I wonder whether there exists a one-copy printing service through the
internet.  Often I have a postscript or PDF file of a book: a computer
standard, a phd thesis, a reference manual, a draft of a book that
hasn't been published yet, something like that.  I can print it on the
department printer, but then I have a big stack of pages that will
soon detoriate.  So I'd like to have it nicely bound as a "real book"
to put on my shelves.  So my question is whether there is a print
service where I can enter (a) the URL of the file, (b) my home
address, (c) my credit card information, (d) maybe some information
about the details of the binding, and then get a nicely printed book
in the mail.  I do *not* want to have e-mail correspondence with a
person about it, and I certainly do not want to have to show what the
copyright status of the file is (when I copy a book in a copyshop I
don't have to prove that either: the fact that it is on the web should
be enough).  I'm not interested in printers that are expensive and
only become interesting if you have tens of copies printed, because I
only want one copy.  So: does something like this exist?

---

Request for Question Clarification by krobert-ga on 08 Nov 2002 07:22 PST

wondering-ga,

Kinkos offers a service like this... you can upload your file through
the web and either pick it up at your local store or get it couriered
to you.  Were you looking for a service like this or would you like to
see a few services so that you have some choice in the matter?

krobert-ga

Hi there!

There are several businesses which offer "one off" printing services. 
To use them, you need to upload your file through the service's web
interface - entering a URL is not available.

Easiest to use is OfficeMax's "CopyMax" service.  The web interface is
fast, detailed and clean, and allows you to set specifics for the job:

--number of pages
--size of pages
--paper or transparencies
--black and white or color
--single or double sided
--collated or not
--bond weight
--paper color
--binding type
--binding color
--cover materials

You can even have a transparency set of your document printed
simultaneously for future presentations.

CopyMax does require that orders be proofed and approved prior to
completion, but there is also a "do not contact me prior to running
this order" option available.  To approve your proof, simply select
"send me a .PDF proof", and respond affirmatively to the (e-mailed)
approval request.

Based on the criteria you select, CopyMax will present you with a
quote.  I tested the interface myself, using a 300 page document size,
and the interface returned the following:

"Estimated Price Quote: $ 33.99
This is an estimated price for your CopyMax FTP order, and it does not
include tax or shipping. Pre-payment must be made on all orders over
$250. A CopyMax Associate will contact you with details.

Price Includes:
Document: 1 sets of your 150 page double sided document

Output:
Black and White Copies
Collated

Paper:
8.5 X 11 (Letter)
24lb paper - Stardust

Finishing:
Black Wire Binding
Vinyl Front Cover - Navy
Vinyl Back Cover - Navy"

(CopyMax personnel will not contact you for orders under $250.  I have
confirmed this by telephone with my local OfficeMax location.)

CopyMax Printing
http://www.officemax.com/max/solutions/BusinessServices/Advertising/CopyMax/ElectronicFileSubMain.jsp

 
Kinko's also offers a "one off" printing service, as noted by
Researcher krobert-ga.

The interface isn't as user friendly as CopyMax's - I was not able to
obtain any sort of quote without actually uploading a document first,
unlike CopyMax, where I was able to give it a hypothetical document
size and find out exactly what my options would be.  The Kinko's
interface also seems to be functional only in Internet Explorer.

Print to Kinko's - Start Job
https://print2.kinkos.com/p2k/upload/UploadDocument.jsp

Even so, according to their FAQ, Kinko's may offer even more print
options through their custom printing service, and offer a "File Prep"
tool as well:

Print to Kinko's FAQ
http://www.kinkos.com/help/faq/p2k_faq.php

Be aware that Kinko's may contact you about copyright.  Kinko's was
successfully sued in the late 1980's for copyright infringement, and
is now meticulously careful about copyright issues.  They reserve the
right to ask after copyright ownership, as well as the right to refuse
to print your order if you do not comply with their request.

(In fact, all such services reserve the right to ask and to refuse,
and may even do so if you are in their store to copy a book personally
- it's a matter of federal copyright law.  Some shops are much more
sensitive to the issue than others.)

You may find the following FAQs about copyright and how it applies to
copied materials interesting:

Questions and Answers Concerning Copying Print and Digital Works
http://www.nacs.org/public/copyright/faq1-28.asp

Ten Big Myths About Copyright Explained
http://www.templetons.com/brad/copymyths.html

Just extra information to keep in mind when copying entire books that
you have not written yourself.

Good luck!

--Missy

---

Request for Answer Clarification by wondering-ga on 22 Nov 2002 10:45 PST

Sorry to ask for a more refined answer so late (I already payed, so
maybe it has to be a new question with a new price?)  But the answer
does not really satisfy me because the services you pointed out only
offer "copy shop" binding, and that wasn't what I had in mind.  Those
bindings are not sturdy enough for me, and also that kind of binding
generally does not fit well in between other books (the spine
generally isn't "flat").  So I'd like to know whether a similar
service exists that offers "hard cover" binding...

---

Clarification of Answer by missy-ga on 22 Nov 2002 17:12 PST

Hello, Wondering!

I was rather surprised to see notification that you required
additional assistance - I was under the impression that I had met your
needs!

Even so, I investigated a bit more for you, with the criteria you
added in your ratings commentary, and this is what I found out:

--"One off" hardcover binding is typically done for theses or older
books whose covers are deteriorating.  This would necessarily require
that you already have the book in printed form, which you say you do
not.

--Such binding is typically not available in the manner you would like
- that is, you cannot send your digital file in for printing and
binding of a single copy, with the expectation that you would neither
have contact with an associate nor be asked to verify that you own the
copyright on the works, yet still be shipped a finished copy.  Book
binderies do not find it profitable to print and bind only a single
copy, and thus rarely do it.  Those that do usually ask that you sign
a form verifying that you are the copyright holder, and all are fairly
pricey.  This might be different in European shops, but since you
didn't specify where in Europe you are, I cannot narrow things down
any further.

The closest I've been able to come to your specific requirements is
Zipped Books, in the UK.  Files can be submitted for printing and
binding electronically, and the finished product can be mailed to you,
but you must obtain a quote via e-mail first and, while the spine is
sturdy like a hardcover, the cover itself is clear PVC.

Zipped Books
http://www.zippedbooks.plus.com/index.html

Since your additional criteria are a bit outside the scope of your
original question, I invite you to post a new question for another
Researcher to investigate for you.  Be certain to include:

--your exact binding specifications
--your exact service criteria
--your city and country

Perhaps a Researcher more familiar with your area of the world will be
able to provide an answer within the bounds of your additional
criteria.

Best regards,

--Missy

Dear Missy, you gave a great answer to my question!  Thank you for
your very speedy reply!  However I have two "buts"...  First, this was
not the kind of binding I had in mind: these services offer only "copy
shop" binding, and so I'm afraid it won't look like a real "book". 
Also I'm in Europe (I know, I didn't mention this), and I get the
impression that although we have Kinko's here, the Kinko's service is
not available to me.  But the CopyMax service is!