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So even the samples provided in other posts here are now outdated.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
