Hello! I was wondering if you had any advice on how to make books like you made with the Gaster bros or where to get stuff like that printed?
Printing books can be pretty daunting. There’s a lot to consider, mostly concerning layout and page count, as well as finding the right printer.
My advice is to decide your printer first, then prepare your file according to their rules. The main reason is that different printers have different expectations for file prep, such as bleed and layout.
Layout is probably the biggest thing to know before preparing your file. Most printers just want you to provide individual pages (sometimes alone, sometimes as a PDF), and their software will arrange them in proper print layout for you, no sweat. Others may want them laid out as they would physically print, which is . . . annoying. In book printing, the first page will be on the same sheet as the last page and page 22 will be next to page 486.34 alpha centauri . . . the only thing I know that can make that less inconvenient is a program like Adobe InDesign, which can be costly if you don’t already invest in the Creative Suite.
Minimum quantity printing is another thing to keep in mind. While there are printers who offer individual copies, they usually end up being more expensive than bulk printers once you sit down and do the math. On average, I’ve seen printers expect anywhere from 50-200+ minimum books per order.
If 50 is just way too many for what you need and your book doesn’t have many pages, you can always go the route of self-assembly. All you have to do is figure out how your pages line up per sheet, take the files to a local printer, then stack your pages and staple/sew them together at the spine.
I’m definitely making that seem easier than it is. I’ve done it myself probably 15 different times and it’s always a time sink. While you’re definitely trading time for money, it is the most cost-effective way I’ve found. If you do decide to stitch them together yourself, you do get the payoff of a really nice handmade touch. I always really enjoyed how my books came out when hand stitched. They felt special. :) There are plenty of online tutorials you can follow for bookbinding if you decide to go that route!
I personally got my books printed with Mixam! Not only are they on the lower end for minimum quantity (50), the site is very user-friendly and their upload template makes it very easy to visualize your book to avoid mistakes. Plus the quality came back great! I got feather-touch lamination on these bad boys and they feel so soft. *:･ﾟ✧
If you go with Mixam, just be sure to follow the rules very carefully (1/8 inch bleed on all images most importantly) and be sure to check both the book preview and print proof (which are two entirely different things--one shows bleed while the other doesn’t). Obviously, be very careful about your file preparation in general, whether it’s Mixam or any other printer.
I hope that helps!