The fastest way to design a book interior is to start from a complete preset rather than a blank page: in Deckle, one click on a preset sets the typeface, chapter openings, first paragraphs and scene breaks for the whole book at once, and the live preview shows your own chapter in it straight away.
What You'll Need
- A manuscript in Deckle, even a single chapter, so the preview has something to show.
- A rough idea of the feel you want: classic, modern, genre-specific, or built for readability.
Step-by-Step
- Open the preview beside your chapter. In the Inspector, switch to the preview so you can watch the page change as you try designs. Pick Print or Kindle from the device menu to see the edition you care about most; the device preview renders through the same engines as your final files.
- Open Styles and stay on Presets. Click Styles in the left toolbar. The panel opens on Presets, a grid of complete designs. Hover a card to see what it is built from, for example "Libre Baskerville · Spelled Numbers · Drop Cap".
- Click a preset. The whole book takes it on immediately: body and heading fonts, chapter title style, chapter numbering, the first paragraph, and the scene break mark. Your title, author and other book details are kept, and so are any images you have added, such as a custom scene break ornament.
- Try a few. Click another preset and the preview follows. There are presets for general fiction, genre and industry conventions, and specialized needs such as a readability-first design, a dyslexia-friendly one and an academic one.
- Keep it or back out. Apply & close keeps the design. Cancel puts the book back exactly as it was before you opened Styles, so trying presets is never a risk.
- Fine-tune in Advanced. A preset is a starting point, not a lock. Switch to Advanced to change any single setting, such as the typeface, the drop cap or the trim size, without losing the rest of the design.
Common Mistakes
- Designing from a blank page first. Dozens of small decisions that all have to agree with each other are exactly what a preset has already made. Start from the closest preset and change what you disagree with.
- Judging a design on an empty or one-line chapter. A drop cap, a first-line style and a scene break only show properly on a real chapter with a few paragraphs.
- Only checking one device. A design that looks right in print can feel cramped on a phone. Flip the preview between Print and Kindle before you settle, or style the ebook separately where it needs to differ.
FAQ
Will a preset change my text?
No. A preset only changes how the book is styled. Your words, chapters and book details stay as they are.
Can I undo a preset?
Yes. Click Cancel before closing Styles and the book returns to how it was when you opened the panel. After Apply & close, apply a different preset or adjust settings in Advanced.
Does a preset style the ebook and the print book?
Yes, one preset sets both editions. Settings that only make sense on a printed page, such as margins, are simply not used in the EPUB.
Can I save my own design as a preset?
Yes. Once you have fine-tuned a design, Save As Custom Preset in the Presets view keeps it for your next book.