View Poll Results: Would you have paid $10 more for the same quality as the 2008 calendar?
Voters: 27. You may not vote on this poll
2009 Rdtiburon Calendars
Senior Member
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 636
Likes: 0
From: Croatia
Vehicle: 1999 Hyundai Tiburon
Got the calendars a while ago. I like the design. Paper could've been same as last years I would pay more to get better paper. Maybe it would be possible to offer two different solutions next year (cheaper calendar worse quality paper, more expensive calendar better quality paper)
All in all I like it. Good work everybody involved!
All in all I like it. Good work everybody involved!
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 11,732
Likes: 5
From: Leesville, Louisiana
Vehicle: 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
^^that was my biggest fear when I sent out calendars last year... I'd end up holding onto someone's calendar and they'd catch me at a bad time and expect it sent right away.
Btw, Glossy card stock and a bit of noncookiecutterism would be nice for next year. I'd pay more.
( post moved by majik from http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtop...80&start=80 )
Oh wow, there's a thread for this. Well, lemme speak my mind a bit more.
I think it's important for the layout to reflect the car it's outlining, or at least the artist's conception of the car. A bit of variety of the layout would help with displaying the originality of each piece of work. Really, each of those cars are a finished masterpiece, a sculpture, unique and of it's own origin, but of the same origin. To lay it out differently displays a different conceptualization for each car.
The paper was not good at all. It's printer paper. I could have taken the images that were posted online and printed it on my printer, use a hole punch and bound it together. It's important that a professional calendar for sale be made of card stock. Personally, I'd prefer glossy single faced cardstock for 1. turning the image at the top into a photo. 2. giving a dull surface to write on for the calendar part. 3. making it easier to write on when it's on the wall.
The following threads will hopefully serve well for reference in the future.
my 2008 RDT calendars preparation thread: (premier members only)
http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtop...t=0&start=0
my 2008 RDT calendars GB thread:
http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtop...t=0&start=0
Calendars should be sent in for at least 1 proof before final printing. I took it in a few days before the production date and had them make a proof. I then went across the street and ate pancakes while writing ALL OVER the calendar making notes of things which the developer (kinkos) needed to change and items which I needed to change. I made the appropriate color changes, added effects, removed nasties, and returned the images to the developer for another proof which turned out well. They then printed it wrong and I had them print another full set.
In reflection, the proofs took alot of time. That's the one thing I would have changed. To make things move smoother the first proof should be made within days after the final COTM competition. Then the calendar cover and the December COTM can be made using the same printing settings and a single print can be made from the COTY to ensure quality.
Alot can go wrong in a set of calendars. I hope this information/feedback helps someone.
Btw, Glossy card stock and a bit of noncookiecutterism would be nice for next year. I'd pay more.
( post moved by majik from http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtop...80&start=80 )
Oh wow, there's a thread for this. Well, lemme speak my mind a bit more.
I think it's important for the layout to reflect the car it's outlining, or at least the artist's conception of the car. A bit of variety of the layout would help with displaying the originality of each piece of work. Really, each of those cars are a finished masterpiece, a sculpture, unique and of it's own origin, but of the same origin. To lay it out differently displays a different conceptualization for each car.
The paper was not good at all. It's printer paper. I could have taken the images that were posted online and printed it on my printer, use a hole punch and bound it together. It's important that a professional calendar for sale be made of card stock. Personally, I'd prefer glossy single faced cardstock for 1. turning the image at the top into a photo. 2. giving a dull surface to write on for the calendar part. 3. making it easier to write on when it's on the wall.
The following threads will hopefully serve well for reference in the future.
my 2008 RDT calendars preparation thread: (premier members only)
http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtop...t=0&start=0
my 2008 RDT calendars GB thread:
http://www.rdtiburon.com/index.php?showtop...t=0&start=0
Calendars should be sent in for at least 1 proof before final printing. I took it in a few days before the production date and had them make a proof. I then went across the street and ate pancakes while writing ALL OVER the calendar making notes of things which the developer (kinkos) needed to change and items which I needed to change. I made the appropriate color changes, added effects, removed nasties, and returned the images to the developer for another proof which turned out well. They then printed it wrong and I had them print another full set.
