Major design textbooks are often higher-priced than other books because they are of such great value to the intended audience. They are also quite labor-intensive because of all the images, and the higher quality design of the book itself. I don’t think the price of this PDF is out of line at all, considering the uniqueness and quality of its content.

Each person can choose for themselves whether to read the book online (my choice) or print it, and certainly if you choose to print it, your choice will cost you much more.

He’s actually chosen to publish in more than one way, and when he reaches his intended goal of doing a hardcover version, your sorrows will be over! Meanwhile, the people who were eager to read the book as soon as possible are given the choice to go for a PDF version.

I hope you’ll be able to purchase it later, and that you’ll enjoy the quality control regarding “colour balance,” though, of course, color reproduction in printed books can be a little dicey sometimes, too.

At any rate, I hope you’ll enjoy the book. I feel like putting all my work aside to dig in!

Much as I’d like to read what you’ve written, having to pay £12 for a PDF that I then have to print out myself seems a bit steep, especially as there will be no professional person around to ensure correct colour balance on the printed copy.

Speaking personally I am sorry that you’ve chosen to publish in this way.

Yours sincerely,

A Prospective Purchaser

P.S. Having viewed the extract cover and title pages, you’d better stop calling it a book as I think you’ll find it isn’t (legally a book, that is), unless you’ve sent a printed copy to each of the statutory libraries. You may also need to display a valid ISBN and details of the publisher together with an appropriate copyright statement in order to call it a “book” (but I’m not certain about these latter requirements).

I’m sure you have the thousand passionate fans Kelly suggests are needed for independent commercial success.

Looking forward to your book.

This post has really struck a chord with me. Partly this is because I’ve just finished writing my first book – via the traditional publishing route – and I’m contemplating self-publishing for the next one (and for the exact same reasons you stated). The other reason is that I’m experimenting with the same release model as you for my new music; that is, I’m releasing a download-only version of the EP, and – if digital sales go well – then I’ll release it in a physical format. I think this works for consumers – because they get to buy a cheap product and only invest in a physical version if they really want to – and for the producers – because they only create a physical version once the financial risk is reduced.

I’m hoping this method will work out well for both of us, even though the actual product is different. Either way, I can’t wait to get the book, and you can certainly put my name down for a physical version, too. Best of luck, mate!

The books are providing the experience and knowledge of the author, why not get their voice as well?

I didn’t realise lulu printing costs blew out that much with colour pages.

Thanks

ps & i’ll buy one

I’ll wait and be in the queue to purchase the printed version of this book as I like the tactile nature a physical book has.

The advantages outweigh an electronic version as you can see the thought that gone into several differing processes: binding, paper stock, foil block, spine treatment, choice of end papers, typography etc etc… fingers crossed a printed version is produced as it would be nice to see the choices you’ve made :)

I know you’ve thought about producing limited hardback versions but if that proves successful how about moving onto mass produced paperback versions to reduce costs?

Anyway whatever you decide, the following book printers list may help:

Wales

mwl (dotcodotuk)

ylolfa (dotcom)

Across the border

cpi-group (dotnet)

mrtbooks (dotcodotuk)

book-printing (dotcodotuk)

printing (dotcom)

butlertanneranddennis (dotcodotuk)

athenaeumpress (dotcodotuk)

Cornwall

mpg-books (dotcodotuk)

Lithuania

eurobookprint (dotnet)

Italy

legolivotto (dotnet)

graphicom (dotit)

clays (dotcodotuk)

……

THANKS!