cs2_commune

the project:

Among the more important points of my debut graphic novella “Commune” is an allegory about transitioning from outdated systems. It seemed appropriate to follow through with the progressive message by using thoughtful guidelines for printing.

the brief:

1. As many materials and processes as possible should be eco-friendly alternatives
to current systems.
2. The number of copies printed should strike the greatest balance between affordability and cost of printing per book.
3. The budget would have to be altered to match the smallest quote based on
these caveats.

research:

1. First, to reduce environmental and economic costs of delivery, I searched for local Minnesota printer quotes. It was found that few printers had the capability of providing quotes for the book since they were unprepared to use vegetable-based inks and print in such high quantities.
2. I adjusted my search to the most ecology-minded printers and got two quotes from either coast of the United States. Each printer was equidistantly far away, but one, Greener Printer, offered wind power investment to offset the energy cost of delivery. I selected them and began talking with them about the project.

creative process:

I began looking at how to make the book even more efficient. I had 90 pages of art and text. The printer said I could either print at 96 pages or 88 pages. I knew there was a way to compress down 2 pages of information with the help of the back and front cover.

Using the inside front cover for legal information and the back inside cover for contact information, I made a tighter, more effective design. This is a typical solution for books, but this simple decision saved an extra 2,000 sheets (or 16,000 pages) of paper. This also saved plates from being cut and the ink that would go on the pages.

Between a heavier 120-pound cover and an 80-pound cover, I was able to choose
the latter. Also, I requested that the paper not have a plastic coating of any kind. I think glossy covers are cheesy, but I was happy to find that my preference was more
eco-friendly anyway.

Finally, the margins of the book were reduced by a half-inch to adjust to a more typical, and more efficient, print size. The size of the art was adjusted to accommodate for a smaller size. The difference was neglible. I could have even shrunk it down to the next smaller size, but the paper waste would increase due to cropping methods, with no added benefits.

With a quote for 2,000 copies in hand, it was only a matter of time (one year) before
I gathered the funds to print. I requested one “proof” copy and made all subsequent changes digitally. The age of the Internet hasn’t decreased the number of printed documents, but email was certainly appreciated here. The entire book was made into
and printed from a PDF.

Cover and inside cover production notes.#

production notes:

Paper: Cover stock, 100% post-consumer waste, 80# Everest white. Text stock,
100% post-consumer waste, 50# New Leaf opaque.

Ink: Printed with vegetable-based inks.

Other: Energy used in transportation is offset by wind energy investment.

outcome:

The book is printed, and the impact of this on my pocketbook is forgettable when I think
of the statement I’ve made by pursuing the efficiency that matches the book best. But that’s just how my crazy mind works. It is now being distributed online (see link below) and through Amazon, as well as a few local and national outlets
> go to maxeem.com

lessons:

More than can be listed here about printing. ‘Twas my first book and I had a lot to learn.

Case-specific lessons include:

Even with the amount I printed, the cost per book was still much higher than a book on virgin paper with more toxic inks. Four times the cost, to be specific. Both the consumer and I have to take a hit. I had decided long before that this was a statement book more than a money-maker. It’s a difficult market in the first place, with comics having been beaten into a corner by a number of guilty parties, inside and outside the industry.

Which isn’t to say I won’t be traveling to conventions to try to plug the book. But wandering in the ruins of the infrastructure, I find myself questioning the market for such
a thing without the support of a publisher, or even with one. Although my purpose was
to show these publishers that I can do it, I now find myself considering the implications
of making a book physical. Could a book be printed only for libraries to avoid the bother of self-promotion and need for profit? Could a book be made available entirely online? The online book is a very different art form, but it’s one to consider in an age where people daily are more likely to carry an iPod than a book in their pocket.

Conversely, this might be the argument for fixing the printing systems we have … while people still care about the things that are in physical form. If the demand is there, there’s always someone to fill it. If a publisher took up the cause of environmental printing and created the awareness, there is a good chance that a major selling point would be the publisher’s mere existence. Well, it would have one fan anyway.

> go to maxeem.com