Looking for a low production and high quality printing service to publish a book....

[SAShruby]

I am looking for a service you can print your book. Very limited production, even printing by the order. It would require to print high quality B&W pictures. Actually, whole book will be B&W.

The service needs to be consistent and reliable, average price is Ok. I looked in some previous threads and all I found was not satisfactory to me. The biggest issue was a consistency to get it printed in the same quality over a time.

Any new companies on the market?

[Frank Petronio]

Good luck on the quest...

[robc]

want to volunteer as a guinea pig? Then try Photobox (http://www.photobox.co.uk) and let us know how good it is...

My guess is that it will be pretty good based on the trial I did for black and white prints to fuji crystal archive. The only thing I found was that my slight warm tone came out too warm in the print but that is easy to fix for next time.

[SAShruby]

Good luck on the quest...

I know, but maybe someone came accross some website already.

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

I am looking for a service you can print your book. Very limited production, even printing by the order. It would require to print high quality B&W pictures. Actually, whole book will be B&W.

The service needs to be consistent and reliable, average price is Ok. I looked in some previous threads and all I found was not satisfactory to me. The biggest issue was a consistency to get it printed in the same quality over a time.

Any new companies on the market?

I received this e-mail a few days ago, I have absolutely zero idea if it is legitimate or not.






Have you ever thought about publishing a book of your art works?
Order to be published and win the $2000 World of Art Publishing Award 2006

Receive your Individual Art Book within 8 weeks

There are millions of artists but the privilege of being published falls to so few.
The book is not only about art but about the development in art to create art history

Individual art books
for contemporary artists
in MASTERS Of TODAY series

Number of pages: 66 - 200
Hardcover, offset print
Size 10"x10" / 24x24 cm.
Size 9½"x12"/ 24,5x31,5 cm.
WoA /MOT Publising London /Stockholm
Language: English
Print run 1000
made in Europe

Professional Layout / 66 pages / Hardcover / 1000 Copies / Quality Print in Europe / Statement / CV / Critic Essays / Up to 150 Works on Exceptional Reproduction / Bookstore and eCommerce Distribution: Amazon, Borders, Barnes & Noble etc / Cost €11, 49 - US$ 13.99 per copy

Many Artists have dreamed of this, but then they discovered that the cost is prohibitive. But still the dream of seeing ones work in a uniquely created professional hardcover art book, with super high quality reproduction, is one that lives on. Then how can you accomplish this at a cost that doesn't break the bank? Send to our editorial office in Stockholm 60-150 quality photos, the works detail information (title, year, media, size, and collection), critic essays / statement / CV and several photos of yourself. All publishing materials may be provided by mail by the artist in electronic format (on CD or DVD) or by e-mail as zipped image files (300dpi JPG /TIFF image files)




If you’re interested in undertaking your own art book project, you wish to contact Masters of Today /World of Art Publishing or complete and return by e-mail or mail the attached PDF Agreement to Publisher and provide the publishing materials by mail or e-mail our editorial office in Sweden.


Publisher
World of Art
Mörbylund 19, 9tr
SE-182 30 Danderyd
Stockholm (Sweden)
www.worldofartmagazine.com
.............................
Masters of Today
15 Manchester Court
London E16 3GZ (UK)
www.mastersoftoday.com

Publishing Package and Cost
► Full editing: creative layout, unique design, text review & editing ($2,690 / 2,149 euro)
► Plates, Offset Printing and by Hand Binding : ($9,690 / 7,729 euro)
► Packing, shipping, distribution of the first 200 copies of the print run. : ($1,590 / 1,269 euro )
TOTAL: US$ 13,999 / 11,490 euro / GBP £ 6,149)
* The publishing package assumes a high degree of accuracy and attention to detail in all stages of production, a comprehensive, professional designed hardcover art book published for collectors and art lovers, also, marketing and distribution.

The cost of the first printing is paid 100% by Artist and is not shared with Publisher.

Book Specs
Individual art Book in the series of ‘Masters of Today’ (with a Business Reply Card)*
66 pages offset
170 grams quality art paper
Hardcover
Size 9¾ x 12¼ inches / 245 x 315 mm.
* The Business Reply Card includes the work inventory in the book and is the way in which art lovers and book buyers can express their commitment in acquiring original works included in the book or find direct contact to the author and comment the works, a unique marketing and business tool specific to publishing.

Print Run
1,000 copies
200 copies will be sent in distribution
800 copies will be shipped to the Artist’s address
As the books sell, Artist will send additional copies directly to the distributor upon request.

Distributor
Ingram Books. Ingram has a huge databases of millions of book titles and the widest audience possible marketing and distribution through more than 5,500 large US bookstores and eCommerce channels including Barnes and Noble, Borders, Amazon, Powell’s, Alibis, Books-A-Million, Buy.com, Wal-Mart, Blackwell and many others worthwhile.

