Anniversary Book!!! (No images in this thread, please)

[wparsonsgisnet]

I was just reviewing the 1st anniversary of the M8 thread:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...ite-photo.html

There are wonderful images here. Let's publish this book.

I volunteer to work on this project and also suggest we use Blurb. I have seen books from Blurb and would like to try.

Since there was no firm agreement on the rules, I propose the following:

1. Up to 3 photos by a submitter
2. An Appendix with tech details for the photos and contact info
3. Another Appendix with the photos that Jamie took during the disassembly of his M8

Please post indicating:

1. Join the book by submitting photos if you have not done so,
2. Indicate how many copies you think you will want
3. Willingness to help with the heavy lifting (participate in the production process)

Let's bring these beautiful photos to print.

[guy]

Bill, don't know if I'm up for submitting my own yet, but all strength to your arm with this. You're right, there are some super images in there.

[luigi bertolotti]

Bill, I was one of the first to have this idea of the book... let's see if it can revive with a practical project... you gave a good starting set of rules... I'm with you.

[jklotz]

There are some great shots there! I love the idea of a book! I'll post something before the weekends over. Very good idea!

[sthan]

William,
I concur.
I would buy 5 copies (if price is reasonable).
I could help to find a french publisher for a french version.
Johan

PS : Where to send files ?

[wparsonsgisnet]

Hah, OK!

Asfeir, you keep posting pix like that one and I'm going to withdraw mine in shame. You should definitely be posting more.

I suggest you post in the M8-Anniversary thread.

Since I volunteered, I suggest shooters put your jpg's on the anniversary thread. I have to do some research about formats that work with Blurb. When I have the correct info, I'll collect the hi-res version of your image from each of you and work on some organization.

I would propose to arrange them and then show the order to all so we can vote. However, if it's going to be published, there can't be a true democracy.

Also, please remember that you should have releases from your subjects, where that is appropriate. For the purposes of the publishing, I will want copies of the releases. I'll email those I think need to do this.

Regards,

[andybarton]

Originally Posted by asfeir

Please count me in.
Should we post pictures here or send the tif file?

Please post your shots in the linked thread at the top of this thread. Remember, forums rules are that photos get posted in the Photo Section. Please keep this thread for discussions re the book, only. Thanks.

Bill will arrange to collect the images to be used for the book, as appropriate.

[stunsworth]

If you are publishing through Blurb there is no need to state how many copies you want as the printing is done on demand. It might be useful to Bill if he gets an indication of how many people are interested in buying a copy though as there's probably little or no point in spending a lot of time on something only two or three people are interested in.

Images posted in a forum are far to small to be used in a book, they may be all right for proofing, but for the book itself you're going to need high res Jpegs - Tiffs will make the upload process take an age, and I can't remember if Blurb will even accept them.

It may be difficult to make the book production a collaborative process as the editing is done off line as far as I'm aware.

[wparsonsgisnet]

I think it makes sense to do this with Blurb. Please look at their site. I have seen a book made via blurb and it was quite nice.

I suggest a horizontal format (turn the book for a portrait, or specify that the portrait should remain upright). I propose that every picture bo on the right-hand page, with text on the left page.

In addition, I suggest 2 appendices: (1) with photo details and contact info, and (2) one with pictures from Jamie Roberts' disassembly of the M8.

It seems that you can order your own copies from Blurb; I'll verify.

A horizontal 10X8 costs $20 (soft) or $30 (hard). We'll certainly get the 10% discount and if we exceed 200 books we'd get more. However, that may be for printing at the same time, so let's not count on it.

We can have a color sleeve cover, it seems.

I am downloaded a copy of the sw and will play with it.

Watch this space,

[stunsworth]

Bill, the software is very straightforward. I had a play with it a while ago.

The LUG has prepared two year books using Blurb and the quality is acceptable. From comments made by the person who put it together it's a relatively painless process.

[jlancasterd]

Originally Posted by wparsonsgisnet

I was just reviewing the 1st anniversary of the M8 thread:

http://www.l-camera-forum.com/leica-...ite-photo.html

There are wonderful images here. Let's publish this book.

I volunteer to work on this project and also suggest we use Blurb. I have seen books from Blurb and would like to try.

Since there was no firm agreement on the rules, I propose the following:

1. Up to 3 photos by a submitter
2. An Appendix with tech details for the photos and contact info
3. Another Appendix with the photos that Jamie took during the disassembly of his M8

Please post indicating:

1. Join the book by submitting photos if you have not done so,
2. Indicate how many copies you think you will want
3. Willingness to help with the heavy lifting (participate in the production process)

Let's bring these beautiful photos to print.

