Viper custom calendar to be built here!

[Y2K5SRT]

Okay, I have read some of these threads, including Andrew's latest where he has no idea what day it is.

I also know that an organized attempt to put together a calendar was never realized due to start up costs, etc.

I was at the local Mailboxes, Etc. today and noticed they do a "custom" calendar for $29.95. You supply 13 pictures and they will put them in a calendar format, including a cover. Now, these are nothing fancy, but decent quality color prints coupled with a plastic cover and heavy paper back cover. All held together with a plastic comb binding in a 8.5" x 11" format.

As I looked these over, I realized that we have all the materials to do that here. Again, these aren't anything fancy, but a nice calendar customized with photos you choose. And we can do them cheaper than $29.95. Maybe you didn't want pictures of just your car and some of the owners here could contribute their own as "fillers". Perhaps you are just a Viper fan and wanted a calendar with various Viper photos. Call it the "best of the Viper board". You could further enchance this by providing captions on the bottom of each picture (or in the calendar itself) with the name of the owner and car particulars - modification's, etc. Oh, and let the proceeds go to a charity.

I could probably churn out the first calendar in less than 24 hours. Once the format is done, they could be customized pretty easily. The key to remember is that these would NOT be glossy oversized calendars. They would be decent quality photo reproductions (full color, possibly on glossy photo paper) with white paper calendar inserts. Clear plastic front cover (probably with your favorite photo underneath), heavy paper back cover, and a plastic binding. Priced around $20 a pop, even if you send "hard copy" pictures that need to be scanned.

So, what would the interest be on something like this? I was surprised to see a "custom" calendar for $29.95 (plus tax) at a local outlet. I think we could do a little better quality (they looked like inkjet prints) and a little better formatting. Love to get some thoughts on this, as it was just a minor brain storm (or brain fart, depending on opinion) that I had this afternoon. LMK!

Chris

 

[pj]

Hi, Chris. I looked at doing this a while back and there are some websites that will do the same for a little less. Of course, the more you can print up the lower the cost. I know Wolf and Ritz also do this.

But, what I found was that the cost is prohibitive. Most people arent willing to pay $35 for a calendar (have to include shipping). Even less are willing to produce calendars at that cost when there is no profit in them.

I wish CafePress would offer calendars - they do one-offs on tshirts and accessories. I just upload the logos and they handle the orders, billing and shipping (I just get a royality check based on my markup).

I'd be glad to offer any images I have for the project though! Maybe we can find enough people who would be interested.

 

[Y2K5SRT]

Yep, I figured $20 plus a max of $3.50 shipping (boxed Priority Mail). Might not be much of a money maker, but I want Andrew to know what day it is...

Chris

 

[Jay Herbert]

We could choose from the best Avatars! Nadine's Burnout gets my Vote! I have been looking for a nice VCA "renewel" item for our region's membes, this might be a nice one......

 

[Frank 03SRT]

OfficeMax has them too. Not the best quality, probably similar to what you mention, Chris. Cost is $20/3, or $29/1. We've been doing this for several years. It's kinda nice, but not by any means professional quality.

 

[Y2KACR]

Chris,
I'd love to have a Viper calendar to hang in my office. It really brightens my day when I see a Viper whether it is mine, someone else's or a picture. Even though it is more than one might spend on a "regular" calendar, I think it is well worth it for the smile it brings to my face alone! Count me in...

 

[Y2K5SRT]

I think Jon's idea is an excellent one (and easier for me): We would submit 12 of our favorite Viper photos, assuming we want to do "one style fits all". Certainly the yellow RT/10 is an excellent shot. I also like the idea of voting on other great pictures from board owners (and/or calendar orderers), Nadine's definitely being one for the book. I can probably scrape up the black/silver shot that looked like it was climbing the wall (or reshoot it in a higher resolution). This could be a quick and dirty way of getting a nice calendar going!

The next step would be to gauge interest from other members to get an idea of the size of our order. It could be 1 - 1,000. The more we order the better the price, but it isn't a huge difference. I don't think many folks will mind paying an extra couple of bucks if need be. Let's post our interest on this thread or feel free to e-mail me directly. I don't mind being the focal point to try and put this together. I can also do high resolution scans of printed photos (no charge on my end). Let me know!

Chris

 

[Frank 03SRT]

Just a thought, but probably too much effort. Since this idea appears to be going towards cars of owners here, maybe gage confirmed interest by name, and make random sets of 12 calendars each, one month of which would be an owners car. So, if 48 people would be interested, make 4 sets of 12 each, which would guarantee each owner a "personalized" calendar. Price would be higher per unit, but you get your car on one month.

Probably way too much work, huh?

 

[Ken Larsen]

Put me down for one (or 4)!

