The Grotto Keep ~ View topic

I'm baaaaaack! I have been trying to order a paperbk and hardcover JPCG from Lulu and it blocks me every time I proceed to "print-ready". I have the "zip files". It's enough to make you say your prayers backwards! help

Since Geo began to activate a new fandom on FaceBook, there have been a lot of questions about printed copies of his work. Somewhere in the Technomancy 101-section, there was a step-by-step instruction by Geo.
I put it up here for easy access, and I made a few additions so it is correct for both books, hardcover and paperback, and follows the new lulu website design.

Hey everybody, I just went through the process at lulu.com on a different computer with a freshly downloaded zip file and it all seemed to work all right. I think there is some confusion about how this is all done (it took me a few tries to get it right) so let me walk you through the process step by step:

1) If you have not already, download the latest zipped (compressed) file of the print ready documents:
For JPHEC:
http://www.speedbumpstudios.com/chapters/JPHEC_printfiles.zip
(which contains the text part and the Hardcover dustjacket.
and
http://www.elderscrossing.com/chapters/JPHECcoverPaperback.zip
if you want to order the paper back version.

For JPCG:
http://www.gatekeeperscurse.com/chapters/JPCG_print_files.zip
(which contains the text, the dust cover for hardcover, and the cover for the paperback)
Be aware that downloading all these files will take some time because they are rather large.

Save it to your computer desktop (or any folder you like, but remember where to find them), then unzip it. Most of the time, double-clicking on the compressed file will open it, showing the contents.
There should be two files inside the zipped folder JPHEC_printfiles.zip: JPHEC_printFormat.pdf (the content) and JPHECcoverFull.pdf (the dust cover).
In JPHECcoverPaperback.zip, you will find JPHECcoverPaperback.pdf (the paperback cover)
In JPCG_print_files.zip, you will find JPCG_print.pdf (the content), JPCG_hardcover.pdf (the dust cover) and JPCG_paperback.pdf (the paperback cover).
Select them, then drag them onto your computer's desktop. Once you see the PDF documents on your desktop, double click on them and make sure they open in your PDF viewer. If they open correctly, you can delete the compressed folder(s), and then you are ready to go to the next step.

The next steps are explained for JPHEC, but work the same for JPCG.

2) Open a web browser and go to
http://www.lulu.com
Before you go on, you have to log in (register first, if you have not done so yet).
On the main page, click the light blue tab on top left that reads "Publish". A new page will open showing a list of all the objects you can create. The left section is "books". In the "Books" section, you can download additional instructions if you want to. For the next step, click on "Start publishing". Now you can select "Paperback books" or "Hardcover books".

3) Here's where the real work happens. A light blue popup window should appear, asking for the title and author of your book. Make the title "James Potter & the Hall of Elders Crossing" (ampersand (&) instead of "and"; no apostrophe after "elders"). This will help you later.
IMPORTANT: Make sure you have the publishing option set to "Keep it private and accessible only to me". If you have either of the other options checked, you will be publishing to the general marketplace, which could get us all into trouble. When done, click the "continue" button.

4) The next window allows you to choose project options. Make sure that these options are set this way:
The size of the book is 6"x9" (US Trade)
The binding is "Jacket Hardcover" for Hardcover, or "Perfect Bound" for Paperback
The color is "Black and White Printing"

These should be the default options, anyway. You can tell which option is picked because it will have a pale yellow background field behind it. Click "Save and Continue".

5) This next page is where you will upload the text document for the book. Click the "browse" button in the middle of the screen. A popup will appear, which you will use to navigate to your desktop (or where ever you saved your files) to find the "JPHEC_printFormat.pdf" (the "content" file) document. Select it in the popup window and click "open". In the lulu.com page, click "upload". A loading bar will appear underneath the upload section, showing your upload progress. This will probably take a few minutes. If all goes well, a green bar should appear near the top of the screen reading, "Your file has been added to your book successfully." Click the button near the bottom right that reads "Make print-ready file".

6) The next page should show a green box with the heading, "Your Print-Ready File is Complete", and offer you the option to "Download and Review" or "Save and Continue". If you wish to see the live lulu preview of the book (which will look exactly like the PDF on your desktop) go ahead and click the "download and preview" button. If you are ready to move on to the cover, click "Save and Continue".

7) This next page will show a cover mockup. Here is where we will make all the decisions about how the exterior of the book will look. (FYI: the reason we titled the book like we did and left the author's name off is because lulu only allows 65 embossed characters on the book spine). We will not need this section, since we are going to upload a complete cover art PDF. Click the button on the top right that reads, "One-piece Cover (advanced)".

8 ) A new window will open showing a blank white rectangle and, beneath that, another "browse" and "upload" section. Simply click the "browse" button, revealing the navigation popup. Navigate to the "JPHECcoverFull.pdf" or the JPHECcoverPaperback.pdf document on your desktop, click it, then click the button that reads "open". Finally, in the lulu page, click "upload". Yet another loading bar will appear, and yet again, this will probably take a few minutes. If all goes well, the cover should appear in the white rectangular box, with green lines showing where the folds will be (the green lines are not in the original image, and will not appear on the printed book; they are only guidelines for this part of the process). Click "Save and Continue" on the bottom right.

9) You are now pretty much done. The new window should show the cover elements and provide cost information. In US$, the cost should be $23.72 for the Hardcover book. Click the "Save and Finish" button on the lower right.

10) The next page should ask you to sign in or become a member if you have not done so in the beginning. Once you have gone through this process, you will have the option to buy the book you just created. You can use credit card or PayPal, I believe.

WHEW! I really hope that helps. I know there's been a lot of confusion about this-- we are definitely breaking new ground here. Enjoy, and please feel free to help each other if more problems spring up. I know several of you have already successfully ordered your own copies. Have fun!

On Plattform 9 3/4 Joined: 14 Jul 2009 Posts: 12

Thank you Tom for all your hardwork is updating the print instructions.

Hey, this coming from a thirteen year old who gets seven dollars a week for allowance, how much are the two books with S and H added?

I don't know for the US, but in Europe, I would pay 18 euro (about 26 dollars) for the hardcover version, plus 13 euro (18 dollars) for shipment.
For the german paperback, I pay 21 euro (about 30 dollars; yes, more than for the HC), but only 5 euro (only 7 dollars) for shipment.

These prizes vary very much. It depends on where the books are printed (HC in the US, usually, but the paperbacks are printed in europe (Spain or UK for me). When I wanted to order "Girl on the Dock" as a HC, the shipment would have cost 80 euro (more than 100 dollars!), but now it's different again.

When I ordered a copy of the german translation for Geo, the price for the book and for the shipment were different.

I suggest you upload the files and create your book. when you put it into your basket to buy them, you'll see the final price. you still don't have to click on "order" if it is too high.

Hi all, It's been a while since i've been here. Just wanted to say that...I finally ordered my Hall of Elders Crossing and GateKeeper books today and am still excited about getting them even though i've read the stories twice already.
I also got Girl on the Dock. This one I wish they'd hurry up on.

Tom Grey...these instructions are marvelous...very, very helpful.