When comparing quotes for interior design and typesetting, a HUGE issue to quantify is the charges for modifications to the text content after first pages have been typeset.

Traditionally called EA/AA (Editor Alterations/Author Alterations) these are CHANGES to the content at the request of the publisher, not mistakes by the typesetter/layout artist. (which are traditionally referred to as PEs (Printer Errors))

Almost all typesetters/layout artists charge for this work since it is additional time, sometimes substantial time, spent working on your project due to your changes. Charges may be billed by the hour, by the page, line, or word, or simply as a flat percentage of the overall per page rate or overall bill.

These charges are valid and normal, but you must realize they can be VERY substantial if you make extensive changes. You should understand what your exposure is before selecting a vendor. (see related tip The Cost of Changes)

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When comparing quotes from various service providers, (editorial, design, production, art, printing, or whatever) make sure you know EXACTLY what IS included, what is NOT included, and HOW MUCH those extras will cost you if they come up. Quotes for services can be structured many different ways.

Now we will address an INCORRECT quote.

There are dozens of variables involved in quoting a book production job, and it’s always possible for one or more specifications to be incorrect, leading to major headaches later in the process.

Book Interiors: Make sure all your vendors are quoting the design and production of that same specs, and that everything YOUR book will need is documented and priced accordingly. Beware undocumented add-on or itemized charges for items such as scanning, laser prints, mailing and overnight charges etc.

Also make sure you have written documentation of the potential charges if specs change. What is the cost for additional scans, adding new text, editorial changes, or a larger than quoted page count.

Book Covers: Make sure all your designers are quoting based on the same level of cover design. A designer planning on providing you a simple type and single stock image cover should be much less expensive than a complex design with a custom illustration. Know what each will provide, and that it’s what you want.

Make sure the quote includes everything necessary to provide press ready files to your printer, who is responsible to fix any problems with files at the printer, what rights you have to use the files and the design, and beware any undocumented add-on or itemized charges for items such as scanning, laser prints, mailing and overnight charges etc.

Book Printing and Manufacturing: When we are brokering a print job, I send very detailed RFQs out to 10-15 printers on average. It’s not uncommon to have at least one quote contain errors in the specifications. Sometimes a printer has substituted materials that are more appropriate for the job, perhaps higher quality for the same cost, or lower cost for the same quality. Sometimes, they have simply made a honest mistake in materials or page count. But different materials can dramatically effect your costs, and the final product. While prices do vary on the same jobs and quantities, if a quote from any vendor seems much lower than comparable vendors, or if someone’s quote relative to other printers suddenly gets much better or worse, there’s probably a reason for that.

Estimators and their software can and do make mistakes.

The key issue on all quotes is make sure you compare apples to apples, and understand EXACTLY what you are paying for, what is not included, and what additional services and changes will cost you.

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When comparing quotes from various service providers, (editorial, design, production, art, printing, or whatever) make sure you know what IS included, what is NOT included, and HOW MUCH those extras will cost you if they come up.

There are two issues at work here: Incomplete quotes, and Incorrect quotes.

First, let’s address an INCOMPLETE quote.

You want to make sure all the necessary steps and expenses required to complete your project are included or planned for, so you don’t get nickel and dime’d to death with minor add-on charges.

As a former Typesetting/Prepress manager a large publishing house, I can tell you firsthand that those “minor” additional charges for shipping, copying, laserprints, color prints, typing time, changes, and “minor” production/design work can add up to more than the primary job and original quote!

This is one of the most frequent issues we hear prospective clients raise.

If a quote from any vendor seems too good to be true, or much lower than the others, more than likely there’s a reason for that. There’s nothing inherrently wrong or dishonest with leaving out miscellaneous expenses and itemizing the billing later, as long as its spelled out in a quote.

The key issue is make sure you compare apples to apples, and understand EXACTLY what you are paying for.

Note: Desktop Miracles tries to quote all projects as all-inclusive, and details most potential additional costs on our quotes in advance to eliminate surprises.

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Full color digital books are still very expensive to produce. But if your book is full color, spot color, or a picture book, they are really the only way to accurately and effectively convey what your finished books will look like.

You can save money in several different ways:

1. Schedule your printing so that your offset printer can overrun one signature of your book, which you can include with the one color galleys.
2. Create a BLAD (Book Layout and Design) which is a customized signature of full color pages from your book.
   This is more expensive than simply overprinting one signature, but works better if you want to show elements from throughout your book. This is essentially a brochure on your book.
3. Work with a digital POD or galley printer who can produce both color and black and white and select a limited number of consecutive pages to be printed in color and bound in with the rest of the pages. We’ve done several projects with 8-12 full color pages included in a one color bound book, and called attention to the color layout in a cover letter. Much less expensive than a full color book, yet also shows the layout and use of color.

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If you are attending a trade show and find two seminars that you’d like to attend are scheduled at the same time, cross-reference the speakers list with the exhibitors list. Many of the presenters will be manning tables in the exhibit hall and will frequently answer/discuss similar subjects and questions at their tables as they cover in their seminars,
and many will have extra copies of any handouts or visual aids they used.

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