In reflection, the proofs took alot of time. That's the one thing I would have changed. To make things move smoother the first proof should be made within days after the final COTM competition. Then the calendar cover and the December COTM can be made using the same printing settings and a single print can be made from the COTY to ensure quality.
Alot can go wrong in a set of calendars. I hope this information/feedback helps someone.
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,943
Likes: 0
From: ɯooɹpǝq ɹnoʎ
Vehicle: ǝdnoɔ sısǝuǝƃ
Your information is very helpful, but I would like to address a few things.
I reviewed last year's calendars and order threads, as well as the prior years. There are many members who purchased calendars in the past who are no longer members or Tiburon owners now. With the dwindling members, and putting this together so late (Christmas) I wanted to get them to members before the end of January. I was afraid we'd only sell 25-30 calendars if we charged $25.
I also felt that with people losing their jobs, and everybody being affected by the current economic conditions, that I would try to make the price as low as possible and hope for the best quality.
The files weren't ready until Christmas (or the week of), and we had to get them printed ASAP and shipped out. We found a place online who could do them cheap, but I had to buy 100 calendars minimum. We set up staggered pricing to cover the cost of all 100, so the more purchased the lower the price. We got these created and shipped for nearly half of last year's price. This was my goal. We did this online, and unfortunately proofs were not available.
I didn't realize I would be handling the calendars until mid-December. I didn't have time to run a thread to get a response from people and know how much people would be willing to pay, or to get quotes from Kinkos and other places. I didn't think people would pay $24 for a calendar, and I wanted as many people to buy them as possible. We sold 40-45 last year? This year we sold 65.
I do appreciate your input, and with the input of others it seems that people are happy with these for the price paid, but would have paid more for higher quality while keeping it under $24. We're already researching options for next year, and I'm open to options people may have.
Ideally, I would have liked to get orders and payment before having the calendars made, but the pictures weren't ready until Christmas and I wanted people to have them in-hand by mid-January. Next year's calendars will be better, glossy pictures, thicker cardstock, and hopefully priced $16-18 total.
To comment on the layouts... it was difficult to get high quality pictures from people. I'm trying to stay on top of it this year, requiring COTM winners to submit high res photos instead of 800x600 crap. Everybody takes a front and side shot, not many angles or variations like you do DTN. I agree it'd be nice to have many pictures of the car and arranged uniquely, but it's hard when every pic is a front or side view. How many front corner shots should we put on one page? Maybe we can have someone spend more time on each month's layout for next year's calendar? Or someone can access our Photobucket account and start making them as the COTM winners come in?
I reviewed last year's calendars and order threads, as well as the prior years. There are many members who purchased calendars in the past who are no longer members or Tiburon owners now. With the dwindling members, and putting this together so late (Christmas) I wanted to get them to members before the end of January. I was afraid we'd only sell 25-30 calendars if we charged $25.
I also felt that with people losing their jobs, and everybody being affected by the current economic conditions, that I would try to make the price as low as possible and hope for the best quality.
The files weren't ready until Christmas (or the week of), and we had to get them printed ASAP and shipped out. We found a place online who could do them cheap, but I had to buy 100 calendars minimum. We set up staggered pricing to cover the cost of all 100, so the more purchased the lower the price. We got these created and shipped for nearly half of last year's price. This was my goal. We did this online, and unfortunately proofs were not available.
I didn't realize I would be handling the calendars until mid-December. I didn't have time to run a thread to get a response from people and know how much people would be willing to pay, or to get quotes from Kinkos and other places. I didn't think people would pay $24 for a calendar, and I wanted as many people to buy them as possible. We sold 40-45 last year? This year we sold 65.
