New PDF to Book workflow allows creative professionals to design books using the design program of their choice and upload directly to Blurb for printing

SAN FRANCISCO, June 24 /PRNewswire/ -- Blurb®, the creative publishing and marketing platform that enables anyone to design, publish, share and sell bookstore-quality books, today announced the release of PDF to Book, available immediately. The new PDF to Book workflow gives creative professionals complete creative control to design books using the application of their choice, save the file as a PDF, and upload it directly to Blurb.

Blurb has created pre-made templates for Adobe® InDesign® users and has developed guidelines and specifications for users of other design programs. PDF to Book gives creatives the ability to design books entirely in CMYK, while utilizing native file formats such as TIFF, EPS, and PNG in the book's contents. PDF to Book also enables the use of images when designing the book's spine. PDF to Book workflow is available for all book sizes and cover types (Hardcover ImageWrap, Hardcover Dust Jacket, and Softcover).

"Since creating my first Blurb book, I have longed for an InDesign or PDF option, and as usual, Blurb has not disappointed me," said William Hoard, print professional and longtime Blurb customer. "For the first time, the images on the book's cover and spine totally match their counterparts on the inside pages of my book. I know these represent technological apples and oranges, so I am doubly impressed."

PDF to Book is available alongside Blurb BookSmart®, Blurb's free, award-winning bookmaking software for Mac and PC. Blurb recently released Blurb BookSmart 2.0, which includes new features such as flexible containers, precision toolbars, gridlines for quick visual guidance, and the ability to save designed pages as custom layouts for reuse. PDF to Book and Blurb BookSmart 2.0 elevate the bookmaking experience and offer extended flexibility for advanced users and consumers alike.

All Blurb customers, whether using BookSmart or PDF to Book, have access to Blurb's suite of marketing and sales tools - including announcements, website badges and the Blurb Bookstore - to share, market and sell their books.

"We know that creative professionals require a higher level of control and flexibility when designing their books," says Eileen Gittins, Founder and CEO, Blurb. "These folks work in complex design programs on a daily basis, and much of their work already exists within these applications. Opening the Blurb platform to a workflow that's inclusive of these applications is huge for the creative professional community, and it opens our business up to entirely new markets."

Blurb will be showcasing books created with the PDF to Book workflow at the HOW Design Conference in Austin, TX, June 24-27. For more details on PDF to Book, and to download templates visit www.blurb.com.

About Blurb
Blurb® is a creative publishing and marketing platform that unleashes the creative genius inside everyone. Blurb's platform makes it easy to design, publish, market and sell professional-quality books, using Blurb's free, award-winning BookSmart® software, or via the design tool of your choice. Use Blurb's bookstore and online marketing tools to market and sell your books, and keep 100% of your profit. Use Blurb's social and community features to create and share Blurb books with your friends and colleagues with ease.

Blurb was founded by Eileen Gittins in 2005, and includes a team of design, Internet and media veterans who share a passion for helping people bring their stories to life. Blurb is based in San Francisco with offices in London, and is funded by Canaan Partners and Anthem Venture Partners. For more info, visit http://www.blurb.com.