Question for those who buy PDFs.

[HellHound]

The releases of Gar'Udok & Portable Hole full of beer were done with 300dpi imaging. Each book was 11 megs in size (roughly).

At 150 dpi, they come in around 3-4 megs each, which is how we will be releasing most books in the future, with some background images reduced to 96 dpi.

 

[tmaaas]

What I'd like to see is a base version of a pdf sold, with other versions available as download 'patches.'

For instance, the base version is a color, moderate-resolution pdf with few graphic 'elements' such as borders. It would strike a balance between screen resolution, download size, b&w printing, and color printing. It would b o.k. (but not ideal) for any one of these tasks.

This pdf could be modified with one or more patches, each of which would emphasize one common use: on-screen reading, color printing, or b&w printing.

Since the patches are not usable without the original pdf, they could be supplied 'free' of charge. Of course, they would still use server bandwith and take time to produce, but I think they would add value to the overall product.

-- tmaaas

 

[Cergorach]

At 150 dpi, they come in around 3-4 megs each, which is how we will be releasing most books in the future, with some background images reduced to 96 dpi.

Why do the background images at 96dpi when those are images that will be recycled (one image is used multiple times and only taking up the room of one image)?

 

[Heathen Oracle]

Like in our newer modules (coming up after our initial one), our background images that are used will be converted to simple vectors at about 28% opacity, lacking any great detail but still ,maintaining simple style once converted to a Tiff. Its detail that eats up kb space.

 

[Dakhran the Dark]

I like full color PDFs, with borders and all. If I need to print from the PDF and save ink, I'll switch to grayscale on my printer, and maybe even print it in draft. Usually, the only reason I'm printing it would be as a handout or quick reference for my players, and it doesn't need to be fancy.

I also like when the open content of a PDF is included in text, or even better, Rich Text. That way I can utilize it as a straight cut-and-paste into my adventure notes and players' references.

I'm also going to vote for the recent wizardry in the Book of Templates (at least, I think that's where it was). It had buttons to hide or show borders, and hide or show interior graphics. Between that and grayscale, I can usually save the same amount of ink as with a B&W PDF, but without having to download the extra file. It's something that I may try in my own PDFs, if I ever get around to finishing them...

 

[Rifter]

I prefew fewer graphics. I would rather have a shorter document to print, and all the extra graphics add time/expense to the process. I like your 2nd release, Phil, better than the first. I prefer to put as little extra printing in the page, as possible.

 

[tburdett]

B&W with no full page or border art. I'm paying for the content, not the pretty pictures.

 

[Frilf]

I believe the PDF Dakhran the Dark is talking about is Bodies & Souls: 20 Templates. A fine book that displays a great deal of technical mastery of the PDF format.

Our humble Book of Templates, on the other hand, displays my complete novice skill at programming PDFs (I'm getting better, though). There is no art (aside from the cover) and no page borders or background graphics to eat up the ink. Some people dug this idea and others didn't. Oh well. At least the file is very, VERY small (around 500kb), so it can fit on a floppy.

Thanks for the mention, anyway

Cheers!
Ian

PS If someone could tell me how to do that little button trick to turn the borders and graphics on & off, that would be great, too

 

[philreed]

My Latest PDF

Well, I tried the latest one with pretty much no art or color. There's color on the cover and a little color on page 21. The rest is B&W.

I also created a letter-sized and A4-sized version.

So far I haven't seen any comments about it so I'm not sure if I went too far this time or not.

If anyone has my PDFs I'd love to hear opinions on them. Was 101 Mundane Treasures a better way to go (a little color and graphics) or 101 Arcane Spell Components (almost no color and graphics)?

 

[drnuncheon]

Given a choice, I'd choose printer-friendly. I'd rather not spend the money I saved in buying a PDF on ink costs and time to print.

J