Printing a book??

[D-Zine]

Ok here's the deal. My brother in law is a photographer. Ok well he's a PC IT person forthe main branch of abankin Atlanta but on the side he does photography...and he is actually really talented..does some great stuff. He is wanting to put together a book of a series of photos he is working on based on State Parks in Georgia...yu know - his images with some historical background and what not. So I told him when he gets the images together and all the info lemme know and I'll do the layout for it. Great portfolio piece for me I figure.

Anyways...he needs to get it printed but he only wants ONE copy. Just for him...something as a keepsake and also something that he can show his potential clients. I was just wondering since he only wants ONE print of this book - what would be the best way to go about printing it?! I don't have any specs really because he is still snapping all the images for it. I know he wants a more square size - like 10"x10", full color - but I dunno how many pages :o( Does anyone have any suggestions as to what is the most cost effective way to get this printed? Printing a one time book is not something I have any experience with so any thoughts are welcome of course :o)

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[Keyare]

MMmmmm.... an Art piece!

That's easy - you can't go to press. No-way... But you can definitely have fun making the book.
You can print the pages on a laser - or an inkjet with archival inks - or both - or find new and different ways to print them.
Even on different stocks. Glosss, matte, recycled. It'd be a blast!

You're going to have to bind the thing by hand anyway so go nuts with it!

[PrintDriver]

Go one better and get the photos printed on a lambda printer. Continuous tone photo print developed just like a real photo. Get em done on Fuji Crystal Archive for the best longevity.
Image files should be saved as RGB.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[D-Zine]

Hey thanks for the quick feedback Key and PD!

He told me he priced online getting the book done and it was like $500...LOL! I told him that I didn't think that he could send it to a press for just one copy bc it would be outrageous like that. I actually suggested digital to him but told him that I would talk to some people I know (that being you guys) and see what suggestions you might have so he was excited..LOL! He has an Epson Sylus Photo 2200 I think...that thing prints some nice stuff - with bleed too. I think up to 13'x19' with a full bleed. We could print the images there...possibly...but I will check into all the options that you guys mentioned and talk to him about it all :o) And binding...woo hoo I guess the options there are really endless. You're right, there are tons of things we could do there :oP

It will be a really fun project I think. It won't happen for awhile but its kinda neat!! Allthough I just realized that I will need a copy of it too...but I can do a smaller version 5x5 or something for me. Would be nice to have in my protfolio to show other clients that I am hoping to get in the future! LOL :oP

Thanks for your input guys!!

http://coastalcarousel.com/GDF/metatag3.jpg

[PrintDriver]

Epson Stylus inks last about 1 year on our bulletin board before fading to pink. They actually look gross in about 4 months but no one ever takes em down. That's under flourescent light about 14 hours per day.

Might want to go for something a little more permanent?

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[D-Zine]

Really? Yeah I dunno much about that...his printer uses pigmented inks...suppose to last a really long time www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=20306147 (http://www.epson.com/cgi-bin/Store/consumer/consDetail.jsp?BV_UseBVCookie=yes&oid=20306147) but I honestly don't know jack yet when it comes to how long something is suppose to stay more vibrant or archival...LOL!

Something more permenant is the way we need to go. We don't want someting that will look like crap one year down the road. That would kinda make all the hard work pointless right! :o) I will check into all the suggestions you guys have given me and any others that may surface and see what we can come up with. :o) ty ty!

http://coastalcarousel.com/GDF/metatag3.jpg

[uncle carbunkle]

i saw someone do something similar with a book of their illustrations. they had NO budget and only wanted one copy, so they found an existing book and placed their images over the existing pages. it was a stitched at the spine i believe, so they just removed the extra pages. i guess you'd have to find the PERFECT book to do that with (no fabric cover, light paper weight, etc)... just a thought.

i got my mojo workin' but it just don't work on you...

[PrintDriver]

They sell empty bound books at large art supply stores.

You would sorta need to get the prints overlammed anyway so maybe a UV lam will help.

PrintDriver is a large format digital print dude. His advice/opinions may not apply to the 4color/offset/web world of printing

[D-Zine]

thanks for the help everyone. I will be talking to him soon and I will see what he thinks of all the different ideas! :o)

http://coastalcarousel.com/GDF/metatag3.jpg

[reuber1]

I've actually thought about how to do this for my own portfolio, just wondering if I wasn't the only one who thought about something like this...sorry, no advice here, I was curious myself.

"Oh wow man! Right beside the snack bar man!" -Tommy Chong

[D-Zine]

LOL @ reuber1

Boobie Island or Bust!

[Magnus]

I'd make the book 9X9 inches...have it printed out on a high end digital printer like a Xerox sophita 20/45. The image quality will be awesome, and I know for sure it will run 12X18, cutting your costs. Print the guts on some nice 80lb coated text...or maybe 100lb if he wants to go that route!

But I'll vouch for the image quality...on par with any magazine.

"...you should show only one design because that is what your paied to do....your not paied to let the client himself pick out which designs he likes best..."

- Zartan the Wise