For a while now, I've been using a laser printer to print out a couple of hundred copies of the Twelve Virtues of Rationality (in its printable pamphlet version) and taking them with me to conferences, talks, and science fiction conventions. Cut, staple in the middle (using a large-sized, measuring stapler), and fold. This method is very cheap, probably something like ten cents a copy for ink and paper. But it produces crappy-looking pamphlets.
Does anyone know of a way of cheaply printing small 16-page pamphlets? Take a look at the pamphlet to see the current size. I would really like to see the pamphlets stack well so I can plump down 50 of them without the tower falling over, which is the main problem with the staple-and-fold method. But even more important is that they be cheap, considering the quantities in which I hand these out for free. Something conducive to a professional-looking cover (i.e. allowing for the top sheet to be glossy or a higher quality of paper) would also be nice, again cost permitting.
If I can find a good solution I'll also go ahead and get the pamphlet graphically redesigned before printing, of course, and include some more direct proselytizing material for Less Wrong on the back cover.
I've looked around online, but all the print shops I've seen have been way too expensive for giving away 200 copies per convention - even by myself, much less getting other people to do it on a routine basis. Does anyone know how to get this done cheaply? A minimum order of 10,000 for $1000 would be quite acceptable - I expect at that price I could ship some boxes to other LWers.
Costs can vary considerably between different printers for the same job. Here are some of the variables that go into an estimate you'll get:
Design. Standard paper sizes with no cutting or trimming is less expensive.
Utilization. If the printer has excess capacity, you can expect a lower cost
Delivery time. Related to utilization, the longer you can wait for your job, the more opportunity the printer has to schedule it to maximize his utilization.
Materials. More colours are more expensive. Heavier paper is more expensive. More than one type of paper is more expensive (glossy cover, plain pages, for example).
Production equipment. Not really relevant for your job, but for more complex printing certain production processes are cheaper for certain jobs. As you would expect, each printer will gladly bid for work, even if they don't have the ideal equipment for a job.
Binding. From lower cost to more expensive: Stapled, stapled and taped, cerlox, wire coil, perfect (glued).
Competition. Getting more than one bid, and letting the printer know you are getting more than one bid. However, you also need to consider the printer's cost to bid against their internally perceived chance of winning the business. Two or three bidders is likely to be better than 10 or 12.
A very quick (two minute) google search turned up online bids around $1200/10,000 for an 8 page stapled and taped booklet. As this necessarily includes shipping, you should be able to find a local printer willing to do this job for under $1000 ... especially if you give them time.
Final suggestion ... university print shops often provide low cost printing for tenured professors.
And ... I agree with Roko's comments. I recommend a revision to take some of the more "proselytizing" tone out of the work. I like the light hearted tone of much of the material, but it often steps over the line and becomes condescending.
For a while now, I've been using a laser printer to print out a couple of hundred copies of the Twelve Virtues of Rationality (in its printable pamphlet version) and taking them with me to conferences, talks, and science fiction conventions. Cut, staple in the middle (using a large-sized, measuring stapler), and fold. This method is very cheap, probably something like ten cents a copy for ink and paper. But it produces crappy-looking pamphlets.
Does anyone know of a way of cheaply printing small 16-page pamphlets? Take a look at the pamphlet to see the current size. I would really like to see the pamphlets stack well so I can plump down 50 of them without the tower falling over, which is the main problem with the staple-and-fold method. But even more important is that they be cheap, considering the quantities in which I hand these out for free. Something conducive to a professional-looking cover (i.e. allowing for the top sheet to be glossy or a higher quality of paper) would also be nice, again cost permitting.
If I can find a good solution I'll also go ahead and get the pamphlet graphically redesigned before printing, of course, and include some more direct proselytizing material for Less Wrong on the back cover.
I've looked around online, but all the print shops I've seen have been way too expensive for giving away 200 copies per convention - even by myself, much less getting other people to do it on a routine basis. Does anyone know how to get this done cheaply? A minimum order of 10,000 for $1000 would be quite acceptable - I expect at that price I could ship some boxes to other LWers.