What kind of Sales can you expect from PDF?

[Fast Learner]

Oh, and one more big issue for PoD and PDFs in general: File size vs. resolution/compression.

In order to produce the details in a particular line screen (lpi) you need to have roughly twice as many dots (dpi) in the original (minimum of 150% of the lpi). For that 133 lpi print you need a 266 dpi image.

In order to get a PDF down to a reasonable size, though, Acrobat suggests you throw away a lot of those pixels. It also suggest you convert pics to JPEGs to reduce file size, but JPEG compression really messes up the pictures. In order to get PDFs down to the 1-4mb size most people are willing to download, you end up with a poor-quality print. In order to get a decent PoD product you'd need to have ~20mb files, sometimes much larger (depending on the number of pictures and colors).

Obviously this could be solved with multiple files (one for downloading, one for PoD), but it adds a whole layer on top of the question.

 

[2WS-Steve]

Thanks for the info on the print process FL; that's very cool.

I figure the PoD companies and a store that offered even rudimentary print services wouldn't mind even downloads 40MB in size. One thing I would imagine RPGNow does for the products using its PoD services if ask the vendors for a Press Quality version of the file as well as the compact version.

 

[Arnix]

I figure its time to hear from me. I currently am not a d20 publisher, though that is in the works now, but I do work for a print/online publishing company.

I have been toying with many ideas on how to do a couple of things with pdfs. A major concern for me is printing speed. Something I have seen on too many occasions, are pdfs with fancy page wrappers and in-depth artwork interspersed with the text. This makes printing take ages.

As many of you know, the more images and tables that a pdf contains, the slower that it will print on the average person's printer. This leads me to believe that a pdf could contain a "printer friendly" version of the document as well. Now this will lead easily into a larger (file size) pdf, but is that acceptable for a product that you can actually print in a short period of time? Is the trade off of greater download time worth the quicker print time?

This steps on one the big selling points, for some people at least, of pdfs, the ability to put nearly unlimited artwork of excellent quality into a document. I know that I have several friends who will not buy products that have crappy artwork or bad layouts (judging a book by its cover, anyone?).

There needs to be a compromise. My alternate idea, was simple. Seperate the beauty from meat. Allow the user to print the text sections seperate from the artwork. This way they can say print pages 2-20, 23-30, and 32. The pages will print quickly and at a reasonable quality. Then iff (yes the double ff is there intentionaly), a person feels the need to print the images, they can print the images in whatever quality that they desire, while still being able to print the text in black and white at high speed.

Thoughts anyone?

Arnix (tm)

 

[James Heard]

In regards to cds, has anyone thought about banding together many pdf products onto a single title cd and trying to release it as an "almost print" form? If sales are declining (or non-existant) you could place them all on a single cd and inside a slide jacket and shrink wrap for fairly cheap and sell them for 8-15 dollars at regular game stores maybe. Even in limited print runs of the cd it would point more people to everyone's products and still it would be cheaper than dead tree printing. I'd venture to guess that the main cost would be in distribution?

 

[Twin Rose]

In regards to cds, has anyone thought about banding together many pdf products onto a single title cd and trying to release it as an "almost print" form? If sales are declining (or non-existant) you could place them all on a single cd and inside a slide jacket and shrink wrap for fairly cheap and sell them for 8-15 dollars at regular game stores maybe. Even in limited print runs of the cd it would point more people to everyone's products and still it would be cheaper than dead tree printing. I'd venture to guess that the main cost would be in distribution?

There has been some discussion of this, yes. Indeed, on my Campaign Suite CDs we sell 'advertising space' that lets people put free PDFs on for a small price, enticing people to look into their products more.

My eventual goal is to also release 'for sale' PDFs as well.

 

[James Heard]

I really think this is the way to go eventually. Not only would the perceived value go up by lumping products together and placing the product on shelves as "eye candy" for consumers, they'd get print consumers more comfortable with the idea of pdf's. I'd even venture to say that, barring distribution costs racing up into the stratosphere, the cd would more than pay for it's costs if nothing else because it would "sit on the shelf" longer. It would also serve to defeat the "glut" perception since people would associate the products together in a branding sense I think. "Best of" and "RPG Greatest Hits" volumes come immediately to mind. What would even be better is if someone could convince any of the larger publishers/distributers to add in content and their names to the disk. Even saying something like "Malhavoc Press Presents:" on the front cover (kind of like Steven Spielberg presents movies he doesn't make himself) would go a long ways to gain some automatic sales.

 

[jezter6]

James:

If something could be arranged to sell POD of certain higher need products that might not make it to print, I'm all ears.

What about the smaller ones that aren't worth it for me to keep 10 on the shelves? Any thoughts on a deal made between you and FLGS to get discounts on PoD from you...

My thought is this...pay full price and give monthly/quarterly rebates or freebies based upon how much we would use your service. IE: If one month I paid full price for 50 of your products, I would get credit on another purchase. Or maybe just a standard x% discount on all purchases if I can hold up to a certain amount per month?

Honestly...I'd rather use YOUR PoD service, as I don't have to invest in equipment in my place or find someone locally. I could have my customers order now and pick up in-store when it comes in.

Let me know your thoughts here or via personal email: orcandpie@nepa-tech.com

 

[jezter6]

Also, I forgot to add my thoughts on the CD scene...

I'm not sure the legality of it, but I do have my own burner in my machine, and could do burn-on-demand IN store based upon thos purchases. It would be easier for me to (and this may not be legal, but it's easy) keep a 'store copy' of each PDF purchased on the local HD, and burn on demand and report sales to publisher/rpgnow. Again, there's the trust issue of this, which I am fully aware of.

I wouldn't mind CD's in stock of certain products, but it's like buying music CDs...many people waste money buying a full CD only to get one or two pieces they want to have. I think after a while (in such a small market like d20) that people would give up on buying CD's full of stuff they never wanted.

I like the customized burn-on-demand. James, have you ever thought about that yourself? Again, saving me having to keep inventory of certain things in the store...but I'd have to wait for shipping which would suck.

Anyone else's thoughts on this?

 

[philreed]

I see changes to RPGNow . . .

The "Hot" went from 20 to 10 and "Best" from 40 to 30. Probably for the better.

It's too bad the "Newest," "Specials," and "Comments" thumbnails are all on one side of the page now.

 

[Pramas]

Yep, agreed. Someone phrased it well above - the number of publishers/products is growing faster than the number of consumers. Overall, sales are up, but individually they are down (good for James but bad for us!) I'm selling under half what I would have done a year ago.

I find it interesting the PDF market is mirroring the print market in this way.