Just to Touch Base

As you can see from the last few posts, I am conforming the layout to the new digital printer specs. While doing this the layout took another step up in terms of the graphic design. I never imagined it would, but while trying to achieve the color balance I was seeking, I thought I'd try some effects, well one in particular. I was completely taken by surprise when an oil paint effect on the background page brought about the kind of change I had in mind. Well, it wasn't exact what I had in mind for the page itself, but rather it changed the relationship between the background page and the text/art, something I wanted, but was unable to achieve until now. I had settled for what I was able to create in that regard, because it was the best I could come up with. But adding this oil paint effect brought about the effect of parchment. Well you might ask why not just use parchment? Well, the background page was essentially built from scratch. I started with a sketch of the shape of the page and built it through many generations of alterations to achieve the look. Unfortunately, the page I am working with now is fixed, because my original working files were lost to failing hard discs. But that's ok. What I have now is what we need.

   So Book One is ready to print and I have determined to build the inventory for Book One while I move onto confirming Book Two. Jency is moving forward at a good pace to complete the artwork. I will need to focus on building the art/drafting work-station. It's underway, but I stopped working on it for other things. That workstation will have a computer built-in so that it can serve both still artwork and animation and link to my main workstation.

   Well, it's be all moving forward, but now that spring is here, I have other outdoor work to do on my vehicles and building maintenance.

   That being said, I can take orders for Book One (via email). The production line is up and running for small quantities, under 500. But turn around time is commensurate to the quantity. A few books at a time, say up to 25, can be delivered within 14 days. It will take longer for larger quantities. Of course, once I build my inventory up to 500, then delivery will be quicker.

Well, that's today's report 

AG

More Design Variations

It's insane how many times I've changed the layout on the books. Well, I have been working.to publish the fourth prototype run. As I said below, the new printer for the Digital On-Demand books is using a Canon Printer, which is printing differently than the Xerox machines that I've used.i won't go into it here, only to say that it might be due to different color profiles. I'll need to check on that.

In any event, I printed two sample copies of Book One and, as a result, have made more adjustments to the layout . They have been made and once again the layout has been improved ad a result.

I'll come back to this. 

Time to sleep. 

AG

Here I go again !

Here's a letter I prepared some time ago, when I thought I would be moving forward more quickly in the theatre and film production arenas. I think it still applies. 

So, in regard to publishing the Storybook Collection; the printer I was using for the Prototype/On-demand books has relocated to another state and I have been required to develop a new relationship to fulfill that need. Yes, I have a number of printers I have been discussing this project with, for an assortment of things and to provide backup options, but Limited Edition and Hand-stitched Books are contingent upon the fixed budget, based on the maximum possible MSRP.  So it is that my pricing structure must be met.

As it turns out, my new printer is using Canon instead of Xerox. There is quite a difference in the color resolution and density balance. That means I must adapt my layout for his digital press, which I have begun to do. This bring another delay, because it is a huge amount of work to isolate the artwork from the background. As it turned out, when preparing the last layout I merged the components, not realizing that different presses would require adjustments of the primary components individually, due to density and saturation issues. So I am recovering the components and building new files from my original design programs. I have found new methods that greatly reduce the processing burden, but in addition, I went from a Quad Core Mac to a Twelve Core Mac with more the four times the RAM. So my previous computer issues are somewhat surmounted.

As I mentioned elsewhere, hard disc failures have cause me to loose virtually all of my original scans. Fortunately, I do have the insert copies, which were already processed, so I can rebuild another editable Layer file from those. In fact, I am doing just that anyway, since I will have to address an assortment of digital, off-set and web printing presses, all of which will likely require  adjustment to each layout.

The recent work of adjusting for this new press has brought about some quite stunning changes. I would not have believed it, but these changes have greatly improved the graphic design of the layout, all because of the need to control density and color balance for a different press. 

So even the samples provided in other posts here are now outdated. Mind you, they are a good example of the overall design, but they pale in comparison to this latest revision. I'm amazed that this is true.

On another front; I have ascertained the type and volume of inventory quantities of the book collection. I will only be inventorying the Hand-stitched Books, not the Machine-bound Editions. So I am working on building the inventory, in conjunction with setting up and perfecting the production line. 

 For the time being, I am be focusing on Book One, since that book will stand on it's own and will be released first. I anticipate that the remaining books will be released after 1) the artwork is finished, and; 2) a predetermined number of Book One copies have been sold, basically using Book One to refine our production and sales activity and fund the other books.

As I said in the last post, I will be taking orders for Book One. Those orders are for Custom Made, Hand-stitched Books, some of which will be Signed & Numbered Limited Editions. Those orders will be released after the ISBNs are registered, which will take place after this next prototype run of the full collection is published.

 Larger quantity orders from resellers will be taken, but a full keystone should only expected on the Machine-bound books, and is contingent upon either; purchasing the entire production run, or waiting until enough resellers provide purchase orders to do so.

At this stage, I will not be inventorying Machine-bound books for resellers, because the expected margin and required production volume is too high for me to do that. My inventory is only for Hand-stitched books and the turnaround time on those books is longer, due to production methods.

Hand-stitched books may be sold by resellers, but the wholesale cost of the books and the MSRP is higher. I did make accomodation for differences between Hand-stitched vs Machine-bound in the MSRP, but nonetheless, any purchase order for both Hand-stitched and Machine-bound books must be accompanied by either full prepayment or a letter of Credit from the buyer's bank for the entire amount of the purchase order.  

Said purchase order for Machine-bound books must be for the entire production run, or delivery will be pending sufficient other resellers joining in on the required minimum quantity of 25k units. In all cases, all sales are final, no returns and, as I said, the order must be prepaid, either by check or accompanied by a Letter of Credit. No product will be shipped until the check is cleared, or payment is received from the Letter of Credit

Specific details beyond what has just been said will be finalized via email.

image.of.the.mind.studios@gmail.com

Attention; Arthur Greisiger