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 10/29/2003 01:52:03 PM · #1
I'm interested in doing a short run of a book I've put together.

I'm pretty much clueless on the best approach to doing this - I'm not looking for something hardback bound like the iPhoto or myPublisher approaches.

Any suggestions on what techniques can be used to produce something like this. As ever I'd like as high quality as possible, and dirt cheap...

Initial aim is for something in the 50 colour pages or so range, probably about half letter size landscape pages. Any suggestions, thoughts, ideas etc would be extremely useful.
 10/29/2003 02:00:17 PM · #2
You may want to try your local copy store. They can reprint a copy and bind them for you. Prices differ depending on region.
 10/29/2003 02:25:33 PM · #3
My company designs book jackets and content with quite a few contacts in the industry.

What's the subject Gordon - and how do you intend to sell it? With a bit more info I may be able to point you in the right direction.
 10/29/2003 02:40:51 PM · #4
Originally posted by faidoi:
You may want to try your local copy store. They can reprint a copy and bind them for you. Prices differ depending on region.


So you would suggest printing it myself first ?
 10/29/2003 02:43:47 PM · #5
Its initally not for sale but to be provided as a sort of promotional material with a CD of the images - something akin to the booklets you get in CD albums. I'm hoping that by providing some sample prints and supporting info that the images are more likely to be viewed and used.

When I mentioned small run - I really mean it maybe only half a dozen or so
 10/29/2003 02:54:10 PM · #6
We use digital print very frequently and the quality is increasingly more impressive, so I think this is your best bet if you want a fairly professional finish with a low run (and no awkward finishing for you to do). You may want to consider a concertina folding insert or stapled booket - it depends on what you want in it.

If you give me an idea of how many pages you want I can get costings for you and organise it if you like. Alternatively you may want to look in the Yellow Pages for digital printing companies in your area.

Message edited by author 2003-10-29 14:55:24.
 10/29/2003 03:12:58 PM · #7
For a half-dozen copies with quality photos I don't think there's a viable option to printing yourself on inkjet.

A color Docutech might be able to run the job cost-effectively, but I don't think you'd get the photo quality you want. An Indigo (or other color digital press) will probably be too expensive in the quantities you want.

I'm very tempted to suggest printing the text on heavy stock with an ordinary laser printer, and glue actual photo prints into it. If you size your images to 3x4, you can get two on each 4x6 print.
 10/29/2003 03:49:24 PM · #8
Originally posted by GeneralE:
For a half-dozen copies with quality photos I don't think there's a viable option to printing yourself on inkjet.

A color Docutech might be able to run the job cost-effectively, but I don't think you'd get the photo quality you want. An Indigo (or other color digital press) will probably be too expensive in the quantities you want.

I'm very tempted to suggest printing the text on heavy stock with an ordinary laser printer, and glue actual photo prints into it. If you size your images to 3x4, you can get two on each 4x6 print.


I'd guess I'd be concerned about the overall look of pages with photos cut and glued into them. Could go for a rustic homemade look I guess :)
 10/29/2003 03:50:35 PM · #9
Originally posted by Jon Lucas:
We use digital print very frequently and the quality is increasingly more impressive, so I think this is your best bet if you want a fairly professional finish with a low run (and no awkward finishing for you to do). You may want to consider a concertina folding insert or stapled booket - it depends on what you want in it.

If you give me an idea of how many pages you want I can get costings for you and organise it if you like. Alternatively you may want to look in the Yellow Pages for digital printing companies in your area.


You are in London right ? The shipping costs to Texas are probably not insignificant either :) but thanks for the offer.
 10/29/2003 03:54:08 PM · #10
Originally posted by Gordon:


I'd guess I'd be concerned about the overall look of pages with photos cut and glued into them. Could go for a rustic homemade look I guess :)


Or ... use photo corners and make it a real photo album. This way they get to check the quality of the actual product as well, unless that's too many "free samples."
 10/29/2003 03:54:19 PM · #11
Ha ha! ; P

I mistook you for a UK based member in the back of my mind. Oh well - good luck anyway!
 10/29/2003 04:06:41 PM · #12
If you go the homemade book route there is a great book called "Making handmade books". It shows some very creative ways of making cool short run books (or one of a kinds if you want) I can't remember the author off hand but I'll check when I get home. I'd say the best option is prining them on a good quality ink jet or dye sub printer and making the book yourself. Indigo presses are a great quality print system for short runs but they are still not cheap. As to press printing we used to tell clients it's $1000 to turn the press on. The expence in printing is the prepress work not the printing. (the cost of negatives, proof prints and printing plates)

Todd
 10/29/2003 04:47:30 PM · #13
Originally posted by FactoryX:
The expence in printing is the prepress work not the printing. (the cost of negatives, proof prints and printing plates)

Todd

... and press set-up and clean-up.
 10/29/2003 04:52:25 PM · #14
Thanks for all the advice so far.

The project is absolutely not yet at the point of producing a large run, though that is the general final intention for a lot of the images. This first effort is basically marketing towards that final end.

Looks like I'll just print them on an inkjet and then get it bound at a copy store.
 10/29/2003 05:47:52 PM · #15
Gordon,

Give this a try... //www.trafford.com/

A friend of mine just published his first book through them. It sounds like you'd benefit from their "on-demand" style of publishing.
 10/29/2003 06:54:32 PM · #16
Originally posted by Gordon:
Thanks for all the advice so far.

The project is absolutely not yet at the point of producing a large run, though that is the general final intention for a lot of the images. This first effort is basically marketing towards that final end.

Looks like I'll just print them on an inkjet and then get it bound at a copy store.


Call your local copy store. Most of them can take a cd of your design and transfer it onto a finish product.

You can actually spiral bound your own documents. Many arts & crafts or scrapbooking store may have the materials needed. Check places like Michaels, or Joanns' Fabric they might have the things needed.

You can have them laser copied and bounded by hand.
 10/29/2003 07:45:24 PM · #17
Gordon - coincidentally, an email came to me today leading to the Book Publisher Website. Now, I have no idea what or who they are about.. it is just a lead from an email. I have yet to investigate this myself.
Maybe you should check it out too?

10/29/2003 07:56:02 PM · #18
Not sure if this is exactly what you are looking for. Coffee table books of photos starting at $29.99. At snapfish. "Pricing" button at the bottom

Message edited by author 2003-10-29 19:57:50.
 10/30/2003 12:24:24 AM · #19

... and press set-up and clean-up.


I used to get the joy of doing that set-up and clean-up back in my days in printshops. I guess I tried to block it out! (haha) I don't think I owned a shirt that didn't have some sort of random ink stain.

Message edited by author 2003-10-30 00:25:04.
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