I'm nearing the end of the first volume of my comic, and I'm thinking of doing a print version to sell off my web site and at conventions. Can anyone reccomend a good print on demand service?
Thanks.
Ah ha! I've been hunting through the site intermitently all day looking for that. Thank you.
And you know, 'What is Lulu" is just totally the section of the web site I would look for the price calulator in first.
Not.
Yes, it was easier to find- but I think they've changed the site layout since the last time I visited. A link to it on the main page would be nice.
Lulu's help section is a disaster but their quality and service more than make up for the FAQ's shortcomings.
If you can buy a hundred at a time, you can check out Docutech print-on-demand in your local area. It's quite a bit cheaper than the internet based PODs.
If you can buy a hundred at a time, you can check out Docutech print-on-demand in your local area. It's quite a bit cheaper than the internet based PODs.
That's the style of thing I was looking for, yeah. Thanks much!
My books are done by Blitzprint:
http://www.blitzprint.com/
Pretty nice quality, but if I could do it again, I'd step up to some of the nicer coated papers.
Thanks for all the leads, guys. I'm posting to this thread just so when I want it later, no matter how much later, I can find it by searching for my own posts.
Cafepress does POD now but unless you're doing a graphic novel sized work of 120+ pages forget it because the base price is so bloody high it's not worth it. Their content policy is pretty annoying too because you can't have any characters in your book drink, smoke, or do drugs (let alone have sex) or commit any act of violence. Basically you can only print books about people sitting around doing nothing.
I haven't checked the content restrictions on Lulu or Comixpress yet but I'd imagine since they're a little more serious about POD business they're not as uptight and conservative about the content.
I do believe you have to go pretty insane crazy to get Comixpress to deny you becasue of content. They do my stuff, whcih contains plenty of violence, drinking, smoking, and various levels of suggestive immaturity.
Don't know about Lulu.
Their content policy is pretty annoying too because you can't have any characters in your book drink, smoke, or do drugs (let alone have sex) or commit any act of violence.
Oh, that's okay. There's no violence in my comic. My characters are too busy... um, drinking, smoking, doing drugs and having sex. Never mind.
Of course I'm pretty much screwed anyways since when I made my comic I chose dimensions (unwittingly) that don't fit nicely with any of the standard print formats.
I have similar difficulties. From what research I've done so far, most of these places don't like horizontal formats, and my strip is proportioned to fit the screen. I did decide on a simple 2x3 grid layout for my panels that allows me to change the layout relativly easily, but some bits may still need to be re-drawn if I want to change to a vertical format.
And that's leaving aside the issue of color.
There's no reason why you couldn't print on 8.5 by 11, and have the printer trim the book to 6 inches wide.
Krakow is mostly square, I'm planning to use the extra space above and below for commentary.
Comixpress would trim your books to what size you wanted-- if you ask them to.
I publish GAAK thru Lulu and they don't have any content restrictions. Some of the comics (mostly the manga comics) there are pretty outrageous. But comics with adult content (sex, violence, etc) are listed for sale on the site as "mature".
Dee
GAAK at Lulu
http://books.lulu.com/content/79525
I would recommend LULU, too, for bigger books.
My comic is very DARK (literally), and the only complaint I have against LULU is that sometimes there are printer streaks through the picture. But it is very inexpensive for the quality received. Good choice.
Let me say that again with my face on:
I would recommend LULU, too, for bigger books.
My comic is very DARK (literally), and the only complaint I have against LULU is that sometimes there are printer streaks through the picture. But it is very inexpensive for the quality received. Good choice.
To go further on what Dee just said Lulu gives you the option of rating your own title. If your book is really up there in the rating system you can rate it mature or direct access only. That way, the only people who can get to it are those who should get to it and not younger readers.
[quote:6f451dcfb6="DJ_Coffman"]Comixpress would trim your books to what size you wanted-- if you ask them to.
Any word from them on perfectbound binding ability yet?
-Tyler
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Print on demand
I'm nearing the end of the first volume of my comic, and I'm thinking of doing a print version to sell off my web site and at conventions. Can anyone reccomend a good print on demand service?
Thanks.
Good heavens. I posted that as a guest. How embarassing.
www.lulu.com and www.comixpress.com are two of the best IMHO. Lulu is good for books and Comixpress for comic issues.
Thanks. I'd looked at those, already, though. Comixpress looks good if I ever want to try doing a monthly or bi-monthly book. Which as a mater of fact I do, though maybe not right now.
What I'm really interested in is doing a 100-odd page perfect bound book, which Lulu would be right for. But Lulu annoys me, because it seems like you have to enter a completed project before you can get a price quote.
[quote:6427f6fc07="Charles_Snow"] But Lulu annoys me, because it seems like you have to enter a completed project before you can get a price quote.
If, when you say 'enter a completed project' you mean 'give them the specifications for the finished product', then yes- you'll need to know that information before getting a quote. That's standard, whether it's POD or through a traditional printer.
If you have a good idea of what the page count is going to be, what binding you want, if the work will be b&w or color, size of finished work (6x9, comic book, 8.5x11, etc.), you can put that into lulu's online calculator-leave the quantity at one, then hit enter. That will give you the flat cost of printing one copy.
You can find the calculator on this page.