DTRPG uses Lightning Source, which I also use, and one thing I would warn people about is the 240% total ink coverage limit on covers. Maybe Lulu has a similar limit, not sure, but this was a change that LS introduced and when they did, it upset a lot of people. Since then, I've found it to be a potential issue and it generally makes it harder to have covers with colors that look vibrant and alive (not impossible, but you need to have artists and layout people who understand how to work within that limit). And if you should end up with a piece of art that exceeds the limit, you will have to do surgery to bring it inside the 240% mark (which often turns into a gradual process of making the colors more muddy or faded until they don't exceed the limit). Another issue is dithering (which I presume Lulu also has). You need to be careful with your tones in the interior pages because LS printings tend to dither if they have a swath of gray or black to print.

Quote from: brettmb;1069991I'm with you on that, but they should check the files and then block approval until the problems are fixed.

EDIT: Some of the errors are completely obvious yet the files are approved. When I tried to set up a hardback book a few years back, they sent me the book printed at 72dpi. Now I certainly did not send 72dpi files, but how can they not see that something is wrong? They made me pay for it too. I haven't used their printing other than cards since then.

Oh, I absolutely agree. We have a preflight process all files go through where we check for low-rez art, odd coloring, to light/too dark halftones and gradient shades, etc. We bring these to the attention of the publisher before we accept the files as ready-to-print.

How about Amazon's print on demand?  Any thoughts on it?  

I'm not a fan of Amazon, too much politics, but I did purchase a few print on demand books from them recently. I believe their service is called CreateSpace.  I previously purchased a print copy of Alpha Blue at DriveThru (OneBookShelf), and then I bought a copy from Amazon for a friend for Christmas (wrapped it in brown paper and everything, ha).  The Amazon copy was of much higher quality paper and quality in general.  I'm in the Western United States.

Edit: Amazon shipped it in their usual bad manner for books, though.  It somehow managed not to be all messed up, thankfully.  OneBookShelf's packaging was very nice and damage resistant.  Packaging quality is something to take into account for these services too.

Quote from: sniderman;1069989Speaking as someone who works at a POD facility,

Sniderman, what are your suggestions and tips for POD publishers? Especially small press RPGers?

What are the most common and costly mistakes? What should people know that they don't?

Createspace is no more. They've moved printing operations over to Kindle Direct Publishing. Same quality, which is generally better than OBS/Lulu and also cheaper.

That's right  brettmb.  Thanks for the correction.  Yes, I was pleasantly surprised by Amazon's service, compared to lulu and onebookshelf.

I'll be checking this out, for certain.