 

[RC Viper]

Two for me.

 

[VIPERESS]

Calendar...sounds like a great idea. Count me in

 

[Y2K5SRT]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Frank 01GTS:
Just a thought, but probably too much effort. Since this idea appears to be going towards cars of owners here, maybe gage confirmed interest by name, and make random sets of 12 calendars each, one month of which would be an owners car. So, if 48 people would be interested, make 4 sets of 12 each, which would guarantee each owner a "personalized" calendar. Price would be higher per unit, but you get your car on one month.

Probably way too much work, huh?
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I think this is a GREAT idea. If we have only 12 people interested, then it is simple: We include their twelve cars. More than that and we go to The Frank Plan. I might also suggest that we then "vote" on our favorite avatars (many are new) and seek permission of the owner to use the full size version for our calendar. That way we will have good "fillers" in the event we end up with an odd number or less than twelve. After all, I don't think anybody wants to see their car along with eleven pictures of mine.

I also like the idea of using Nadine's photo as a "cover shot", with her gracious permission, of course.

As we are already getting people that are interested, our next step is to get the photos lined up. For those that want a calendar, we need to start gathering photos. As was pointed out earlier, for best quality the pictures need to be 200 dpi or 1492x982. You can read more about this resolution here. For those of you that don't have a scanner but have printed photos, you can send them to me to be scanned and I will return them promptly, as well as send you a digital copy of your picture. If you already have a picture that meets this criteria, you can e-mail them to me. This is a non-profit deal (except for the calendar company) put together by owners for owners. Let's get this rolling!

Oh, and since this is very much "on topic", I will make the unheard of move of sending this to the main RT/GTS forum for those few folks that don't read Off Topic. I don't think anybody has a 2003 at this point...

 

[rhansenjr]

You are a little late with this. I bought a Viper calendar last year, but since none were available this year I bought two from the Corvette Forum. They were nice enough to pick a shot of my '57 for the October page of their C1/C2 edition. I elected to make that shot the cover photo too for an extra $2.50 per calendar. That brought the total bill to $50 for two. Two calendars $40; additional cover cost $5; shipping $5. Print quality is ok. Color repoduction is a little off at least on my car. As a note of interest, John Hinkley, the retired Viper plant manager, has his '57 featured twice in the C1/C2 edition.
I will buy a Viper calendar if you get this put together to support the cause. As someone else says "Too much of a good thing is never enough"

 

[Y2K5SRT]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by DgeViper1:
Wowa!!!!!!!!!! Make it 13, IM in. And I think my avatar is of a really beautiful car! MINE.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree, your avatar is one of the better ones out there! HOWEVER, is it available in a higher resolution than to what it links (696x696 at 96 dpi)? That could be the biggest challenge we face. Mind you, I suspect they will accept any resolution we send them, but it will not print well. So while your picture looks great, it might print in this larger format something like this:

<center>

You must be registered for see images

</center>

Probably not what you want to send to friends and relatives. My recommendation is to submit the picture in the highest resolution you have. DON'T bother trying to increase the resolution on an existing photo. It won't help in this case. If it was shot in high resolution or is a print photo, then you are all set. Otherwise, you may need to take another picture. That's what I will be doing later today...

Chris

 

[Andrew2KRT10]

Well it's about time! Hey, if I knew my Avatar...or whatever you call that picture, was going to be so important, I would have put more time into it.....**** .
But sure, I'd like my car in the calendar! I say custom....I want my car in there. I'll even hook up the hitch and the trailer for the picture to show the versatility of the "Viper". I'll go out this weekend and snap a digital shot and send it ....wherever. But I'll go along with anything.....just say the word. Cost? Really, who cares? I've spent so much money over the past month, $25-$35 bucks is not going to make a difference.

Finally I'll know what day it is, and I won't keep missing appointments. Post-it's, in place of where my last calendar was, just doesn't cut it.

Keep me informed,
Andrew

 

[Y2K5SRT]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by Rod Hansen, Jr. 94RT10:
You are a little late with this.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Agreed 100%. Of course, I wasn't involved in the previous calendar effort (you needed at least two nickles to rub together to particpate) but have jumped in on this one since Andrew doesn't know what day it is.

This is a more simple and low-cost approach, so hopefully we can submit our first calendar spread in the next couple of days, with more to come. That's my goal!

Chris

P.S. to Andrew: A high-res shot with the trailer would be something to remember. Heck, you might even get those guys at VIPER magazine interested!

 

[C O D Y]

I need to what day it is too. Put me down for one.

 

[-RUNNR]

Ok, what da heck....

What happened to everyone's comments when I was trying to put this together in the first place???

Hardly anybody chimed up about it at all. I saw the same places to make the calendars for $20+ per copy but figured nobody would be interested.

