| Here we are at the start of another school year, | | | | and development costs. |
| which means it's time to think about starting the | | | | 4. Lay it out. At some point, you'll need to lay out |
| yearbook process. If you don't know where to | | | | pages for the book. You can either do this by |
| start, keep reading because this article will tell you | | | | hand (the old-fashioned way) or with a software |
| how to create a great yearbook. | | | | program. Organize students by grade and have a |
| | | | separate section for faculty. Group all the sports |
| 1. Get organized. Putting together a yearbook is a | | | | pictures together and have an area devoted to |
| lot of work, so you're going to want to do so in | | | | special events. And so on. Be sure to write some |
| an organized fashion. Delegate different tasks to | | | | interesting copy to go along with everything. |
| students (i.e. layout, caption writing, etc.) and | | | | 5. Proof your work. Before the books are bound, |
| draw-up a timeline so you can stay on top of | | | | they need to be checked for accuracy and |
| deadlines. That way, you won't be scrambling | | | | consistency. Be sure to correct any typos, delete |
| around when it's the end of the school year. | | | | any duplicate photos, and so on. After all, you and |
| 2. Decide on a theme. One thing that can make a | | | | your students want to be proud of your work. |
| yearbook memorable is its theme. The theme | | | | 6. Put it together. In the past, it was common to |
| helps bring the book together and can give you | | | | send yearbooks out for binding. Thanks to |
| some focus when producing it. Themes can be | | | | advances in technology it's now possible - and |
| humorous (comic books), sports-oriented | | | | cheaper - to assemble the books in-house. You |
| (homecoming), or even related to something in | | | | can do so by using a thermal binding machine, |
| pop culture. | | | | such as the Pro-Bind 1000. All you need is the |
| 3. Take a lot of pictures. In addition to the head | | | | machine, a crimper, and some thermal binding |
| shots produced during school picture day, | | | | covers. Binding your books in-house will help you |
| yearbooks need a wide array of photos depicting | | | | save money and even give you the ability to print |
| school events (assemblies, dances), classes, | | | | additional books on-demand if necessary. Making a |
| football games, etc. Take as many candid and | | | | yearbook doesn't have to be difficult. You just |
| posed pictures as possible because for every | | | | need to stay organized, have excellent content |
| good one, there are bound to be a few that | | | | and the right tools to bring it all together. Now |
| aren't usable. Also, take your pictures with a digital | | | | that you know how to create your own |
| camera, if possible. You can upload the photos | | | | yearbooks, get started today. The end of the |
| right to your computer and save money on film | | | | school year will be here before you know it! |