OK... I will ask: What about 2012 6GC.NET calendar? Options

[malpaso]

I'm in this community for ages and as I remember there always been 6GC.NET calendar. I do not want to talk about what happened last year. I would like to talk about what will happen this year.

I really would like to see next year on my wall 6GC.NET calendar. Question is what needs to be done to make this happen.

- I know there is needed approval from the owner (to use 6GC.NET logo)
- I know there is needed to find the best 12pictures around (or 14... 12months, cover and bonus month for 2013.. whatever)
- I know there is needed someone who manage this
- I know there is needed deadline. Soon enough deadline to have calendar in December 2011 delivered.

and I also know it is not any hard to manage this. Last year I made one for Celica Czech Republic Club. We made deadline for pictures in October and a month ago I was sending finished calendars... see the topic http://www.6gc.net/forums/index.php?showtopic=76445 that's it. Nothing more needed.

My point is. If I'm able to manage 20 calendars for $17 internationally delivered each from CZ... anyone in US can do the same for similar price. So... how hard could it be to see 6GC.NET calendar 2012 on the wall?

This post has been edited by malpaso: Sep 26, 2011 - 12:17 AM

[Soulend]

I would love to have this happen too this coming year. I know we can use the cars from this years "celica of the month" competitions. and we could do a special vote for the front.

here's to seeing it!
Kevin

[SwissFerdi]

I'd be ready to buy a calendar for sure. Funny that you mention the CZ calendar, I was flipping through mine just before opening this thread. Coincidence.

[Timmyface]

Rough pricing from here in Aus are roughly:
(AUD)
$15 for calendar
$10 - $20 postage.
Postage is Air Mail. Not too sure how long that takes.

Everyone should check around, they're fair simple to make

[malpaso]

Sticking to an idea of COTM history of last 12months we can have this set of pictures. As cover picture I would just use current featured car (so COTM May 2011 car). It deserve it.
NOTE: COTM October 2011 is just my personal choice for display purpose only! I know it is not chosen yet. I just like that picture. That is all:



How do you like the possible set of pictures?

[Timmyface]

Haha Thanks Malpaso.
I like the set alot.
Would it be ordered like that, but different year etc? Eg, Rico's OCtober 2010 would be the start of the calender up untill the final COTM this year?
Also theres 2 of rico's in there

[Tigawoods]

lotta white cars

[malpaso]

- It is just list of 12+1 COTMs. I have not investigated if anyone is there more than once or about who in what month... just October 2010 - October 2011. No issue to skip someone (who is twice) and continue to September 2010 or even more far... because for example if anyone do not have picture in high resolution it is useless for calendar anyway.

- yea white cars... that is why I put those pictures of COTMs on one place. To see how it looks and if this is the right way to go or not. maybe would be good to take all COTM winners so far and make poll to select the best 12+1. It should make calendar more variabe in terms of colors...



...and the remaining set (already posted).



This is complete list of all COTMs...

This post has been edited by malpaso: Sep 26, 2011 - 7:29 AM

[manphibian]

Are you volunteering to make it Martin? Because year after year people fail epically. I reckon you would do a good job.

[malpaso]

Are you volunteering to make it Martin? Because year after year people fail epically. I reckon you would do a good job.

Luke... in case 3 facts below are no issue I will be glad to do it:

1. I'm not graphic designer so it may look more amateur than expected. Sure I will do my best. But still I'm only enthusiast amateur in terms of design.
2. I'm not sure if I can handle to remove CZ holidays from calendar sheet... I mean to add all US holidays (or any UK if wanted) can be done for sure. But do not know if they can change "the base line" (I believe it is called "print matrix" or something) of calendar days and remove for example "CZ national day - 28th October" from there. I would need to talk to printer company first.
3. Total price (announced $17 shipped) will work only with some minimum amount of calendar. I believe 20 or 30 (need re-check). If less amount price can raise up to $30 = price for one piece made shipped. That means amount of interested must be known in advance to know how much money to collect. Sure there can be more than one batch. But still final price depends on amount of printed calendars in one batch.

That is experience I have. Anyway I can share with more details later today or tomorrow about printer, possible layout, amounts, etc.

EDIT:
I have send mail to printer company about that "calendar sheet matrix" so we will see... if you do not get what I mean see example below:

calendar 210x210mm (8.3x8.3inch) - open on the wall has 8.3x16.6inch!
- design as below that means one picture used for upper part (can be fully designed as we wanted)
- lower part calendar sheet has CZ language and European style that means week starts with Monday + CZ holidays marked red the same way as Sundays (not seen in the picture below)





So I found as "plan B" an option in case calendar days are issue

calendar 297x210mm (11.7x8.3inch)
design as below that means one picture (again can be designed as we wanted) plus just numbers below as days of each month (yellow marked Sundays).



now prices for that 8.3x16.6inch one (final shipped price):
1piece = $30
from 3pieces = $25 each
from 10pieces = $19 each
from 30pieces = $17 each
from 50pieces = $15 each

note: that "plan B" one (11.7x8.3inch) is cheaper (again delivered prices)...
1piece = $21
from 3pieces = $16 each
from 10pieces = $13 each
from 50pieces = $11 each

This post has been edited by malpaso: Sep 27, 2011 - 2:01 AM

[SwissFerdi]

I like the original design, but I'm thinking option B, being wider, might suit vehicle photos better.

[manphibian]

My vote would be for the 2nd option.

As Ferdi says, the A4 landscape layout is better for cars, the simpler layout is less work for you as you don't have to worry about language and holidays... Plus the lower price means you'll get more customers

[malpaso]

My vote would be for the 2nd option.

