BookSmart

BookSmart, developed by Blurb, Inc, is a powerful application designed to help users create professional-looking books without the need for a designer. The latest version, 3.5.3, offers extensive features tailored for both novice and experienced book creators. Available as a free download, BookSmart can be installed on a wide range of Windows operating systems, including Windows XP, XP Professional, Vista, 7, 8, 10, and 11.

Blurb BookSmart stands out in the Photo & Graphics category, particularly in the Viewers & Editors subcategory. Users can expect a seamless experience, whether they are working online or offline. The only time an internet connection is necessary is when you need to download the software or upload your completed book. The program's primary file name is BookSmart.exe.

One of the highlights of BookSmart is the creative control it offers. Users can choose from a range of professionally designed layouts or create their own, adding background themes and mixing and matching page designs. This makes it possible to create various types of books, from photo books and text-only books to notebooks, portfolios, and planners. Additionally, BookSmart can convert print books into beautiful fixed-layout ebooks, advising users on ebook-friendly fonts.

The application allows users to produce books with a bookstore-quality finish. Whether opting for hardcover or softcover, there are multiple sizes, five different photo-quality paper types, and three linen cover options to choose from. With aliases such as Blurb BookSmart, the program also includes attractive templates for diverse themes, such as pets, babies, cookbooks, and photo albums, making it ideal for books with substantial photographic content.

Other notable versions include 3.5, 3.4, and 3.3, which also support a variety of features that make book creation straightforward and efficient. Although the final book format can only be viewed within the program, users with a PDF printer setup can export their projects to PDF.

Pros:

• Highly customizable with professional layouts and templates.
• Allows both online and offline work.
• Free to download and use, with no need for a designer.
• Supports a wide range of book types and sizes, as well as high-quality printing options.

Cons:

• Final format viewable only in the program unless exported via a PDF printer configured on your computer.

It is not possible to confirm if there is a free download for this software available on the developer's website. According to the results of the Google Safe Browsing check, the developer's site is safe. Despite this, we recommend checking the downloaded files with any free antivirus software.

You may want to check out more software, such as Business Card Designer Plus, Ulead COOL 360 or FastStone MaxView, which might be similar to BookSmart.