Author Royalty
If a 66 page book sells for $49.95 and the wholesale traditional takes 55% off the retail price, the price is $22.47; the distributor traditional takes 40% of $22.47, that would be $9 and the author earning of 60 points gets 60% of $22.47 for each book sold. That would be roughly $13.47 for each book sold paid to the artist.

Payment Schedule
100% funds must be wired upon signing the contract

Materials
Artist will submit the following:
►60-100 quality works
►Detailed artwork information (title, year, media, size, collection)
►Essays (if available)
►Artist statement
►CV / resume
►Several photos of Artist

Format
The publishing material may be provided in electronic format on
CD or DVD by air mail to MOT editorial office in Sweden
or by e-mail attachment (mail to: artist@mastersoftoday.com )
300 dpi JPG /TIFF (zipped image files) /CMYK

Schedule
After receiving the materials the editorial office will send the Artist two or more, but at least two, alternative layout page samples (as PDF and JPG file). The Book will be published three to six calendar months from the complete editorial submission.

Copyrights
Image copyright is held by Artist
Layout copyright is held by Publisher

Payment
Bank: Barclays Bank, London, UK
Branch Address: Barclays Bank, 128 Moorgate, London EC2M 6SX.
Account name: World of Art
Sorting Code: 203200
Account Number: 70277908
IBAN: GB22 BARC 2032 0070 2779 08
BICSWIFT code: BARCGB22

Individual art books
Look inside: Paul Ygartua /Living Pasion
Look inside: Leon Oks /Dreamscape
Look inside: Henryk Szydlowski /Door to the Dream
Look inside: MARLIE BURTON ROCHE /LANDSCAPE & BREAD
Look inside: ANDREA ZANATTA /VENEZIA
Look inside: JOSE SACAL /A PIECE OF WORK
Look inside: mary anne wardach /emotional swirl
Look inside: Darla Farner / Vibrant Abstract
Look inside: Ligia PODOREANU EKSTROM /watercolor
Look inside: art in israel /contemporary artists
Look inside: TRANSYLVANIA /THE WOODEN CHURCH reghin 1725 a.d

E-mail to : info@worldofartmagazine.com
Website ( : www.worldofartmagazine.com


Once you have trust, you have access, and that is the power of World of Art
World of Art is a contemporary global art publisher for artists, galleries, museums, dealers, art collectors, who seek the latest news and trends in the art world. Each World of Art publication is a graphic creation itself and source of information including profiles of artists and galleries, updates on museums exhibitions, show reviews, gallery news and events, reporting on the art, personalities and trends that shape the art world. Marketing and distribution provided by Ingram Periodicals through newsstands and large bookstores available in US and Internationally including Barnes & Noble, Borders, Amazon, Powell’s, Alibis, Book-A-Million, Buy.com, Wal-Mart, Textbook, Blackwell in USA, also in Canada, France, Germany, Great Britain, Australia, Japan and many others.


World of Art is a marketing tool.
It develops a story around the global art books and the artist included thereby fostering interest among art collectors, galleries, museums and enticing them to make a work of art purchase or exhibition. The concept is simple and the result of the development process is often an extended request. More often than not, World of Art publishing is synonymous with an advertorial and consists of Artist Portfolio in World of Art contemporary global art magazine and art books.

World of Art evolves this concept to reflect the needs of modern art marketers.
The focus of every published World of Art book and magazine is the target collector, gallery and museum not the publishing vanity. World of Art develops art publishing with a focus on the art market – collector, gallery and museum: who they are and where their interests lie. Based on this understanding, World of Art develops an original art magazine and unique art books, targeted content which promises to better attract and hold target art' attention.
Petru Russu is the editor and publisher (MFA)
Publisher : World of Art Publishing of P. Russu registered by the Swedish and Patent and Registration.

[Erik Eks]

In short, VANITY PRESS.

[SAShruby]

I don't know. If I understand correctly, for 66 pages at 50 USD (quite expensive) you will earn 13.50 from sale. If you sell 1000 copies you will get 13,500 USD. You will pay as author 14,000 USD to run your 1000 copies. Distributor gets 9,000 USD, printer gets 22,500 USD and you would get -500 USD.

Hmm, quite an offer and awesome deal.

[tim atherton]

In short, VANITY PRESS.

yeah I know - Lee Friedlander's a real expert at that self-published vanity press stuff... tacky tacky tacky

[SAShruby]

Here is website it talks about vanity pres and other useful terms with respect to publishing.