As Ferdi says, the A4 landscape layout is better for cars, the simpler layout is less work for you as you don't have to worry about language and holidays... Plus the lower price means you'll get more customers

Agree. Personally I like that 2nd more nut in therms of variability is better that 1st option . I show you why... People usually makes pictures in 3 formats:

4:3
3:2
16:9

The most common is 3:2 (because is used as default in SLR cameras). But you can find in selection of COTMs also pure 4:3 or 16:9 ones.

Now... that first option of calendar is technically square working area when we can place anything we want:

For 4:3 format = untouched (no cropping)




Two options for 16:9 format (sorry for using again this picture as example but he is good example of 16:9 there) = must be modified. first added black stripes, second cropped like shown below.






that second option of calendar is just 16:9 working area (rest is used for calendar):

For 4:3 format = must be cropped (not sure how would work using black stripes on sides there in the end. maybe yes, maybe no. see below)



result is here



For 16:9 format = untouched (no cropping)



Note: that 3:2 format must be cropped in both options (in first to make it more square and in second make it more wide) but since it is "in the middle" there is no problem to use calendar option A or B. So no issues with 3:2 pictures at all.

And in terms of customers... 6gc.net people are not "customers". Only who has profit is printer company. Not me. I just use their price-list and provide photos (prepared by my self so zero costs for graphic designer). Nothing else. That means technically "I do not care" how many people will buy calendar. The same effort for me (ordering one or fifty calendar) and same "profit" (zero or zero ).

Only what I want is: if I spend time and effort on this I want you like the result.

This post has been edited by malpaso: Sep 29, 2011 - 5:39 AM

[Timmyface]

It does depend on the photos that will be used in the calendar.
For example, most photos that i have taken, have been quite larger photos in which i have resized already.

Once the photos have been chosen for the calendar, some people may be able to 'edit' their selected photo to match the criteria better.

For example, in the 16:9 photo where you cropped mine, i could re edit the original photo to make it fit the 16:9/4:3 area better.
Example 2: With TRDGT4's.. he may also have a larger photo of that shot, in which he can resize, so half the car isn't cut out.

In saying this though, half people would have access to this, the other half wouldn't. Although most winners so far are widescreen shots.

If you want a real good looking calendar, you may have to compromise with certain photo's/members

[malpaso]

...For example, in the 16:9 photo where you cropped mine, i could re edit the original photo to make it fit the 16:9/4:3 area better.
Example 2: With TRDGT4's.. he may also have a larger photo of that shot, in which he can resize, so half the car isn't cut out.
...

Good point... so let's not make choice by format but by our choice what design of calendar is better for us. In terms of this I would prefer that "B plan" one because it is more easy to prepare and international enough for everyone.

[Timmyface]

There are a few online calendar creators around Malpaso, unless your 100% happy with that one, there could be more possibilities elsewhere.

I just found one located in Australia, where the A4 page is horizontal, with the traditional style calendar.
Once again, has australian holidays AND most of the images taken from the 'COTM' sticky of the winners were low quality, could be a little blurry.

Props to you making the effort though

Edit: Take a look at this http://www.mediafire.com/?cu9dll3idbpo3tt A preview of one i made. You can see the quality of some photos/the need of better photos.

This post has been edited by Timmyface: Sep 29, 2011 - 7:38 AM

[malpaso]

Great! I have nothing against OZ holidays . Already have US and UK on the wall so no issues at all Anyway.

- I have feeling not many people showed enthusiasm to see this project running so question is if there is any sense starting it. Especially those 12 from calendar must agree to be there. From my point of view in my case cheaper B option we talk about $13 (delivered) for calendar. So worst scenario is find nine interested (I keep no 10 my self) and can manage "ultra limited calendar collection". No problem ).

- Still there is question rights. That means would that be official calendar with 6gc.net logo on it or just "calendar of cars from 6gc.net" (no logo used). I prefer official one but respect local policy.

Would be nice to decide "go/no-go" when we have new COTM latest because to collect high res photos from everyone takes time and choosing 12 from 18 as well.

[Timmyface]

I'd assume it would have to be' official' seeing as half have 6GC stickers on their cars.

If the photos are going to turn out good and not be blurry etc, I'm defo down for 1. 2 even if my car gets in there haha.

[Nial]

I do the GT4OC calendar every year for free....make it downloadable via pdfs and free to every member, I use simple program like paintshop combined with MS Excel and it seems to work OK...I'm no graphic designer either but I enjoy doing it.

Just start a thread for 2012 calendar entries, hope that enough people submit photos then put them together...with a large and active community such as this it shouldnt take long to gather enough pictures...you'll need about 150 photos to put together a calendar similar to the style I do...you wont use them all but it gives you a choice

the only problem with this site is that you cant add attachments..(if you can I havnt figured out how to yet) to allow people to uploead them to their machines to print them off.

[malpaso]

I do the GT4OC calendar every year for free....make it downloadable via pdfs and free to every member, I use simple program like paintshop combined with MS Excel and it seems to work OK...I'm no graphic designer either but I enjoy doing it.

Just start a thread for 2012 calendar entries, hope that enough people submit photos then put them together...with a large and active community such as this it shouldnt take long to gather enough pictures...you'll need about 150 photos to put together a calendar similar to the style I do...you wont use them all but it gives you a choice

the only problem with this site is that you cant add attachments..(if you can I havnt figured out how to yet) to allow people to uploead them to their machines to print them off.

Agree to the letter . You make whole calendar your self and you do great job btw! You just forgot to say there is also an option buy "hard-copy" of the calendar as well. That is why GT4OC.NET calendar is hanging on my wall this year and I hope will hand as well another...
I do not want to do it complete. Just use company that makes calendars and send 13 prepared pictures there (to match design the best) and done. A lot less work than you do every year mate.