Short Run, High Quality Art Book Printing?

[Richard M. Coda]

I had been using Edition One in Berkeley for the past few years, but their quality is taking a big hit. I need sizes up to 11.5x11.5", hard cover with dust jacket and foil stamp. Quantities as low as 25. Any suggestions? Thanks.

[polyglot]

gandolfi had some books made recently; he might know.

[mdm]

Your inkjet printer and a special book binder from somewhere.

[Jim Jones]

gandolfi had some books made recently; he might know.

The first of his books, From My Universe, is a very well done 8" square 126 page book published by Blurb.

[Richard M. Coda]

Anyone have experience with Bookmobile?

I have samples coming from them.

[JBelthoff]

You may want to check out http://www.blurb.com/.

I have not used them but it's a source. Maybe...

[Michael Alpert]

All the suggestions thus far are for on-line digital reproduction. You'll never get good duotone reproduction using those "printers." What you need for high-quality work is a printer who works in fine-screen duotone or tritone lithography. (I am assuming that you are working with black and white photographs. For color work, you'll probably need to look to Italy or China for reasonably priced fine printing.) The printer should be able to Smythe-sew your edition in an in-house bindery or with a bindery that is closely allied with the printer.

For many years I was a customer of Stinehour Press in Vermont; but, after the business was sold by Roderick Stinehour, the company went out-of-business. More recently, I have worked with Studley Press in Western Massachusetts. They printed Todd Webb, a Photographer's Welcome Home, published by the University of Maine Press (I am the director of the UMaine Press). Studley's work is excellent. Perhaps other forum members can suggest good, traditional book-printers nearer to your location. Wherever you go, I don't think you can have a press-run of 25 copies that is reasonably priced. A minimum press-run of 300 copies would be more reasonable.

You also will need a trained designer if your book is going to be what I assume you want. Most self-published books look the way they do because photographers (and others) don't seem to realize that book-design in a rigorous discipline that requires schooling. It is a field that is not the same as "graphic design." It's not something you can do acceptably by simply buying the software.

[Richard M. Coda]

Thanks for all the replies so far... I know blurb... I've used them... but they want $108 per book (12x12 x 30 pages) That's out of the question.

And this is for 25 books only (very limited edition) and not for me... for a client who is very concerned about costs and doesn't want to deal with overseas.

My day job (the one that supports my photo habit, my mortgage and my daughter's CMU education) is self-employed graphic designer (20+ years) I have designed all of this client's books.

I'm thinking about the inkjet/binder route...

Thanks Michael A. for the informed reply

[jnantz]

hi richard

have you looked into paperchase printing ?
they might be an option, i don't know about gold foil though ...

if money were no object i would suggest
providing your prints with a deep left margin / gutter
to a bookbinder and they would help you out.
or if you have time and resources / tools you might want to
try making books on your own. the tools aren't that expensive
and they aren't really that hard to make, even a traditional hardcover, closed spine book.

i have made maybe 20-25 books starting with one i made when i was in high school ...

just the same i can understand if you need them done by a professional with experience.

good luck !
john

[C. D. Keth]

Frank Petronio did a blurb book and I think I remember him posting about it and the testing he did beforehand.