Hey all you ComixPress people...

[SteveFlack]

Have you looked at Lulu?

http://www.lulu.com

I've seen the quality of some ComixPress, and it was ok, but I wasn't blown away by it. But at Philly this week, I got a Lulu Sampler book, and was really shocked at the quality. I also like the fact that Lulu offers way more choices when it comes to size and what not.

-Steve!

[CraigM]

I talked to some people who had done their printing with Lulu, and while they offer great stuff, I still lean towards ComiXpress. I think they both have their pluses, but for monthlies like Tyr, ComiXpress is the way to go.

Craig

[SteveFlack]

I think they both have their pluses, but for monthlies like Tyr, ComiXpress is the way to go.

Such as?

-Steve!

[alexlannin]

I thought Lulu was much more expensive when I looked at it, though I could be wrong.

[James Patrick]

Have you looked at Lulu?

http://www.lulu.com

I've seen the quality of some ComixPress, and it was ok, but I wasn't blown away by it. But at Philly this week, I got a Lulu Sampler book, and was really shocked at the quality. I also like the fact that Lulu offers way more choices when it comes to size and what not.

-Steve!

It's not my intention to knock anyone's books. I've met the lulu people, and they're extordinarily nice and offer a nice service. However, I saw a sample of Lulu's books at SPX, and they didn't, what's the best way to put it, look like comic books. Maybe they've increased their quality by then, but what I saw didn't look and feel like a comic.

On the other hand, I believe comixpress' books look and feel like comics. Put them side by side with brenner and most people won't know the difference. Most people. And the quality keeps getting better.

And in case anyone questions my motives, I don't say this because I use comixpress, I use them because of this. When this thing was starting out, I got samples from them, and was very critical and watched their quality improve. There's a reason comixpress' name gets tossed around like it does.

Best to lulu and their books -- but from what I've seen, comixpress can't be beat. That's why they have near 200 titles on their website alone.

[Shane W]

It's not my intention to knock anyone's books. I've met the lulu people, and they're extordinarily nice and offer a nice service. However, I saw a sample of Lulu's books at SPX, and they didn't, what's the best way to put it, look like comic books. Maybe they've increased their quality by then, but what I saw didn't look and feel like a comic.

On the other hand, I believe comixpress' books look and feel like comics. Put them side by side with brenner and most people won't know the difference. Most people. And the quality keeps getting better.

And in case anyone questions my motives, I don't say this because I use comixpress, I use them because of this. When this thing was starting out, I got samples from them, and was very critical and watched their quality improve. There's a reason comixpress' name gets tossed around like it does.

Best to lulu and their books -- but from what I've seen, comixpress can't be beat. That's why they have near 200 titles on their website alone.

I was able to meet the Comixpress crew this weekend at Philly, and I was VERY impressed. Logan spends and fixes any problem that he can. The level of concentration they put into each book has me sold on their service.

[AAlgar]

I might consider Lulu if they communicate better than Comixpress. Once again, I've had an issue to them for over a week without so much as an acknowledgment.

[James Patrick]

I was able to meet the Comixpress crew this weekend at Philly, and I was VERY impressed. Logan spends and fixes any problem that he can. The level of concentration they put into each book has me sold on their service.

Yeah, we hung at spx and had lengthy conversations into comixpress' role in the industry and diamond and distribution. one hell of a weekend. when you can get ahold of the bastard, it's worth it.

[William Satterwhite]

It's not my intention to knock anyone's books. I've met the lulu people, and they're extordinarily nice and offer a nice service. However, I saw a sample of Lulu's books at SPX, and they didn't, what's the best way to put it, look like comic books. Maybe they've increased their quality by then, but what I saw didn't look and feel like a comic.

I've been with Lulu since January and aside from my own screwups, I've had nothing but good experiences so whatever problems there might have been earlier have been fixed. If anything, Lulu's print quality now is superior to "regular" comic books, someone who really knows what they're doing can put together a very nice bookstore quality book. Like Craig said though, Lulu isn't really suited for monthly type books, its much better for larger volumes.

As for communication issues, Lulu has a message board and if a staff member can't address something (which is rare) there are lots of experienced members of the community willing to help.

Its not all peaches and cream though, the things that make Lulu great also kind of work against them. One, its totally free and there aren't any restrictions so there is nothing to filter out the crap that gets published- you can put in a tremendous amount of work into your book only to have it pop up next to some crap a 10 year-old kid scribbled (I'm not kidding at all). Two, you are responsible for everything and no one is going to warn you that your pages might not print right or anything like that. If you know what you're doing its not a problem but if you don't have any experience putting a book together, there can be some growing pains. All in all though, if you have a larger (40+ pages) book, Lulu can't be beat in my opinion.

[James Patrick]

I've been with Lulu since January and aside from my own screwups, I've had nothing but good experiences so whatever problems there might have been earlier have been fixed. If anything, Lulu's print quality now is superior to "regular" comic books, someone who really knows what they're doing can put together a very nice bookstore quality book. Like Craig said though, Lulu isn't really suited for monthly type books, its much better for larger volumes.

As for communication issues, Lulu has a message board and if a staff member can't address something (which is rare) there are lots of experienced members of the community willing to help.

Its not all peaches and cream though, the things that make Lulu great also kind of work against them. One, its totally free and there aren't any restrictions so there is nothing to filter out the crap that gets published- you can put in a tremendous amount of work into your book only to have it pop up next to some crap a 10 year-old kid scribbled (I'm not kidding at all). Two, you are responsible for everything and no one is going to warn you that your pages might not print right or anything like that. If you know what you're doing its not a problem but if you don't have any experience putting a book together, there can be some growing pains. All in all though, if you have a larger (40+ pages) book, Lulu can't be beat in my opinion.

How are the colors?