Now that someone else has found the same cheap barely customizable calendars, folks are going crazy for the idea.

Thanks for making me feel like the hours I put into this was appreciated....

Not.

 

[Y2K5SRT]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by -RUNNR:
Ok, what da heck....

What happened to everyone's comments when I was trying to put this together in the first place???

Hardly anybody chimed up about it at all. I saw the same places to make the calendars for $20+ per copy but figured nobody would be interested.

Now that someone else has found the same cheap barely customizable calendars, folks are going crazy for the idea.

Thanks for making me feel like the hours I put into this was appreciated....

Not.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

Don -

YOU are the reason this whole thing got started and it was your hard work that sparked this. I, for one, appreciate it tremendously. Heck, take a look at the last gasp of your previous effort. There are obviously a lot of folks who appreciate the effort you made and were just as frustrated that it wouldn't come together. I was certainly one of them. The problem you had was that you were shooting for more than what most people could afford. Nobody stepped up to the plate for $5,000, sponsorship of $350, or $100 a pop from 50 people. I didn't even comment on the thread because I couldn't justify $35 for calendar, much less $100.

I think people are jumping on this one because it is less expensive, there is no minimum, and they have an excellent chance that their car will appear in the calendar itself. No question that these will be of lesser quality than what you targeted, and will also lack the "customization" of what yours could have provided (owners names, car facts, etc.). But it also would have limited the number of cars to twelve and no guarantee yours would have been one of them (I don't know how that was planned). Heck, I will chat with this company and see if they will print these photos with a lower white border and text integrated into the image. We may be able to get some owner names and car facts in there yet!

Don, I say this with all sincerity: You did a lot of work which was GREATLY appreciated. This is indeed <u>YOUR</u> idea. This route is just less expensive and less risky. I would be delighted if you would lend your designing expertise to the photos themselves. If the company will print it, I do think we can be creative with how we format the pictures and can add information and even graphics to the bottom (or sides, or whatever) of the image itself. Thanks again!

Chris

 

[-RUNNR]

Sorry if that came off the wrong way.

I just returned from a painful trip from the dentist office... Should have known better to post a comment on this subject in my current state.

Part of my problem was, group participation. Only 4 people sent me proposed images for inclusion on the calendar. Far more have already responded to this. And this was before I found out about the start up costs.

Any ways, I hurt, so I'm shutting up, sitting back, and doing nothing.

Sorry, and good luck with the calendar....

 

[Matt]

Count me in for one as well. My wall at the office has a big bare spot where my last Viper calendar used to be.

-Matt

 

[Nadine UK GTS]

I Love this VCA board, it makes my day...what ever day we are on right now?!

Three cheers for the Viper calendar, and put me down for at least three (or 4 : garage, bedroom, workplace...)

I'm so very flattered people have mentioned using my avatar as a pic, and would be totally honored if it makes it on the cover!

(Wow, this was just what I needed to lift my spirts, I'm having a nasty battle with insurance who have graded my Beloved as "total loss"...which under new laws over here, means they won't allow re-registration of the car even after a top class rebuild...I may have to forfeit the insurance settlement, because that Viper is going to be back on the road again, doing lots more naughty burnouts).

(p.s. Neil UK has the original pic if you want it).

 

[GTzViper]

Put me down for two calendars, with or without my Vipers. Thanks. George.

 

[jimandela]

count me in for one; two if you use my avatar!!

yipi!!!
my wish is coming true!!!

 

[Prashant]

Ok, is mine a high enough resolution Chris? I just took this pic last week...the car is FINISHED! Feels great

 

[Frank 03SRT]

Two for me, please.

 

[Gear Grabbn Gary]

Chris, I sent you an E-Mail refering to the calenders. Being a member of the VCA again has its benefits. Gary

 

[-RUNNR]

Prashant, is a car ever truly "finished" ? I'm sure there's tons more you could do

 

[Jerry Walker]

Put me down for 2

 

[Jay Herbert]

<BLOCKQUOTE><font size="1" face="Verdana, Arial">quote:</font><HR>Originally posted by JMcGuire:
...

I think this should really be an official VCA effort anyway. Annually.
<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>

I agree, or maybe at a minimum it could be a web-site "project".... I'd guess many of us have High resolution photo inkjets right on our desk... If someone could come up with a nifty picture frame and mat that fit two 8-1/2" x 11" sheets layed sideways... on top of each other (total frame size approx 17" high x 11" wide).... you could print the thing right on your desk top, and stick it in the frame each month.... People could pick their own favorite twelve images from Avatars, or the Gallery of high res images that should be up by then! And the VCA events calendar pages could be printed as the calendar pages.....

But that's for next year (Michael, what do you think)