My new project, Chuck Larivey Editions reopened a need for a fresh marketing solution, including a hard copy catalog, an old fashion concept for sure. But we still use wish-book catalogs and magazines even though we may actually prefer online shopping and purchasing because it's easier and ships to your doorstep. Whats not to like about that!
Books, catalogs and magazines convert well to our smart phones and laptops. I wanted both options, so I knew where to start, Blurb! They have a flexible magazine template that might work and is available online too. I wanted the kind of pages that you actually flip as though you are reading it naturally. I wanted it downloadable and on my website. I'm not sure Blurb can do this particular bit yet - it may require a different conversion app.
The basic stuff, images and text information and some content text to get the ball rolling. I explored various page layouts, actually a fun experience, a little different from painting, but the rules of a focal point, flow and visual rhythm hold true even here. I settled down on one and ordered a single hard copy as a proof to see actual scale of fonts and quality before jumping in too far.
My single copy arrived safely. The quality was excellent, especially the image quality and colour . I ended up with 52 pages plus a cover. Its more a soft cover book or an exhibit catalog than a typical magazine we think of. They do have a step down quality (lighter paper weight) that would probably work as well for my purposes as a handout.
The concept
Books, catalogs and magazines convert well to our smart phones and laptops. I wanted both options, so I knew where to start, Blurb! They have a flexible magazine template that might work and is available online too. I wanted the kind of pages that you actually flip as though you are reading it naturally. I wanted it downloadable and on my website. I'm not sure Blurb can do this particular bit yet - it may require a different conversion app.
I started on the hard copy to establish a product base line
The basic stuff, images and text information and some content text to get the ball rolling. I explored various page layouts, actually a fun experience, a little different from painting, but the rules of a focal point, flow and visual rhythm hold true even here. I settled down on one and ordered a single hard copy as a proof to see actual scale of fonts and quality before jumping in too far.
It took a few weeks
My single copy arrived safely. The quality was excellent, especially the image quality and colour . I ended up with 52 pages plus a cover. Its more a soft cover book or an exhibit catalog than a typical magazine we think of. They do have a step down quality (lighter paper weight) that would probably work as well for my purposes as a handout.
As suspected there were a few things to move around for better flow and consistency. Font size had to be reduced and some written text revised or omitted altogether. It was well worth the time and small cost because I did learn a great deal from the whole process. It was a good basic first step.
Online catalog research - page flipping
This is where I leave the Blurb train. You can order a nice PDF file when ordering your Blurb books or magazines, which I did. Blurb does have internet options to sell your eBooks on third party sites. I wanted more control of it on my website, blogger, email and social platforms..... if I can.
I'm really new at this, so I googled eBooks page flipping looking for an app. Lots of choices and they all cost quite a bit (monthly fees billed annually) Even if they say PDF conversion is "free"..... not so! However, the conversion from PDF to HTML5 is remarkably painless. I'm on several 15-day free trials testing things out; which I actually did with an incomplete proof PDF (no cover) example here.
UPDATE 12/13/18
THE FLIPPINGBOOK FREE TRIAL ENDED AND THE SAMPLE CATALOG WAS DEACTIVATED
Flipping book is a very neat app, however costly for the basic service of $44 per mo. The trial used the $89 per month plan. The maxed out version is $179. The evolution of my project Chuck Larivey Editions actually made it obsolete. The free trial was worth the time. If it were a major component to my project perhaps. I'm finding most programs and apps are in subscription form. Programs we once could buy are now on a rental basis only. When you start adding all these small pieces up in our daily tech life....... WOW!
There's no question after hours of research I want a page flipping catalog function on anything I can! I want it more than a hard copy catalog, magazine or whatever. Basically it's a PDF file conversion to HTML5, which gives you a copy and paste-in code. Also interactive with multiple user functions.
FASO, my website host, added it to my website on the face page under the slide show. Aside from the fact it is an incomplete presentation, it worked remarkably well.....
Update
All this R&D changed my market thinking a bit. I do like page flipping technology, wonderful for email marketing, a website or social media sites. Importantly something a client can easily download and use at will, also easily updated. A hard-copy is not. Perhaps the heavy monthly cost associated with most if not all page flipping apps is worth it. Perhaps not!
The real problem is the construction of the original PDF catalog file. I spent a great deal of time in various programs looking for an alternative to Blurb - in most cases a serious learning curve.
eCommerce sales platform?
My attention was diverted when I began to realize all this could be covered with a robust online sales platform similar to what the big retails use. Not a typical artist/exhibit website I use now in FASO. Which allows selling but lacks most services any good retailer would need.
More to come.....
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