 1st, 2008 at 7:47 am
Thanks for the info Ken.
That program looks good but it’s $50.
If people send me the flat files, i’ll send the 3d box back free of charge.