My 14.1 Book
- Thread starter Blackjack
- Start date
may I humbly suggest?
Blackjack-
I am eagerly anticipating your new book! I too had some thoughts about the position of the balls in the diagrams, but quickly realized that you were really asking about how the balls look. I spent 10 minutes here with adobe illustrator and with just a little work produced images that I like infinitely better for a few reasons:
*you must make sure that your graphics have appropriate resolution AND are anti-aliased
*I would suggest changing the font to something sans-serif - my example below uses arial, but there are many options that are very readable
*text must be anti-aliased!
*I really object to using two different font sizes for balls 1-9 and 10-15 - most noticeable inside the rack
*I vastly prefer empty white balls, mostly because white text on black background is tiring to the eyes (subconscious to most, but known to graphically inclined). This is made worse because your stripes balls have an even smaller font. Also because its straight pool and the numbers are only there to go with your text (stripes/solids don't matter).
Here is an example graphic paired next to one of your original graphics. Again this is 10 minutes of work, so with tweaking, could look even better. Note that its the same native resolution as your images, but presents much nicer.
We can take the discussion offline if you want to get more technical, I would be happy to help out in any way that I can. Although I am not a professional graphic artist, I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night.
Jon
Blackjack-
I am eagerly anticipating your new book! I too had some thoughts about the position of the balls in the diagrams, but quickly realized that you were really asking about how the balls look. I spent 10 minutes here with adobe illustrator and with just a little work produced images that I like infinitely better for a few reasons:
*you must make sure that your graphics have appropriate resolution AND are anti-aliased
*I would suggest changing the font to something sans-serif - my example below uses arial, but there are many options that are very readable
*text must be anti-aliased!
*I really object to using two different font sizes for balls 1-9 and 10-15 - most noticeable inside the rack
*I vastly prefer empty white balls, mostly because white text on black background is tiring to the eyes (subconscious to most, but known to graphically inclined). This is made worse because your stripes balls have an even smaller font. Also because its straight pool and the numbers are only there to go with your text (stripes/solids don't matter).
Here is an example graphic paired next to one of your original graphics. Again this is 10 minutes of work, so with tweaking, could look even better. Note that its the same native resolution as your images, but presents much nicer.
We can take the discussion offline if you want to get more technical, I would be happy to help out in any way that I can. Although I am not a professional graphic artist, I did stay at a Holiday Inn express last night.
Jon
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Blackjack, I can't wait to check it out.
Jon's got a nice point and his sample diagram is superior to all of them. His are not just easier on the eye but also just look more professional. I know it probably makes you wince to think of redoing everything that you've already had to redo once... but if you substituted his samples in all your diagrams they would all look great.
Hope that's not nitpicking too much, I know whatever you do with it will be easy to understand and useful.
Jon's got a nice point and his sample diagram is superior to all of them. His are not just easier on the eye but also just look more professional. I know it probably makes you wince to think of redoing everything that you've already had to redo once... but if you substituted his samples in all your diagrams they would all look great.
Hope that's not nitpicking too much, I know whatever you do with it will be easy to understand and useful.
I was going to say D because the OBs would contrast with the Cue, but then I saw the antialiased ones. However, it appears that the cue table is already anti-aliased (it's using flash/shockwave, and that's normally anti-aliased). If you click on the tool to make it black and white it looks very similar to what jondrums posted. The lines aren't quite as dark, but very clean looking.
One thing I just noticed using the BW cuetable is that the rack is a little off center. I wonder why that is.
One thing I just noticed using the BW cuetable is that the rack is a little off center. I wonder why that is.
anti-aliased by jondrums are the best, right. But is it possible to use them in Cuetable diagrams? I mean Blackjack's diagrams are created using Cuetable, so the balls are from there, right? Though I think David uses the older version of it, because you won't find aliased balls in recent Shockwave Cuetable version.
Smooth balls are better, and white example is over dark one there.
