[Bf-docboard] Blender Proceedings

[Juan Dario Rodas M.]

HI Ton, hi everybody!

Here are some thoughts about the "Blender Proceedings" proposal:

As an academic in this area, I would expect such a publication had quite progressive topics related to implementation of new algorithms or techniques in Blender, as we read of them in the Siggraph Conference Proceedings or the IEEE Transactions on Visualization and Computer Graphics. Unfortunately it would not be material for the vast majority of the community.

I would propose then a "Workshop" kind of publication, with descriptions and examples of techniques or processes of medium complexity, like Malefico's Book but the chapters written for 5 or 6 experts. I definitely do not expect to be an introductory level, as these topics are already covered with video tutorials and the "magazines" of the community.

I would propose that they were in an electronic magazine format, using the capacities of the new e-book readers that allow interactive elements (imagine opening the document and find a 3D model that can be rotated or cut, having short video renderings, etc).

I would propose that they were freely distributed but supported by the community in the same way as the open movie projects: The publication would have a page with their sponsors, who pay annually, say $60 euro. I believe 500 subscribers it an easy number to get in this way. I will be one of them... 499 to get! :-)

Greetings!

Juan Dario Rodas (JuanD)

--- On Thu, 10/21/10, Ton Roosendaal <ton at blender.org> wrote:

> From: Ton Roosendaal <ton at blender.org>
> Subject: [Bf-docboard] Blender Proceedings
> To: bf-docboard at blender.org
> Date: Thursday, October 21, 2010, 11:32 AM
> Hi docboard,
> 
> This is on my agenda for a long time, but there's been too
> many other  
> things!
> Luckily I am getting more free time now. :)
> 
> Here's an idea I have to get public funding via our
> community to  
> increase the quantity and quality of documentation
> projects.
> 
> "Blender Proceedings"
> 
> - Magazine style and size, full color
> - 80 pages, 130 grs paper, 200 grs cover
> - Regular issues, like 4 x per year
> - Contents available in wiki.blender.org compatible
> formatting and  
> license
> - Printed versions being sold online, pdf freely
> downloadable
> 
> Topics for a Proceedings issue can depend on anything we
> consider  
> worth investing time in. Especially it can become a means
> for our  
> active documenters (and new writers) to spend considerable
> time on a  
> documentation project while getting a fee paid for it. I
> also consider  
> to invite developers to participate in this, to get good
> technical docs.
> 
> In many cases a Proceedings can be filled by multiple
> authors, they  
> then just share the fees. An editor (and reviewer) should
> be found as  
> well, who can get a mentoring fee.
> 
> The name "Proceedings" has been picked to not present this
> as manual  
> or tutorials, but to always strive for reflecting current
> development,  
> or important missing docs for Blender. Issues can also be a
> report on  
> activities such as the Sintel Open Movie project, or the
> full report  
> on all presentations at the Blender Conference.
> To make issues somewhat attractive, artwork or galleries
> can be  
> included as well.
> 
> Bizzplan:
> 
> - printing costs 4000 euro (1000 copies)
> - writer fixed fee: 3000 euro
> - mentor fixed fee: 500 euro
> - DTP design: 2400 euro
> 
> With a sales price of 19 euro, it will need to sell a
> little over 500  
> to get return of costs. My estimate is we can sell maybe a
> 1000,  
> provided it's well designed and attractive. Profits then
> goes to  
> financing the next issue. The better it works, the more
> docs.
> 
> After doing a first issue, we can also evaluate it, and
> offer a  
> subscription model to pre-finance it all (4 issues for 60
> euro).
> 
> Start shooting crits! :)
> 
> Thanks,
> 
> -Ton-
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> Ton Roosendaal  Blender Foundation   ton at blender.org 
>   www.blender.org
> Blender Institute   Entrepotdok 57A 
> 1018AD Amsterdam   The Netherlands
> 
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