As editor of a high-quality, full colour, magazine for the Ffestiniog Railway Society, I have close links with a couple of excellent printers. I could get estimates of printing costs for a UK/Europe edition, if needed.

[stunsworth]

John, I assume that would mean there's have to be a minimum print run. While the print quality may be better than an on-line service, who would pay for any unsold books? The advantage of Blurb is that it's all done on demand, there are no upfront cost other than in time taken to put the book together, The books are only printed when someone purchases one. In fact if no one purchases one there's no cost.

Blurb prints in the States and Europe, where the book is sourced from depends on the location of the purchaser.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Some more info from the Blurb site (any monsters please correct me).

I refer to the horizontal 10X8 book:

Pix should be 300 dpi.
Cover res is 3038 x 2555
Internal res is 2884 x 2471 (full bleed)
If your pic doesn't fill this page, or you want a portrait orientation, I suggest a light gray surround (full bleed on the surround)
The pic should be either a JPG or a PNG in sRGB.

As indicated above, we can order any quantity. There is a 10% discount in the 10 to 199 range. So let's think $20 and $30, as above. Note: I believe this is a starting price. If we have a lot of pages, the cost may be higher (double?).

Let's see what can be gathered.

NOW -- DEADLINE: All submissions are to be posted in the photo thread referenced above. I'll cut off submissions at midnight, Sunday May 18th. How's that sound. Let's get a book published *this* year.

Also, I plan to assemble your things, including contact info, on the computer. I can be reached at wparsons@gis.net. If you need to speak with me, email me and we can work it out (I almost posted my phone number in a thread, but I'm smarter than I look.)

As this progresses, I'll make up a checklist and post here.

BTW, there is an option for a 14X11 horizontal book, hardback only, at $55, with a min order of 20.

[stunsworth]

Bill, you're not thinking of using the images as posted to the thread to produce the book are you? They would be far too small for publication.

If the images don't fill the page then the software adds a white border. Personally I think white looks better than grey on the printed page.

[andybarton]

Collecting all the 300dpi high res images is going to be your biggest challenge, Bill, along with the text to go with them.

[wparsonsgisnet]

I can see any number of challenges ahead....

I am making up a prototype book with the Blurb sw and will post more details. I am working with horizontal 10X8, photos on right, full bleed, test on left in Times New Roman 12pt. I am trying to make the text appear at the lower left.

There are page numbers on the left page only.

There will be a requirements doc, but see post number 14 for starters.

I will use the photo thread as a a set of thumbnails. The req.doc will specify the submission requirement, but it should fit the 2884 x 2471 pixel JPG/PNG spec.

We could use mail to collect the images, on CD.

As the thoughts appear, throw any suggestion this way, please.

tnx,

[wparsonsgisnet]

Andy, does it make sense to make this a sticky thread?

[luigi bertolotti]

Bill... let me recap the basic rule of posting, just to verify if I have understod well...

- Any submitter can post up to 3 pics in the thread quoted above, right ?
- A poster has to "subscribe" in advance for a certain minimum number of copies (1 ? 3?)

I hope this time the project can go on... I subscribe for 3 copies, if the price for the 8x10 or 11x14 is in the range you quoted.

[wparsonsgisnet]

Luigi,

Yes, you must post in the Photo thread.

You don't have to subscribe. When the book is ready, I will have worked out the details of purchase. You may be able to buy directly from Blurb. It would be really nice if we could give them an order along with a breakdown for direct mailing. If you go to the site, you can see books available for sale. I believe there will be a shipping charge in addition to the book cost.

If I have to collect and deliver, I'll charge for the costs.

This should be pretty easy for the contributors -- unless we have a drag-out fight over details.

If you are interested, please send me an email in addition to posting in the photo thread.

Many thanks to those participating in this project and congratulations on so many beautiful photos. There are no restrictions on photos or posters. If you post in the thread, you can contribute to the book.

Regards,

[Jamie Roberts]

Originally Posted by wparsonsgisnet

{snipped} 3. Another Appendix with the photos that Jamie took during the disassembly of his M8
{snipped}

Hi Bill--I think you're mistaking me for Mark Norton--who disassembly pics of the M8 are fantastic! The only thing I ever did to my M8 was tweak the focus cam...

Good luck with the book!