Smooth balls are better, and white example is over dark one there.
Bluesteel said:
It should not be too long now.
Keep in mind that I am currently working on two other books at the same time - one on the mental game - With Each Shot a Victory - and a small book on cue ball control - Steering The Cue Ball - this - along with the fact that I am giving classes, working, practicing 4-5 hours a day - coaching individual players on 5 different tours, along with having a life its going to take a while to get all of this done.
Also, I haven't sold many copies of Lessons In 9 Ball - at all. Given that fact, I have concentrated my efforts in other areas such as teaching and coaching more than I have been concentrating on writing. I go with what makes me money - selling books isn't making me much money at this point in time - but I am still knocking out new material - but if nobody buys it - it's a waste of my time.
I'm working on my attitude towards that, don't worry.
The major hold up with the 14.1 book has been legal issues with the original publishing company. For a while it looked as if I was not going to be able to republish this book at all.
Another major issue was that the Cue Table diagrams were not showing up very clearly when I printed them out - the Cue Table has been updated and the diagrams are now showing up 100 times better than before - thank you Wei - it looks and works GREAT!
Give me a few weeks and I will give a definite date - thanks to everybody for being patient - try to remember that I'm working 20 hours days and trying to fit everything into my schedule.
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Blackjack said:
Well, I once told you when Lessons In 9 Ball was available that I'd buy it. But I never followed your link and actually bought it.
Problem corrected... even though I only bought the eBook
I can't wait until the 14.1 book is ready. I promise I won't wait so long for that one.
Keep up the good work Dave.
Craig
I have the 9 ball book in printed form. The book is very good with lots of information. It does not compare with other pools books it is a different kind of animal, it is filled with good info. It has a different approach compared to most other books on pool and covers multiple aspects of the game.
The book also has quality feel. It is spiral bound with quality paper and covers. Lays well on the table.
I hope the straight pool is printed and bound by the same company.
I know it will be filled with tons of BlackJack info and thoughts.
Blackjack, I am playing better. Thanks for the help and I look forward to getting back down to the Orlando area.
The book also has quality feel. It is spiral bound with quality paper and covers. Lays well on the table.
I hope the straight pool is printed and bound by the same company.
I know it will be filled with tons of BlackJack info and thoughts.
Blackjack, I am playing better. Thanks for the help and I look forward to getting back down to the Orlando area.
mnorwood said:
Marcus
For now I am just going to sell the books individually and through the Lulu.com website. I order a few each month from Lulu.com and most I donate to regional tour directors so that they can sell them at their tournaments - I don't charge them for what I give them and they can keep whatever they make from them. It helps them out. I don't get those copies for free, it comes out of my pocket (from a % of what I sold the prior month). That is all I am willing to do in the way of deals at this point.
Selling the books in a "package" - I have no plans of doing that. The books are priced in accordance to the production costs - when I was making and selling them on my own I was able to cut a few deals here and there, but I don't have that control anymore, nor do I want it back.
REALLY eager to see your book!
Of course, Bob Jewett has a good point in that your diagrams should be as accurate as you can make them. You might also consider adding that key balls such as the 15, out in the middle of the table, need to be fallen on quite precisely; you can get out of line by no more than a ball's width and your break-shot strategy will be at risk. But everything you've told and shown us about your book looks terrific! Can't wait! Best regards, GF
Of course, Bob Jewett has a good point in that your diagrams should be as accurate as you can make them. You might also consider adding that key balls such as the 15, out in the middle of the table, need to be fallen on quite precisely; you can get out of line by no more than a ball's width and your break-shot strategy will be at risk. But everything you've told and shown us about your book looks terrific! Can't wait! Best regards, GF
George, if your words are pointed towards BJ I think he might be up with the DVD but unfortunately not the book. That's an old thread bumped only yesterday. I have no idea which book Rick speaks of but if it is about 14.1 good luck with your project!