How important is artwork for PDF products?

[bing]

From the perspective of a PDF buyer don’t go too crazy on the art. I would imagine most PFD buyers are like myself and don’t buy PDF books for looks. In fact if you can include with the purchase two versions – one with your art and fancy layout and a second that is plain and printer friendly. I wish more PDF publishers would include simple printer friendly versions of the books.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

From the perspective of a PDF buyer don’t go too crazy on the art. I would imagine most PFD buyers are like myself and don’t buy PDF books for looks. In fact if you can include with the purchase two versions – one with your art and fancy layout and a second that is plain and printer friendly. I wish more PDF publishers would include simple printer friendly versions of the books.

How much do these differ, then?

I'd imagine that one version has illustrated page margins and color art, and the other blank margins and b&w art...

 

[Jaws]

I'd imagine that one version has illustrated page margins and color art, and the other blank margins and b&w art...

Both should have blank margins. Only time to have a margin is to indicate a new chapter. Even then it shouldn't use up too much ink. The best way to do that is with a new piece of art.


Peace and smiles

j.

 

[Wombat]

Art is useful in certain limited circumstances. I like to see pictures of creatures that are new and different to the setting, but that is about the only place where I feel that illustrations are close to required.

In many cases I feel illustrations are included just to have them. Many pictures I have seen in rpgs have been spacefillers -- not particularly imaginative, necessary, or even necessarily close to the text descriptions. Thus in many places I would prefer to see no illustrations in place of mediocre or inappropriate ones.

 

[Jürgen Hubert]

Well, considering the size of your project, I would say artwork is important. A piece here and there around every three pages should do it.

According to my current estimates, that would still be about 50 pieces of artwork - quite a lot, actually.

 

[The Serge]

I feel the OP's pain. Our first publication at Dicefreaks, The Gates of Hell clocks in at over 300 pages and the only "art" is the graphics. We tried to get some free art and I considered doing my own drawings, but time and access prevented this. Fortunately, our material is free, so I don't think it's as bad.

 

[Kilmore]

RPG's have a time honored tradition of scruddy black and white artwork, and some may say it gives the work a more nostalgic feel. At any rate, any audience getting a low budget RPG release will probably be forgiving of unpolished but earnest illustrations that the writer provides himself.