Magazine Layout Question

I was thinking about making a little minibook or magazine for myself actually. Would be cool to get some of my artwork on some glossy paper - maybe like a (I cant remember what its called) company-end-of-year-report or something. Would I have to get a page layout program? Or (professional) Adobe Acrobat to make .pdfs? Or could I just submit separate .tiff images to a printer? About how much would it cost to print a 6-10 page book like that (stapled binding, nice glossy paper, etc.)?

[QUOTE=trhaynes]I was thinking about making a little minibook or magazine for myself actually. Would be cool to get some of my artwork on some glossy paper - maybe like a (I cant remember what its called) company-end-of-year-report or something. Would I have to get a page layout program? Or (professional) Adobe Acrobat to make .pdfs? Or could I just submit separate .tiff images to a printer? About how much would it cost to print a 6-10 page book like that (stapled binding, nice glossy paper, etc.)?[/QUOTE]


Annual report? Those are mainly for stock holders to see how well their company did during the year. It really all depends on where you want to print it, If you are only looking for one copy or a very small amount, some real print shops probably wont take it on. You will probably have to goto kinkos. If you do end up going to a print shop, every shop has their own way of taking in files. The one we use, takes pdfs from the final quark layout, divided into the different sections of the magazine. But id recommend doing away with the staple binding, its very cheap and ugly, go with perfect binding or atleast wire. Perfect probably will be a tad bit expensive, but wire its fairly cheap and just as strong.

About how much would it cost to print a 6-10 page book like that (stapled binding, nice glossy paper, etc.)?

a bunch. depending on how many you want, it will be quite pricey to print.

Unless you plan on doing 5,000 of them, of course. I'm sure there is a copy max or a kinky's copies (blech!) that will do a short run for you.

Here's what I do. I keep a couple portfolios. I get a binder and a box of glossy photo paper, and a box of sheet protectors. Throughout the year, I print my best stuff out, and save them that way. I have one with photography, one with design. I even made one last year for my mother's xmas gift - full of my best photography over the years.

All of this depends on your home inkjet printer, too. I have a really inexpensive EPSON Photo 820 - last I saw, the little monster goes for about $70. And, DON'T BUY CHEAP INK! God, I swear by that. EPSON ink & Paper for EPSON printers - you will be very pleased with your home-made image book.

Cheers,
Graphicsguy

Yeah, well this would just be like <10 copies, and wouldnt actually _be_ an annual report, it would just be like that, with the size and everything. And I dont need anything really professionally done, I just want something that looks nice and I will be able to hold. Ive been doing a lot of art on the computer, but it all stays there, and I dont like that. I dont have a printer capable of printing good stuff (I dont think - I have a simple hp deskjet, but Im not sure how it will look if I put in the glossy photo paper - maybe Ill try it). So I was thinking of maybe a little booklet or something - either nice and professional or maybe made from cardboard and something grungy.

[QUOTE=trhaynes]Yeah, well this would just be like <10 copies, and wouldnt actually _be_ an annual report, it would just be like that, with the size and everything. And I dont need anything really professionally done, I just want something that looks nice and I will be able to hold. Ive been doing a lot of art on the computer, but it all stays there, and I dont like that. I dont have a printer capable of printing good stuff (I dont think - I have a simple hp deskjet, but Im not sure how it will look if I put in the glossy photo paper - maybe Ill try it). So I was thinking of maybe a little booklet or something - either nice and professional or maybe made from cardboard and something grungy.[/QUOTE]


I highly doubt it would be worth your time to bring this project to a printer. They would charge you so much because it such a tiny job. You should print the pages at kinkos or something and then do the perfect binding yourself. One of my teachers showed us how to do this. I really wish I remember the book he used. It can be done though without paying others to do it though.

perfect binding is not hard at all, I might actually setup a little tutorial over the weekend on how to do it.

kinkos

Nah. Pick up the phone book and see if there are any small printers around, that do things like business cards, ads and posters etc. Probably charge around $10 a page or so. I got a small shop like that the next town over. Its only 2 rooms......1 has a front desk....the other room has 3 computers and a printer the size or my refrigerator lol. And if you mention you're a student...they may give you an extra copy at no charge or for half the price. Doesnt hurt to mention your a student (hint hint lol)

[QUOTE=redeye]perfect binding is not hard at all, I might actually setup a little tutorial over the weekend on how to do it.[/QUOTE]

Looks really nice too. A lot of people can't tell it was hand made either. :D