Hi,
I'm new to this forum, so if someone already posted info on this and I missed it, I appologize in advance.
I've developed a new chess game for 6 people to play at once. I'm working on getting pieces cheap enough, I think I've found a way to make a full set for this game (144 pieces) for under $10. My problem is finding a way to get the board printed cheap enough, especially since the board is so big. The copy I have right now (it's just on laminated paper) is roughly 28" x 24". It cost me $3 to have it printed in b/w for one copy, and I had to color and laminate it myself. And it's not even on anything solid. To have a local printing company to print it in small quantities in color would cost me $42 per board, and that still wouldn't be on a stiff surface. I found a sign company that can do it on vynal for $24 per board, but that's still too expensive. I like the idea of vynal, since I could package it in a tube, but the price is still too high. Also, I would like to enlarge the board a little bit. With the board the size it is, it can only accomodate pieces upto a 1-1/8" base. I had it printed at that size because it would cost more to go to the next size of paper.
The cost of printing at places I've found so far are so prohibitive that I'm even looking at setting up my own printing press just to keep the cost down. But I know that would incur abit of cost, and alot of time. Perhaps someone knows how I can get my board printed like a regular gameboard without costing me a fortune. I would like the dimensions to be something like 35" x 27". But a big problem I'm having is a lack of capital, so I can't even afford a run of 50 right now. I need to find a way I can have a print run when I need it, regardless of how few I need, but still have the cost cheap enough for me to make a profit selling the game at around $20.
Please Help.
Your post has a number of jarring and possibly conflicting requirements....
If you can afford to look into a large printing press that can handle 36" x 24" sheets, you should be able to afford a run of 50 copies at a local printer.
Well, I'm also abit of an inventor, so I am thinking of building my own press. I've done alot of research, and for what I'm doing, it would really be relatively simple. The only thing is if I build it myself, while it would be fine for small numbers, it really wouldn't be able to handle it the game really took off, and I needed mass production.
A standard paper size for most commercial presses is 36" x 24" - you may have to compromise on this.
I know, but like I said in my previous message, it will only accomodate pieces upto a 1-1/8" base if I print it at that size. I want to go a little bigger *if* I can, so that players could use standard size pieces. On the common chess sets, the King has a 1-1/4" base.
The very essence of the term "print run' implies you're grinding out hundreds or thousands of copies, i.e. letting the printing press machine "run." For example, using 80# or 100# glossy paper, on a run of 2,000 copies, you should be able to have any local commercial printer turn out full color playing boards (not vinal or hard mounted) for around $1.00 or less per board. But you sound more like a candidate for "Print on Demand" services. Print on demand will turn out as few as 1 or 2 at a time but the cost per unit is higher. Here's link to find a POD guy near you:
http://oldsite.printondemand.com/search.cgi
Good hunting!
Thanks for the Addy! :)