printing a mag
- Started
- Last post
- 11 Responses
- CincodeMayo
So I'm attempting to create and launch a magazine. Still very much in the beginning stages, but I'm trying to work up some numbers.
Anyone know any good (but cheap) printers in LA? Since this is my first time doing anything like this, I'd like to keep the printer local so I can select the paper, see the progress, etc.
I'm not ready yet, nor do I have the money to head to the presses, but I do want to get some quotes.
I'm aiming for a 128 page high gloss, perfect bound magazine. Think national magazine. But at the same time a cheaper gloss could work, you get the idea.
Anyone know of anybody?
Oh, and if anyone is looking to expand their portfolios and get one board, I would love to talk. I'm working on a travel mag of sorts. I could use everything from designers to webbers to writers and photographers.
I don't have any money yet, but I'll go after funding soon. I'm not asking you to do work for free (I know how it is, I'm a designer too) but if you're interested shoot me an e-mail.
Later folks.
- k770
good idea. i'm not LA based, so i'm no help.
- robotron3k0
you should start out like david carson did. find a color copier, run 8x10 layout, trimming to bleed, hand collate, hand staple, wrapped in shrinkwrap, limited run of 500, put any extra money you have into marketing your mag and yourself
- BrigadeDesigns0
The one thing i can recommend is look to a smaller run on a digital press.
you have slightly less control over paper-- a satin finish isn;t normally going to cut it-- but you make up for the difference in cost.
I wouldn't know of anybody in LA, but there should be some decent digital shops.
DO YOUR HOMEWORK-- I can't stress that enough. For every good printer, there are at least 10 bad ones.
Looking at a magazine that big, with a standard run of 10,000 I'd say you're going to be looking at anywhere from $5-15K per issue.
- ********0
"a standard run of 10,000 I'd say you're going to be looking at anywhere from $5-15K per issue"
Um, no. I publish my own mag. I'm in NY and had to go to Florida for a printer able to do somethign affordable. I do a 40-50 page mag at 5,000 run and it costs me about $6500+ an issue. At 128 pages in the 10,000 range? $17,000 at least on the cheap...
From someone that is walking this road - if you're planning on starting a mag have a business plan and your funding in place and someone that can sell ads.
Have fun...
- blastofv0
I worked for a magazine out of San Diego that printed up in Orange County on a web press with a company called CREEL. They do nice work, and they'll work with you on budget...
We did a full color 96-112 page monthly, perfect bound, at like 14K quantity
- ThreeSevenFive0
If you start your mag on-line without printing it first and create an e-mail mailing list first. Then, once you have enough, say 500 + subscribers, you can then approach companies saying that you have such-and-such many subscribers so, if they would like to buy add space that can begin to pay for your production costs.
I had began a magazine the beginning of this year as well and self produced, wrote, designed, distributed and compiled the photography. It is a lot of work but very rewarding. Good Luck & enjoy.
- CincodeMayo0
Thanks all of ya for the tips.
As for CREEL, how much did they charge you for the 14K quanity? Sounds like that may be a good option...
- blastofv0
They were charging under 20K – maybe 17-18K for everything... a little over a buck a piece is what I recall. I wasn't involved directly – and this was in 2001.
If you want to go straight for large-quantity, high quality production, write a great business plan and partner with some smart business/sales people (not kids out of school, but veterans) – if you can sell the ads, 20k per month is cake. Get some bad-ass funding as well to cover yourself for the first year at least.
The design is the easiest part, trust me. Line up the business end first, or you'll implode before you get off the ground.
Good luck!
- ********0
The design is the easiest part, trust me. Line up the business end first, or you'll implode before you get off the ground.
Good luck!
blastofv
(Jul 22 05, 14:07)
---------------------------
Dirtto what he said. My backer flaeked on me six months into the project and now I have financial woes. The design is trhe easiest part. It's a business - be smart.
- traut0
depending on how small and cheap you want to go do it at a kinkos you can produce nice stuff if you utilize there equipment properly
- BrigadeDesigns0
Just basing that on my own experience, Tick.
Like everyone else has said, your advertising is goung to be the biggest concern-- make sure you have the revenue first.