CREATING AN EYE-POPPING BOOKSIGNING TABLECLOTH

If you have access to graphics software and an inkjet printer (or have a printer close-by that does), and you can iron, you can create your own eye-popping booksigning tablecloth with the images of your own book covers. This tablecloth has been proven to attract buyers' attention from across the room, piquing their interest, and steering them to the table to learn more about the book.

If you look at the picture to the right, the book covers on the stands and the publicity material are not as visible as the book cover images across the length of the tablecloth, so the tablecloth images shout your message more effectively than the other items.

What You'll Need:
A tableclothA rulerElectronic image of your book coverAn ironAvery 3271 or 3279 t-shirt transfers (or the equivalent)
Cost: $20 and up

Step 1: Buy a Tablecloth
The best tablecloth to use is 6 feet (72 inches) in length. Your signing tables will generally range from 4 to 6 feet, though sometimes they can be smaller. Pick a fabric that does not have an imprinted pattern (even if it's tone-on-tone) . You should generally stay away from white because it soils easily. The tablecloth at right used a natural color that appears white from across the room. You can also use dark colors. Pick something substantially different from the colors in your book cover or the cover will appear to blend into the tablecloth, reducing its effectiveness.

You will also want to choose a fabric that does not wrinkle or shrink easily. Wash it and iron it (if necessary) before proceeding.

Step 2: Obtain an Electronic Version of Your Book Cover
Ask your publisher for an electronic copy of your book cover. It should be the same size as your book cover - not the miniature version used on web sites like amazon.com. You'll be resizing it to maximize its effectiveness and the smaller it is when you get started the fuzzier it can get when it's enlarged.

Step 3: Buy T-Shirt Transfers
Office supply and crafts stores sell t-shirt transfers for light or dark material, such as Avery 3271 for light t-shirts or Avery 3279 for dark t-shirts. They come with 5 or 6 sheets in a box.

Step 4: Electronically Enlarge the Cover Image
If you don't have access to graphics software, you can bring this file to your local printer for enlarging. The best software to use is something similar to Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator. Even if you have Microsoft Powerpoint, you can enlarge the file. However, the Adobe products mentioned will allow you to change the resolution as well as the size.

Using the software of your choice, follow that product's instructions on enlarging the file. You will want to maintain proportions. Try sizing only the length and let the width remain predetermined. You will be using paper that is 8.5 x 11 inches, so you'll want to change the length to 10 inches. This will leave a half inch at the top and bottom. Do not change it to 11 inches, or you won't have any edge to work with while ironing and removing the paper backing.

If your software allows you to change the resolution, use at least 300 dpi (dots per inch).
Save this file. You're now ready for printing.

Step 5: Print the Cover Image
Follow the steps contained in the t-shirt transfers EXACTLY for printing the t-shirts. When it has printed, the side without the Avery logo should have your cover printed in reverse. When you turn the paper over so the Avery logo is facing up, you can see the correct book image.
Step 6: Measure the Tablecloth

This step is going to require some basic math skills. You will want to use no more than 4 feet of your tablecloth; this is due to the fact that many of your signing tables are going to be 4 feet in length. If you use the area to the edge of your tablecloth, those book covers may be folded when used on a smaller table.

If you have one book, center the image on the tablecloth approximately 12 inches from the bottom of the tablecloth.

For two books, place them an equal distance apart, and so on.

You can use a straight pin to hold them in place. Use one corner of the transfer label for the pin, and never run the pin through the image itself.

Step 7: Iron the Image
Once you have the images placed exactly where you want them, heat your iron according to the directions contained with the Avery t-shirt transfer. Begin at one corner and iron the transfer for at least three minutes. For the darker book covers shown above, the author ironed the image for more than five minutes. Bear down on the transfer so the image adheres to the tablecloth. Be sure to iron all of the corners, even out past the book cover image. Refer to the instructions that came with the t-shirt transfers for detailed information.

Step 8: Pull Off the Backing
Be sure to wait at least two minutes. The image should be completely cool to the touch. If you notice one or more of the corners are not completely adhered to the tablecloth, iron that corner until it adheres. Then wait again until the entire image is cool. Begin at one corner and very slowly, very gently, begin to pull the paper backing off the tablecloth. If you notice any part of the image coming away from the tablecloth or adhering to the paper, replace it immediately and iron the transfer again. Let it cool and then begin to pull the backing away again.

If you take your time pulling off the backing, the entire image will be perfectly ironed onto the tablecloth!

Step 9: Folding Your Tablecloth
The best way to fold your tablecloth is to fold it widthwise first, making sure no fold is placed on the book cover images. Then instead of folding it lengthwise when you're done, roll the tablecloth. If you fold the tablecloth with the book cover images, you may eventually get cracking in that location.

Now use your new tablecloth at your next book signing and let us know how it works out for you!

These steps provided by p.m.terrell.