I’m musing on making an updated version of the bonus chapters and appendices (roughly 100,000 words of content, which would be roughly 290-300 A5 typeset pages) to my John McLaughlin biography available next year in hard copy form. I’d like to find a way to do this as a fairly short run thing, so not a print-on-demand model but say 200 copies. Can any of the Massive recommend, from experience, any printing services that would be good to go with?
Googling such services is easy enough, but a recommendation about reliability and quality would go a long way!
Strictly speaking, they are a print-on-demand model, however you could simply ask for two hundred copies. I’ve not had any issues with them, the quality is good, layout templates are fine, technical support is helpful, and you don’t have to make your project available to the public. OOAA.
http://www.lulu.com/shop/shane-kirk/all-these-little-pieces/paperback/product-5939858.html
Interesting – thanks Skirk. I’ll bear it in mind. For some reason I think I’d prefer to deal with an actual bricks and mortar printer – but I’ll certainly bear this suggestion in mind. The price looks good.
I can recommend two ‘bricks and mortar’ printers that I use, for all manner of printing jobs. Neither will be as cheap as an online service. One printer is in Somerset, the other in Yorkshire. The Yorkshire one did a 48-page, A4 colour booklet for me earlier in the year. The Somerset one has done perfect binding (glued spine) for me, as well as loads of leaflets, folders, indeed all manner of stuff over the years. Its worth checking with whatever printer you use as to who does the binding. Some printers do it in-house, others use third-party finishers to fold, trim, pack, etc. It shouldn’t matter who does what, but I prefer an in-house.
Thanks GC. I’ll ask a well-connected graphic designer pal where I live (he’s off in India at the moment) if he has any suggestions. The ideal scenario is if I find someone within travelling distance in Ireland/NI, but it’s not crucial. I’m wanting a situation where I can have approval/interaction in the process.
I’d assumed that neither of ‘mine’ were near you, but I can always PM you with details. I’ve used the Somerset printer for nearly twenty years, and they’ve never let me down.
One of the owners of this firm is a family friend. Happy to make an introduction if it would help.
http://printhouse.co.uk/products/books/
I’ve just filled in their online quote form, Ian. Thanks! I might also buy Skirkmeister’s book to have a look at the quality of the Lulu option. And because it’s Skirkmeister’s book.
If by chance you do end up going with them, please let me know and I’d be happy to ask my chum to keep an extra eye on the job for you.
I’m a bookbinder but I’m on the south coast so may not be as convenient as you would like. But I will add my offer of help to the rest.
Thanks Ip. My pondering is whether to go for ‘ltd edition/high quality’ or ‘just-happens-to-be-a-short-run/adequate quality’. I’ll be pragmatic about it, cos I doubt if I’ll have vast sums of cash to play with. I’d like the material to exist in hard copy, and I’m aware that there’s at least some demand (even if that’s three or four people, anecdotally), just exploring the options…
Forgive me for sidetracking, but let me do if you find something. I am still hoping to publish my two word critical appraisal of the Beano album.