Publishing my first graphic novel - need info about Working Designs packaging

[TempestOne]

I always wondered about that. My original Lunar 1 guide from back in the day cracked apart as I would read through it regularly, I always just figured it was because it was a softcover instead of hardbound like the manual and other guides. My Eternal Blue guide still looks great, wish I had sent in for the poster on that one though, I just didn't have the heart to cut up a page for the coupon.

Yeah, xelement5x, my Lunar: The Silver Stars's manual is cracked, too. I never think about it being a softcover manual but it's a pretty important fact that you bring up in comparison to hardcover manuals, that's good to make a giant mental note of, definitely. I think it's because of the paper, ..... Mine looks like it got wet and it's wavey when you look at it from the bottom-up, or the-sides,....
Same here, I wanted the poster too but I didn't want to cut-out the coupon, I would've definitely throwned-down for just buying the same poster on my own accord, though if at all that's a possibility.

I still have Arc the Lad Collection and Vanguard Bandits guides sealed. They were cheap and I think still are cheap for new copies!

When you guys keep your Official Strategy Guides sealed-and-un-opened, do you guys buy a (Duplicate), just so you can have a copy that's "dirty", and you can mess-around with it, and flip-around, flip-through-the-pages of it?

D.M. Cumbo, that looks pretty cool.

I always did wonder why the LUNAR: Silver Star Story Complete Official Strategy Guides's ribbons were specifically, "red". And I wonder why there's multiple ribbons, sometimes?

Ohh, the hair looks really good.

[D.M. Cumbo]

Yeah, xelement5x, my Lunar: The Silver Stars's manual is cracked, too. I never think about it being a softcover manual but it's a pretty important fact that you bring up in comparison to hardcover manuals, that's good to make a giant mental note of, definitely. I think it's because of the paper, ..... Mine looks like it got wet and it's wavey when you look at it from the bottom-up, or the-sides,....
Same here, I wanted the poster too but I didn't want to cut-out the coupon, I would've definitely throwned-down for just buying the same poster on my own accord, though if at all that's a possibility.

One option the printer presented for a high quality softcover was to do a "flexibind." Basically, it still has a sewn binding but with a softer cover paper that features flaps like you'd see on a dust-jacket. As far as I could tell, the only difference between that and a Smyth Sewn HC was the cover itself. So, that could be a good way to get a good softcover. Don't think it would be all that much less costly though.

The glued softcovers are called "perfect bound," which are, for quality purposes, ironically anything but perfect. I suppose the value is that they're cheap and allow a large amount of books to be made and sold. I really think we get a better experience reading a story that's printed in a high quality sewn hardcover than a perfect-bound softcover.

[TempestOne]

One option the printer presented for a high quality softcover was to do a "flexibind." Basically, it still has a sewn binding but with a softer cover paper that features flaps like you'd see on a dust-jacket. As far as I could tell, the only difference between that and a Smyth Sewn HC was the cover itself. So, that could be a good way to get a good softcover. Don't think it would be all that much less costly though.

The glued softcovers are called "perfect bound," which are, for quality purposes, ironically anything but perfect. I suppose the value is that they're cheap and allow a large amount of books to be made and sold. I really think we get a better experience reading a story that's printed in a high quality sewn hardcover than a perfect-bound softcover.

Mmm, I prefer staples because sewn binding is definitely more fragile/delicate. I have an Official Toys "R" Us Final Fantasy Tactics softcover strategy guide where the sides are ripped-on the spine and the front, first-few pages are-loose. I've thought about just sticking it into a Ziploc Freezer Baggie.

Ohh, softcover feature-ing flaps, that sounds so officially Japanese! That sounds like cute stuff for a strategy guide. Softcover with flaps. ..... Sounds cool. Kind of like the LUNAR 100 Newtype Art Book from Japan?

I confuse sewn binding and "perfect bound,".

I think hardcover books are really special.
When it comes to strategy guides, I prefer softcover and big. My favorite strategy guide is the Final Fantasy Tactics Strategy Guide from Toys "R" Us, so that's a good example of a strategy guide I like to see-being made, even these days.
When it comes to hardcover, I want the strategy guide or book to be smaller than usual. My favorite strategy guide out of all the stuff in my Lunar: The Silver Star collection is the first strategy guide from Sandwich Islands because I thought the size-was-perfect.

If you're looking for a perfect text-based walkthrough of Lunar that looks like it was ripped from GameFAQs and posted into a book, you should look at Christine Cain's Unofficial guide. It's pretty much all text, and colorful maps on a softcover that's hardbound-ish/hard-ish -bound.

Her book is pretty much one long thread.

I think the content is more important than the quality of the manufacturing when it comes to a good game like LUNAR, though.

I think a foil-staple would be or look pretty cool for a videogame instruction manual.

[D.M. Cumbo]

My DM is a disaster area, and I've been too busy to even attempt to get in there and do something about it right now.

Basically most of our printing was 4 color, with 10% Cyan under the blacks to make them pop. Foil stamping and embossing/de-embossing, depending on the manual. Most of them were also hit with a gloss or a powdered UV coating at the end so they'd be more fade-resistant over time. Paper stock was usually 80lb gloss book, unless we were space-constrained, when I dumped down to 70# to get a thinner end result.

How many are you planning to print? If it's in the thousands and you're going hardbound, you'll save a lot by doing it overseas. We should be able to share the prototype for the Summon Night 6 Artbook that comes with the Wonderful Edition, and it's a thing of beauty. It's being printed overseas.

Sorry to dig up this old thread... the time has finally come for me to provide a book spec for my first graphic novel publication. You mentioned the possibility of seeing your Artbook - any chance of taking a look? Would mean the world to possibly be able to jump on a Skype session I did order a PS4 Wonderful Edition... would love to take a look in advance if possible.

I feel like given your excellent track record for premium packaging at Working Designs, I'd like to spec the book pretty much based around your design for the SN6 artbook.

[vicireland]

Sorry to dig up this old thread... the time has finally come for me to provide a book spec for my first graphic novel publication. You mentioned the possibility of seeing your Artbook - any chance of taking a look? Would mean the world to possibly be able to jump on a Skype session I did order a PS4 Wonderful Edition... would love to take a look in advance if possible.

I feel like given your excellent track record for premium packaging at Working Designs, I'd like to spec the book pretty much based around your design for the SN6 artbook.

Haha, you picked possibly the worst possible time. I'm beyond busy right now zipping up SN6. Email customerservice@gaijinworks.com and ask them to forward it and I'll be in touch.

[D.M. Cumbo]

Victor: Got the Wonderful Edition - gorgeous work! It's heartwarming to see this sort of love put into packaging and takes me back to the Working Designs days. Can you tell me what the paper weight is inside the artbook? Also, I noticed the spine is flat whereas the printer mentioned my smyth binding will likely be rounded - do you know if you can just choose flat or rounded? Finally, you didn't happen to print with Prolong Press in Hong Kong, did you?

Thanks again! Looking forward to digging into the game!