I do appreciate your input, and with the input of others it seems that people are happy with these for the price paid, but would have paid more for higher quality while keeping it under $24. We're already researching options for next year, and I'm open to options people may have.
Ideally, I would have liked to get orders and payment before having the calendars made, but the pictures weren't ready until Christmas and I wanted people to have them in-hand by mid-January. Next year's calendars will be better, glossy pictures, thicker cardstock, and hopefully priced $16-18 total.
To comment on the layouts... it was difficult to get high quality pictures from people. I'm trying to stay on top of it this year, requiring COTM winners to submit high res photos instead of 800x600 crap. Everybody takes a front and side shot, not many angles or variations like you do DTN. I agree it'd be nice to have many pictures of the car and arranged uniquely, but it's hard when every pic is a front or side view. How many front corner shots should we put on one page? Maybe we can have someone spend more time on each month's layout for next year's calendar? Or someone can access our Photobucket account and start making them as the COTM winners come in?
Senior Member
Joined: Mar 2006
Posts: 6,341
Likes: 0
From: Mass
Vehicle: 97 Tiburon
QUOTE (majikTib @ Feb 14 2009, 04:01 PM)
I'm trying to stay on top of it this year, requiring COTM winners to submit high res photos instead of 800x600 crap.
i'm doin the same thing.... i've PM'ed january winner twice, february winner once. haven't received anything. they'll be getting PM's every time theres a new winner. i'm tryin to get it so we don't have a last minute thing again
Thread Starter
Administrator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 13,943
Likes: 0
From: ɯooɹpǝq ɹnoʎ
Vehicle: ǝdnoɔ sısǝuǝƃ
yeah, I've PMed them both also. Our calendars are only as good as our members allow them to be.
Sparty is THE MAN who keeps these COTMs running... MUCHOS PROPS TO HIM!!!!!
Sparty is THE MAN who keeps these COTMs running... MUCHOS PROPS TO HIM!!!!!
Senior Member
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 2,087
Likes: 0
From: Western PA
Vehicle: 2001 Tiburon
Why not have the 2nd place COTM send in pictures as well? Make COTM winning dependent on getting photos for the calandar? If the winner does not come through in pictures, COTM calandar honors goes to 2nd place.
Most people who COTM are around a bit and spent the time entering.
Most people who COTM are around a bit and spent the time entering.
Moderator
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 11,732
Likes: 5
From: Leesville, Louisiana
Vehicle: 2001 Hyundai Tiburon
What I was saying, people submit the same pictures, but they can be laid out any different way. I tried to do a unique layout for each picture. Depending on the quality of the picture, you can pick out a main image, then work from there. Cut out the car for a variety shot, make backgrounds fade or add a filmstrip, or "toss" the picture into the image.
This is a front and a side shot and a interior shot.
Front, side, and corner
corner shot with filmstrip at bottom
rix requested this one
I wasn't happy with this one. But I made it work with the color scheme. The member supplied no good pictures. 2 corner shots with a background were the only ones I could really use. The main image was the only HR image available and it looked like he was broken down on the side of the highway. Those were the only 2 decent pictures JBizut sent.
The ones which were sent in extreme low quality, I was able to make work by using 4 pictures and dividing them into the corners.
I just think if there's enough time to do it, then a bit of variety in the layout would be nice.
This is a front and a side shot and a interior shot.
Front, side, and corner
corner shot with filmstrip at bottom
rix requested this one
I wasn't happy with this one. But I made it work with the color scheme. The member supplied no good pictures. 2 corner shots with a background were the only ones I could really use. The main image was the only HR image available and it looked like he was broken down on the side of the highway. Those were the only 2 decent pictures JBizut sent.
The ones which were sent in extreme low quality, I was able to make work by using 4 pictures and dividing them into the corners.
I just think if there's enough time to do it, then a bit of variety in the layout would be nice.