Terms and vanity press (http://www.poemtree.com/Jerome/Publishing-Chapter01.htm)

[Jim Jirka]

Here is a link. Quality is very good.

http://www.sharedink.com/

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

I don't know. If I understand correctly, for 66 pages at 50 USD (quite expensive) you will earn 13.50 from sale. If you sell 1000 copies you will get 13,500 USD. You will pay as author 14,000 USD to run your 1000 copies. Distributor gets 9,000 USD, printer gets 22,500 USD and you would get -500 USD.

Hmm, quite an offer and awesome deal.

I think that's only if you sell the book for $49.95...

You know, I just found out yesterday that Tim Anderson from Camera Arts has a book publishing company. Or the company that runs Camera Arts that Tim runs also has a book publishing wing. One of the photographers in our latest issue, Jackie Brenner, was printed under that company....she's on Amazon.com and a lot of other major book sites as well. Anyone know if Tim browses these forums?

[Greg Miller]

I have used SharedInk (ask them for access to their "Professional" site) and was impressed with the quality. Their prices are not cheap but are in line with or cheaper than most of their competitors.

If you are doing your book to make money, you might want to reconsider. I don't think many photographers make much money through book sales, either using vanity press or a real publisher.

[SAShruby]

I think that's only if you sell the book for $49.95...

Actually I was being little bit sarcastic.

[Erik Eks]

yeah I know - Lee Friedlander's a real expert at that self-published vanity press stuff... tacky tacky tacky

And your point is...? How does Lee Friedlander negate the fact that there is a vanity press? That's exactly the kind of delusion the vanity press feeds on: that you think you can be the next Friedlander.

A dumbkopf is a dumbkopf is a dumbkopf.

[Kirk Gittings]

I think that's only if you sell the book for $49.95...

You know, I just found out yesterday that Tim Anderson from Camera Arts has a book publishing company. Or the company that runs Camera Arts that Tim runs also has a book publishing wing. One of the photographers in our latest issue, Jackie Brenner, was printed under that company....she's on Amazon.com and a lot of other major book sites as well. Anyone know if Tim browses these forums?


I know Tim Anderson well. He is indeed publishing books. His email address is:

Tim Anderson <tim@cameraarts.com>

[tim atherton]

And your point is...? How does Lee Friedlander negate the fact that there is a vanity press? That's exactly the kind of delusion the vanity press feeds on: that you think you can be the next Friedlander.

A dumbkopf is a dumbkopf is a dumbkopf.

The term "Vanity Press" generally has a somewhat negative connotation to it and evolved from within the poetry/writing world. In photography there is a long, accepted and honorable tradition of self-publishing which carries little or none of those negative connotations.

Many photographers have and do self-published work and this is in no way looked down upon as it is in some of the writing world for example. (also many of these self-published books also now go for a very high premium).

Bear in mind that probably 85%-90% of even the very best photography books make no serious money at all and a good percentage make a loss. Most publishers are happy if they break even.

Small, "tradicional" specialist presses are now also adapting to short runs of such work and are probably the place to look rather than the iBooks route.

I'm not quite sure what you mean by the vanity presses "feeding upon"? Most of those who do photographic books aren't following the same pattern as they do in say the poetry world. Rather they provide shorter print runs which the photographer then markets themselves.

Essentially, in answer to your question, we are not actually talking about Vanity Presses - but ask a stupid question eh...

[tim atherton]

Try telling that to ...the erstwhile Arena Editions that they should not expect to make money from their photo books

err - they didn't and went bust as I recall

you seem to have a few issues around this not much point discussing it with someone who only seems able to course rather than discuss. (hmm - lose a bunch of money on a bad publication...?)

You seem to think that it is OK to lose money and until you lose your own, you won't know what it feels like.

Suffice to say your points are about 10 years out of date. One of the major issues of the changes in presses and publishing over recent years is that it's possible to self publish and for it not cost a fortune (and thus not the possibility to lose a fortune) as well as be distributed and sell reasonably well. There are several examples I know of where either individual photographers or a small group under their own imprint have done just this

The vanity press carries the negative connotation precisely because there is no curatorial or editorial rigour.

nice misconception, but there are remainder shelves full of bad, bad photo books put together with so called "editorial" rigor - and plenty of self published ones that sell well.

What's probably more important than editorial rigor (and what most publishers provide) is business sense

[David Spivak-Focus Magazine]

And your point is...? How does Lee Friedlander negate the fact that there is a vanity press? That's exactly the kind of delusion the vanity press feeds on: that you think you can be the next Friedlander.

A dumbkopf is a dumbkopf is a dumbkopf.

Didn't Friedlander have the largest photography exhibition at the MoMA last year? Who cares if it's vanity, the guy promoted himself well enough that he's world famous.

You can look at it two ways: Either work hard and wait for an opportunity to come to you or work hard and create opportunities for yourself. Just because you would be published under vanity press, does not mean your work isn't meaningful or relevant.