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Post by geoffers007 on Sept 20, 2022 11:39:55 GMT
Hi all, I'm working on a printed soft back book with my designer, and we have twice ordered copies from Lulu in order to check the photo quality before publicly publishing -- a sort of work in progress. I'm in the UK and on both occasions all has been fine with my books. However, my designer lives in The Netherlands, and on both occasions the cover of his copies have been badly moire-affected, as have a few of the images inside. I understand his book will have been printed in France, so obviously different printers, but how can the quality vary so much with the same PDF used by both?
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Post by BlueAndGold on Sept 20, 2022 12:06:59 GMT
Excellent question. I would love to hear Lulu's answer.
I have had varying results with Lulu's and LSI's various printers in the U.S.A. too. It would be nice if there were reliable standards in place.
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Sept 20, 2022 22:58:07 GMT
Lulu use printing companies all over the world and try to have orders filled as close as possible to the ordering address. (Although some book types are only printed in the USA). So, in theory you may never get to see what the printed book looks like, if ordered by someone, say, in Australia. Also, if you go for Global Distribution, Amazon, for example, personally print books ordered on Amazon.
And yes, it would be ideal if it was all standardised. I am not even sure if they all use the same paper.
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Post by BlueAndGold on Sept 21, 2022 1:07:43 GMT
Amazon prints their paperbacks but hardcovers are done elsewhere (LSI I presume). And, no, papers are NOT consistent. I have seen Hardcover books designed with white paper printed in coarser cream by non-Lulu printers. It is disturbing.
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Sept 21, 2022 21:54:05 GMT
I suppose Lulu, and possibly others, print as close as possible to the ordering address to keep shipping costs down. But the printing surely should be standardised. Lulu, at least, employ a Print Manager or did. Should part of that job not entail ordering random samples from their known printers? All that seems to happen is he/she awaits a complaint, then does something about it.
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Post by geoffers007 on Sept 24, 2022 14:04:15 GMT
Lulu have replied, very helpfully, assuring me the book will be re-printed, and that they are working with that printer to ensure this won't recur!
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Post by And Kevin 2024 on Sept 24, 2022 15:11:18 GMT
I have heard that before, but as I said above, they should not rely on complaints as 'Quality Control'. They should make sure they never happen.
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