Short Run Printing

[philreed]

I found this printer while searching. I've never used them but I figured several people would be interested in an outfit that does short run color printing.

http://www.instantpublisher.com/ip/pricing.htm

If I use them for anything I'll be sure to report on the quality and service.

 

[tensen]

Have you checked the prices of that on color?
A fullcolor 32 page product is over $7 even at 1000 copies.
Following the normal pricing scheme, do you think a customer would pay $70 for a 32 page product?

 

[Wulf Ratbane]

Have you checked the prices of that on color?
A fullcolor 32 page product is over $7 even at 1000 copies.
Following the normal pricing scheme, do you think a customer would pay $70 for a 32 page product?

If you go with short run, odds are you do not intend to follow the normal pricing scheme. Short run is handy for filling your own back stock to sell direct to the customer.

There's no need for it in the usual three (or four) tier system, but it has its uses for the very small press publisher.


Wulf

 

[jmucchiello]

Have you checked the prices of that on color?
A fullcolor 32 page product is over $7 even at 1000 copies.
Following the normal pricing scheme, do you think a customer would pay $70 for a 32 page product?

Printing a full color book on demand is gonna cost. The same book in B&W was only 1.10 at 1000 copies. The real hidden cost is shipping. They have a sample showing a 300 print run on 300 pages cost almost 0.50/book to my zip code. (That's pretty close to 96 pages at 1000 copyies.) Raising the price from 2.36/copy to 2.86/copy. Now I still have to ship the things. Not bad. But not great.

edit: The real question is how do these things look/feel?

 

[philreed]

Never order over 100 copies . . .

If you're going to do short run printing it's not really intended as a huge profit center. Keep it at 100 or fewer copies and only sell direct from your website (or at cons).

I don't endorse this outfit at all. I just found the information and thought I would share.

And if you want B&W only, there are much better outfits than this one.

 

[Brudewollen]

It's a nice pricing tool for new publishers to get an idea of what it might cost them to do print runs of their books. Actually, I thought the pricing for B&W books was pretty good (not that I've priced many). I'm considering publishing adventure modules in the near future and found that it's going to be cheaper then I'd thought.

The trick now is to go to all the publishing on demand places online and see what I can get...also find out what services are available for shipping and such, that's another expense.

 

[philreed]

Let me know . . .

If you find anything great. I've been through about 50 different sites in the last few days. I'll post the best once I filter through everything.

 

[Priest]

It sure would be nice to have a site, or better yet a PDF magazine that was dedicated to all the different things one worries about when publishing, or writing D20

D20 Writers Journal

1. What Software, Hardware, other is necessary for Publishing PDF's, or Print. (In a magazine one could per se highlight a few old hat products such as Quark, and tie in a PC Gamer like review of newer products)

2. How does OGL, and OGC work, and what am I allowed to use in my work (In a magazine one could highlight a new all important piece of OGL from out of the publishing community)

3. An Index of Print Publishing firms, there costs, and a quality ranking would be nice, as well as contact info, and where they are in the world.

4. Articles on Writing issues, such as Writing better Adventures, or A Subject of balance (Dealing with balance issues such as Feats, Prestige classes, magic items, and new races)

For a magazine I would as an editor think to collect the following types of Articles.

1. New Interviews with stars like Ryan Dancy, or well any of you all here in the D20 Publishers Forum, and Morrus of Course
(800 Words)

2. 10 Steps to Writing Better Adventure (1,000 Words at most) An article spot filled with pointers about how to write better adventures, sourcebooks, or anyother branch of books (such as splat books)

3. As stated, A Subject of Balance (1,000 Words at most)

4. Open Gaming Spotlight Highlighting new innovations in the way we OGL, and OGC (Perhaps 2-3 an Issue highlighting the new rules in about 500- 800 words

5. Publishers Tool Box (About 1 Old hat program, and 2 new programs coming out, in review format dealing with all types of programs useful to Publishers, or Writers. (1,000 Words)

6. Company Spotlight ( 900 Word) Spotlight on the Publishing Community with a highlight of a companies new or coming releases, and a short review of the quality of the highlighted companies products from start to now. This can also highlight printing companies such as what phill sort of did in this post

7. Open Space for one issue 500 Words or less related to Writing D20, or Publishing D20

 

[Priest]

Other thoughts about the Benefits of a D20 Writer's and Publishers Journal.

It would be a great source of information for the small publisher, and for the large publisher alike. I could imagine the quality of work after reading articles from the Journal. From the big fish, we'd get good solidly founded advice, and from the little fish new innovation's.

For writers, one could have articles on how to write better either in general, or at specific types of submissions. (Sort of Like Poets & Writers Magazine) Instead of being geared towards the player, the mag would be geared towards the creator. Sort of an Asgard for the D20 Publishing half the Community.

Anyone else interested in this idea.

 

[Priest]

Here is my brief write up of the submission guidelines for the mag just because I liked the idea enough to spend the time.

Submission Guidelines

The D20 Publishers & Writers Journal is a bi-monthly PDF for publishers, editors, writers, and reviewers of the D20 System. Each issue will feature articles written by both emerging and established authors in the industry. These articles will cover topics that are of interest to publishers and writers, or will cover topics such as new publishing software, printer press companies, layout tips, reports on emerging publishers, and a list of releases from community publishers. The news section will update readers on current, and special events. It will occasionally contain interviews with a star of the gaming industry, brief reviews, and other industry news.

The D20 Publishers & Writers Journal is mostly written by the submissions of the D20 System writing and publishing community. We’d be happy to read anything written well. Manuscripts should be typed, and double spaced and no more than 10 pages in length. If you send a proposal for an article instead of a manuscript, please send or point us to two samples of your previous works, and include an app. word count of the manuscript.

It usually takes a few weeks for us to respond to your manuscript, or query. The D20 Publishers & Writers Journal like its counterpart Asgard published by EN World’s Natural 20 Press, is mainly a print by donation venue. Meaning that we will pay for articles on a case-by-case basis. Since the magazine is itself free to everyone with an interest in publishing, and writing under the D20 system.

The D20 Publishers & Writers Journal is not a source of game information like Asgard is, and as such will not carry very much, if any, gaming material. Other than highlights on new innovations in open gaming content, such as FFG’s legendary classes rules, or the parrying rules from Dragon TM #301 for example.

We look forward to hearing from you.

Nathaniel J.
    Editor