Instant Publisher

[Robert A. Rodger]

In one of the posts below, someone mentioned Instant Publisher for Print on Demand. Has anyone used them before? Are they any good?

[Saranjeuhal]

Originally posted by Robert A. Rodger
In one of the posts below, someone mentioned Instant Publisher for Print on Demand. Has anyone used them before? Are they any good?

Just for giggles I went through their online quote system with some figures based on one of our upcoming games. They came out to be pretty expensive, just as most POD printers are.

Using traditional printing on larger print runs will always be more cost effective than using POD. POD ends up becoming more expensive at around the point traditional printing starts getting cheaper. POD isn't able to handle economies of scale very well, whereas traditional systems do.

Then again, it depends on how many copies you need to print. I can see them being effective for a small number of copies, perhaps 25-100. Remember though that if you're doing anything commercially, you still have to allow for retail and/or distribution costs. It could get prohibitive.

[darkvisionmedia]

I just thought I would mention that I was checking out the Instant Publisher site and it seemed interesting, but the POD software and driver that you need to download is for Windows only. So Mac users like myself wouldn't be able to use this service at all. Of course, this won't have any impact on most computer users, I'm sure.

In addition, you need to be able to print out of a program that can print to Windows printers. They give a list of compatible software, but I'm not sure if you can layout your book and turn it into a print ready PDF, then send it to their print servers in that form. They seem really bent on having you print your book from MS Word (?!).

Of course I skimmed this, so I may have missed something.

It would be interesting to know if a service like this exists that is cross-platform...

// chris

[Saranjeuhal]

Originally posted by darkvisionmedia

It would be interesting to know if a service like this exists that is cross-platform...

Most POD companies these days will accept properly formatted PDF documents. This covers a lot of the cross-platform problems. I know of several RPG companies using that right now as the delivery medium of final publications to printers.

[darkvisionmedia]

Originally posted by Saranjeuhal


Most POD companies these days will accept properly formatted PDF documents. This covers a lot of the cross-platform problems. I know of several RPG companies using that right now as the delivery medium of final publications to printers.

Ah. This is good to know, thanks! I'm not sure if I'd ever even use POD, but it's good to know that it's there :)

// chris

[NPC Chris D]

Originally posted by darkvisionmedia
I just thought I would mention that I was checking out the Instant Publisher site and it seemed interesting, but the POD software and driver that you need to download is for Windows only. So Mac users like myself wouldn't be able to use this service at all. Of course, this won't have any impact on most computer users, I'm sure.

In addition, you need to be able to print out of a program that can print to Windows printers. They give a list of compatible software, but I'm not sure if you can layout your book and turn it into a print ready PDF, then send it to their print servers in that form. They seem really bent on having you print your book from MS Word (?!).

Of course I skimmed this, so I may have missed something.

It would be interesting to know if a service like this exists that is cross-platform...

// chris

Since Acrobat Reader (for example) will print to a Windows print driver, if you can produce a PDF file, you can produce material that you can send to them.

Chris Dicely

[darkvisionmedia]

Originally posted by NPC Chris D


Since Acrobat Reader (for example) will print to a Windows print driver, if you can produce a PDF file, you can produce material that you can send to them.

Chris Dicely

But the software/drivers that you need to download from them are Windows only.. so even a PDF won't work with this particular company.

If was just a matter of uploading a PDF that would be no problem.

Thanks, though

// chris

[Patrick Chipman]

Sounds like you should try a different company, then. I wouldn't trust anyone who can't provide you with a PPD for PostScript output but instead wants you to use some special Windows driver.

[darkvisionmedia]

righto. I'm actually not using them at all, I just scoped it out because the original poster was asking about it. I noticed the Windows requirements, and posted that Mac users (like myself) cannot use this service.

No biggie! But thanks to the people who replied!

// chris

[Saranjeuhal]

It might be an idea to visit the Game Publishers Association (GPA) at www.thegpa.org. The GPA is a group dedicated to providing resources to new and established games developers. There is a large amount of knowledge and experience that can be found there. Printing and POD are one of the regular topics on the member-only email mailing list.

[NPC Andrew]

Hello,

Just wondering, does anyone actually know who is using POD services? I have heard good and bad (mostly bad) about the quality of these books, and it would be interesting to actually buy a couple from different companies and look at them firsthand.

Thanks!
-Andrew

[Gold Rush Games]

I know this is an older post, but I just saw it and thought I would reply.

Some titles that have been published using a POD printer include Vampire Hunter$ and, I believe, UNSanctioned. Several "Providence" books were done via POD, too, I think.

We're also using them for our GPP titles as well as a few GRG titles, including <a href="http://www.goldrushgames.com/sentinels.html">Sentinels: Mortal Enemies</a>. You can see the covers and even find links to buy the books (if you like) at http://www.goldenpillarpublishing.com/samples.html

[thele]

Hey Mark.

I have looked at your site several times, and I am very interested in your services at Golden Pillar Publishing.

However, there are several issues with your services that I have questions about. For example, your "D20 Publication Agreement" link is broken, and your "layout samples" link is broken.

I have sent emails about it SEVERAL months ago, but I have only received one response stating "we'll look into it".

Can you fix those links so that I can see them please?

~The Le
junk_of_the@hotmail.com

[thele]

your "D20 Distribution Agreement" is still broken too.

[Gold Rush Games]

Our D20 publishing and distribution agreement contract is still pending review. We've not pushed on getting this done quickly because, to be honest, no one has inquired about it until recently. But we will be getting it done soon. At least, that's the plan...

<p><a href="http://www.goldenpillarpublishing.com/"><img src="http://www.goldenpillarpublishing.com/images/gpp-le2.jpg" alt="Book design and publishing for the independent author"></a>

[thele]

Originally posted by thele
your "D20 Distribution Agreement" is still broken too.

In the meantime, the link is broken. It looks pretty bad. How about a page that says "This document is pending. Please come back again".

And your Layout.html page is still broken.

I don't want to sound like a jerk, but if your website has a bunch of broken links, then why should I have confidence in your services?

That's as bad as sending out company info pamphlets with missing sections and misspelled words.

`Le