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CreateSpace |
Lulu
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book sizes
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They allow custom formats up to /about/ A4.
However restrictions apply if a distribution option is selected
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Only a limited set of sizes is allowed.
The limitation gets even narrower if distribution is requested.
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| minimum page count | 24 | 48 for standard paperbacks
32 for premium paperbacks |
book covers
| paperbacks only
| Variety of soft and hard cover options.
The number of options decreases if sales and distribution options are selected.
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cover design wizard
| well usable with a wide assortment of themes and layouts
| very limited possibilities
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| BW illustrations | better | |
| color images | | better if good quality paper is selected |
| distribution | primarily Amazon | various distribution options
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revenue monitoring
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sales and revenue is displayed on the user dashboard in near real time
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revenue is reported periodically
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user control
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cannot delete
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user can delete their own project
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| pagination | book can only include standard pagination from 1, 2, 3 ...etc.
No deviations tolerated.
| not enforced
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editorial checking
| CreateSpace performs a series of automatic checks, their manual review and approval and client proof review before a book is allowed to print. Sometimes helpful sometimes frustrating.
!Cannot recall a project once it is submitted for approval!
| Only routine automatic checks.
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private prints
| no - every book is issued an ISBN and is treated like an official publication to be sold
| yes - options for private prints
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modification of existing books
| you have to go again through the approval process which (if successful) takes from hours to 2 days and during that time the book is unavailable for others to order.
| No hassle, you just have to re-click through the whole process of book creation. If the book is already in distribution, a self-check on a physical print is required.
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tolerance of PDF size
| cuts off the extra area
| resizes the pages
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| e-books |
very little support for e-books, they only generate a cover file for Kindle derived from the paperback
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lot of support for e-books
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e-book distribution
| none | Apple, Nook
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| printing location | U.S. only | multiple sites worldwide |
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in short
| choose CreateSpace if you want...
| choose Lulu if you want...
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| | quick and easy entry into Amazon | to print a book quickly in hours not days (without waiting for their approval )
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| | BW photos in your book | full color illustrations on better paper |
| | custom book size in paperback | to publish and distribute an e-book
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| | | hard cover
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| spiral binding
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| to make frequent updates in your book
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| | | use nonstandard pagination
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| | | easy entry into Google Book Search
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| | | if printing outside the U.S - e.g. in Europe - is good for you |
