Hello again,
I've heard about people having difficulty with their covers not coming out right. My book is finally available on Amazon (Gateway to the Paranormal). I placed an order thru Amazon to get the copies quickly. The cover on those is perfect and looks just like it does on CoverCreator. However, I placed another order through CreatSpace (CS), and the cover is quite dark, so much so that it's hard to read the title.
1) Do they use different printers for CreateSpace as opposed to Amazon?
2) It's been 3 days, and CS has not gotten back to me about a resolve. Do they ever fix these things? And is there any other way to reach them?
I don't like it when there's no contact #. They can easily hide from sight.
Thanks for any advice!
Nicky1951
Use the Contact Us link at the bottom of the page. You can leave a call-back number, and they'll likely get back to your in a timely manner. CreateSpace uses various printers and minor differences are to be expected, If the problem is major, as yours seems to be, they'll probably ask you to send them a photo to prove it and then they'll replace the book forthwith.
If you ordered the book through Amazon, then you should be complaining to Amazon. Send them photos of the two covers and ask for a replacement copy.
Dan'l
Hello Lorem_Ipsum,
Thank you for the reply. I did in fact respond as requested on the site, and the response was to send in a photo of each cover. I did that. It took 3 days for a response but luckily, I received a call today - they had been quite busy. A significant difference in the photos was noted because of the printer used. So CS has requested that three of the batch be returned so that they can forward those copies to that printer.
CS did in fact, state that they'd replace the 20 books in the order free of charge for which I was very grateful.
So, they did respond, finally, and in my favor. I'm quite pleased.
And thank you, too, for the response because it was like sinking in quicksand. Wasn't sure of my options!
Thanks, Llorem_Ipsum!
Nicky1951
Hi danwiz,
The order from Amazon was perfect. The printer used by CreateSpace pumped out something significantly different. CS is rectifying the situation.
Just now saw your reply. Thanks!
As you have discovered, CS has a good warranty and they do stand behind their work. Just in case:
https://www.createspace.com/Special/Help/Rights/Guarantee.jsp
At the risk of sounding too simplistic, every press that CS uses and all the press CS's subcontractors use are capable of printing perfect color. Once CS has adjust our PDFs . . . and this is important: CS does remove some all color information from our files . . .
Color.Profile/ICC.Profile – Color management added to an image or file, which KDP will automatically remove prior to publication. <pg 5 KDP Print Publishing Guidelines>
Color.Profiles
We do not recommend including color profiles in your file. Color profiles are automatically removed prior to publishing, which can produce unexpected results. <pg 16 KDP Print Publishing Guidelines>
A printer recieving work from hundreds of different sources a week, if not a day, sources that might know nothing about color space and color management, would usually strip away all color information and apply their own profiles, Indigo, phone conversation
however, once that's done, each file should print correctly on all presses. The problem is that all presses drift out of calibration. If calibration and maintenance is done well, things should be ok . . . but it takes time and time is books/money/sales. All that said, even conventional printers doing long runs (not print on demand), can print crap. It is what happens. Presses are big and dangerous machines, and I sometimes things it's a miracle printing works at all.
Walton
Bleeds, free, 91 page guide to bleeds, margins, covers, and annotated CreateSpace guidelines. Prepress Glossary: free, 79 page, fully illustrated prepress glossary with annotations for CreateSpace users Type & Typography: free, 112 page illustrated guide to designing books, typography, with glossary, and type specimen pages Free: list of free PDF downloads; selfpublishingforum: spam free forum. Contact for graphics, design, and typesetting help.
Thank you for the reply, Walton. Although somewhat over my head, I don't know how I'd do it any different. I don't know much about color files. I thought what was on the cover would be correctly interpreted even though a little adjustment could take place. I was prepared for that.
Oddly enough though,one source (Amazon) interpreted the color files fine and did a great job whereas the printer for CD increased the darker tones and covered the red title with some black shadowing. It was decidedly different.
However, bottom line is I'm pleased with the service.
Thank you for taking the time to reply and explain.