Last week the second hardcover test print of my fantasy children`s book, Below the Floor, finally arrived (“Das Dorf unter dem Fußboden” as it will be published in German first). But there were some issues – again.
If you remember, there had been some problems with the colours in the first proof, some months ago. So I had adjusted some of the illustrations and had asked the book designer to update the printing file in order to make a second test print.
Thinner pages mean a thinner spine.
I really hoped that everything would be fine now, as we are way over schedule and I wanted to finally go into production. But the printing company had printed the book on the wrong paper. As I had written before, I wanted the book to have an old school feeling to it – remember those rough papers from the books you had in your childhood? These ones. Not the shiny, thin paper most children`s books are printed on today. But the second test print came with – yes, you guessed it – thin, shiny paper.
You can see the result in the following images: 
On the left page the interior title page shines through.
On the right page you can see the text shining through.
And on page 85 you can see the illustration`s silhouette,…
…which is our caterpillar metro. 🙂
This would not be that much of a problem, as this test print was just meant to serve for checking the colours of the illustrations. The problem is, the colours have slightly shifted, too. The yellows are more dominant now. It does not show in the photos, as I took them with a mobile device, but the colour shift is notable when you look at the real book. So this second test print cannot definitely tell if the colour changes we made do comfort the paper we chose.
Contacting the printing company again, sending them problem reports, sending them proof photos and now waiting for the hardcover test print to arrive.
Shit always happens.
The question is how fast you can get it fixed and keep moving forward. 🙂
Did you publish your book yourself? Which was your experience with printing companies? Feel free to leave a comment below.
I create worlds. John E. Brito's Blog 
I’m sorry to hear you’re having some difficulties. That must be very frustrating. I hope it gets sorted very soon but from the images I can say it looks beautiful.
LikeLike
Thank you very much, Sonea. 🙂 And yes, it can be tiring sometimes, but I try not to think too much about the things that go wrong. I just try to think about the finished book. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
Never mind. I’m sorry to hear they used the wrong paper. Sure everything will get sorted quickly. The book and illustrations still look really good, sure you’ll be happy with the finished result 🙂
LikeLike
Yeah, I hope so, too. Already had the first feedback from the printing company and I am now waiting for the response. I will get done, one way or another 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person
That’s good you;ve had such a quick reply, won’t be long now before you get everything sorted 🙂
LikeLike
I think so, too :))
LikeLiked by 1 person
Keep pushing them till you’re happy. I always liked your idea of the old school paper way so each page was independent and didn’t suffer from see-through text and images. Look forward to seeing the hardcover print and hopefully it will come out good 🙂
LikeLike
Thank you very much. I think that these are just “infancy/teething problems”, as with everything you do for the first time 🙂 And yeah, can`t wait to *finally* have the first real print. 🙂
LikeLiked by 1 person