Possible way of making comics cheaper...

[Blue Meanie]

The only extras I can think of when it comes to printing is layout of the pages and cutting, folding, and saddle stitching/stapling. Obviously that will add to the cost of the printing. As for time for printing say 1000 pages, on a direct to plate press like say a Heidlberg press, it's a lot more than minutes. Direct to press plates that I remember could handle one 2 page spread at a time. Run off 1000 sheets...then you have to wait for drying...then do the other side...doing this 12 times, if your comic is 24 pages, takes a lot more than mere minutes. One thing that is missed in the whole printing process is the set-up time...getting the colors right, making sure the pages lineup front to back so when you go to the next process of cutting that the cut's aren't off. Takes a lot of time for that stuff...so you're also paying for that too. When I was in pre-press I think it made me think that maybe when the industry was charging 10 cents and 12 cents per book....we were really getting a bargain. We probably were getting a bargain up til about the late 80's....but with the way the industry has gone with digital color and lettering as well...it looks like the companies are trying to re-coup what they may have lost in the past by charging us so little. There used to be a lot of work in printing any type of book or comic or magazine back in the day...not so much these days.

[BOTZWANA]

Because they are not in black and white not color.

No. The size of the paper was the issue, not if it had color or not.

[Captain]

>Maybe something could be done in that vein?

Hmmmm.... I've putzed around with that sort of thing myself. I think nowadays there's an audience out there more interested in reading comics than the nuts and bolts; so it'd definitely be possible to try something different. (I mentioned newsprint 'cos it USED to be cheap.) Distribution is the problem; but you can do that online. I know a few guys who do web comics and small time publishing; as well as other online bits. You probably won't reach big numbers.... at least not for a while; but it'd get the stuff out there. And it means not having to deal with a distributor who pretty much hates you.

>You guys think that would fly with collectors?

Nope. But it sounds like you're actually looking into stuff that's meant to be READ; so who cares? If it cataches on, the collectors will catch up. (And the speculators will ruin it, but you can't do anything about that one.)

>Maybe you can find someone that does it the old style with actual printing plates instead of direct to press.

Nowadays you could simulate any old-school look and still take advantage of digital printing.

Don C.

Heh, we should talk CTC. The more I think about this, the more of an opportunity I think is here. I know some folks in magazine distribution and am going to contact them tomorrow and see whats involved. An affordable, all ages friendly, comic like this would be cool...as you say, there is an audience who just wants to read the funnies, and arent hard core collectors who have to have crisp shiny pages on 10 lb baxter paper, or whatever...

I'm going to talk to some contacts on Monday and see what turns up.

[ctc]

>I know some folks in magazine distribution and am going to contact them tomorrow and see whats involved.

It's funny; but it sou8nds like you're looking at taking comics back.... WAY back, to their original format and distribution. (As in "Famous Funnies" original.)

I used to do double sided 11X17 sheets, fold and staple 'em myself. Used to hand 'em out like business cards. Some small press companies do minis the same way, but on 8.5X11 sheets.

Don C.

[samurainoir]

For those not going the 'zine route, my observations are that most indie comics that are seeking an audience should be placed online for free, and if there is sufficient audience for it, place it with a print-on-demand publisher.
Comixpress.com - The Leader in Short Run Print On Demand Comics and Trade Paperbacks
Self Publishing and Book Printing Solutions - Books, EBooks, Photo books and Calendars at Lulu.com

Why go into debt and end up sitting on piles of unsold copies when you are just getting out of the starting gate and trying to make a "name" for yourself? Particularly if you don't do the convention circuit (where having print copies on hand is a must)?

[saildog]

Then how is it that Marvel and DC can make Essentials and Showcase Presents volumes using the newsprint paper if it triples the cost as you say?

I kind of have to wonder if those are cheap because the Royalties have already been paid (or are not owed because of how things were structured when the original works were produced).

[samurainoir]

I kind of have to wonder if those are cheap because the Royalties have already been paid (or are not owed because of how things were structured when the original works were produced).

You might be right... I believe there is a date somewhere in the 1970's where Marvel arbitrarily decided that any work from that date onwards gets royalties.

[ctc]

Hmmmm....

Even if they DO get royalties, it's not gonna be enywhere's near the cost of producing the comics in the first place; so this is a good way for the company to get some dough from something they've been sitting on. Comics in Japan and Europe have worked this way for decades; with books kept in print forever. (Seriously; Chapters has a Tintin section; most of those stories are older than me!)

Don C.