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| PRINTERS, or POD and FOD in a Nutshell MY definitions of POD and FOD*: *As the business evolves, we have seen these distinctions blur and change, but these definitions are intended to get you to where you understand the fundaments. FIRST - POD and FOD are printing processes, and do not in themselves indicate self-published, vanity presses, or anything about the quality standards of the book in question. Many "traditional" publishers now use POD/FOD printers for short runs.POD - Print on Demand Printer (and Publisher - kinda): You or your publisher provides your fully formatted manuscript and cover to a printing company that will print one or more books at the time using digital printing techniques that have evolved from document duplicating machines. In fact, Xerox is one of the major manufacturers of the new printing systems. To print a single book will cost you about double per copy what you would pay if you ordered 50, or about ten times more than if you ordered 5000, but is feasible for at least a trial shot at a book. Many POD printers offer varying levels of promotion and fulfillment services. Many of the POD printers offer "publishing" services such as formatting, cover design and other optional marketing services like book marks and promotional literature. The many optional services generate wide variations in pricing. If you are comparing POD services, be sure you understand the options you need and sign up for. FOD - Fulfillment on Demand Printers (and sometimes distributors): Your formatted manuscript is sent to a printer who has the same or similar type digital printing setup as a POD printer, except the FOD printer usually limits orders to a minimum of 25 or so books and does not offer other services. Books are generally less expensive. This is the "sell out of the trunk of your car" option printer. Some of FOD printers are tied in with distributions services. As an example, Lightning Source is a subsidiary of Ingram Industries Inc., one of the major distributors. BIG TIME UPDATE - 2008 - Amazon.com has purchased BookSurge, and now has their own in-house printer - CreateSpace - for production and distribution through Amazon, edging toward a monopolistic setup, with links to distribute the eBook versions through MobiPocket. We'll see how this shakes out!!!) Rule Number One - Read the fine print and make sure you can get a sample of the printer's products before you commit. Quality and service varies widely. I have see misprinted covers with the colors far out of whack and the wrong files used for the text body. Manuscript Preparation - Most POD or FOD printers operate on the premise that you are going to send them "camera ready" PDF files, one for the cover and one for the text block. Each has detailed format info on their web site explaining (some clearly, some not so) about margin size, trim for full page bleeds, etc. Most services, and especially the ones I will mention below, offer links to services and/or software that will do the conversion for you. The PDF file format, most commonly used, was created by Adobe, who offers several sets of software such as Acrobat and PageMaker (both expensive unless you also intend to buy for other purposes) that will convert other formats to PDF and also offers a conversion service at the Adobe web site. A third party, Fineprint, offers a low cost software package for conversion, but I have no personal experience with their product. I use PageMaker, having invested in the original product for my desktop publishing business. I'm partly responsible, I'm sure, for financing Adobe's rise in the corporate world by my faithful purchase of upgrades over the years. But, if you are a technology klutz, this is where it might be better to pay to have this service done for you. Unfortunately, Adobe has discontinued PageMaker in favor of InDesign, a much more expensive package, but PageMaker 7 is still available. Pick a Printer - If you have set yourself up as a publisher and want to go with a true POD printer who can give you one or more books at the time. Printers do no more than print a book you have sent them camera ready. Some POD publishers offer many additional services, always for a fee. Some are reputable and offer value for the buck. I recommend ..........oops - they just got bought up by another company and changed their contract wording. Many POD publishers restrict your rights to independently print and market your work, but many do not. Check your contract or terms of agreement closely and make sure you understand what kind of contract you are signing. (Read all this carefully and understand the differences between publisher, POD printer and FOD printer before you sign a contract or commit money.) If you set yourself up as a publisher and are looking for FOD services, I have used and recommend OPM - Offset Paperback Manufacturers, Inc., who also comes highly recommended by several other independent authors. My first (and second) print run was excellent, at a more than competitive price. Again, whichever printer you select, read their terms and conditions carefully. At the inception of the print-on-demand concept, several of the services required the author to relinquish all publishing rights. Many have seen the error of their ways, but at any rate - read the conditions and/or contract carefully before you commit your manuscript to their care. Since in most cases you are paying an up-front fee, be sure you know what you are getting. If you do not want to create your own publishing company, but as an author want to publish just one or two books, BookSurge.com was my first printer and did a good job, so good they were purchased by Amazon.com. The business has grown and changed, so proceed with due care, check and compare with the other POD big houses such as Xlibris and iUniverse. They all offer a wide range of services (and fees). Maybe they will all see the light and offer a better value - but I'm not holding my breath! I don't have a hang up over BookSurge; it's just that I have tried several printers, priced many more, and have gotten a fair shake from BookSurge. Maybe it is because they are in Charleston and have kept their southern charm. A similar story with OPM, except they are in PA, but still nice folks. Many alternatives are available - prices and reliability vary! Try a web search for POD printers and see the many returns you get. Below is a list of printers to investigate in addition to BookSurge and OPM. Seems that Xlibris was perhaps the first big POD printer. Their packages are comprehensive, but pretty pricy. Each of the others have been recommended by a Florida-based independently published author: An interesting author and independent publisher, Clea Saal, keeps a more inclusive, but incomplete - as she describes it - list of publishers at her web site. She keeps up with many of the small POD publishers that come and go. Interestingly, BookSurge is on her "warning" list because the company division that deals directly with authors has changed names several times. The basic company has remained the same and if fact have expanded todo the FOD printing for at least one established small publisher i know of, but - again, another reason to carefully research and compare. |
© 2000-2009 John M. Taylor |