Print on demand

[lethargic_man]

There's a couple of books I'd like that are only available in electronic form, but which I want on dead trees. At least one of them is available in a print-on-demand ready format. Do any of you have experience printing a book like this; who do you use and what cost should I expect for a single copy? I had a bit of a google, but the pages I found tended to be aimed at not insubstantial print runs; and when I tried googling for book binding (if I print it myself, I mean) the sites I found talked about thesis binding (which, as memory serves from my Ph.D., is rather expensive).

Comments

[miss-whiplash.livejournal.com]

There was something on the radio about out of print books produced on demand a while back. It implied that these books were paperbacks that were cheaper than over the counter ones because there was no bookshop to support. I'm not sure these are the same thing though. I had the impression they came ready bound.

Try searching the Radio 4 archives.

[bluepork.livejournal.com]

We have a comb binder at work. If you are happy with the quality, I can bind your printed book for nothing.

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Thanks. I've done that in the past, and indeed I believe we have a comb binder at work, but I was hoping for something a little more booklike.

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

Oh, are you going to have a real forest in your flat with inscriptions? -:)

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

I already do have a forest of dead trees, lining my bookshelves.

[green-knight.livejournal.com]

I think the problem with lulu.com etc is that you need to own the content before you can print it (and the same should go for any other ethical print service). Costs, otherwise, are very sensible, and they offer single-copy options.

Not connected

[liv]

I saw this and thought of you...

[curious-reader.livejournal.com]

I imagined standing dead trees with inscription :-)

[lethargic-man.livejournal.com]

Thank you for the recommendation; I have now printed the book via Lulu.com (and read it, to boot), and was sufficiently satisfied (save for the fact the PDF I printed from was laid out with the pages the wrong way around—viz., gutter on the outside) to go off and print a second book afterwards.