The wisdom of clouds


UPDATE: There’s an interview with MagCloud’s creators here.

Paper is a strange beast. Environmentally suspect, over time it yellows, turns brittle, starts to smell a bit musty. The colours never shine as well as they do on the screen, it tears, it creases, it’s heavy to store and rapidly decreases in value. And it’s still a vital part of our culture.

One of the reasons that paper endures, despite the naysaying of digivangelists, is that printing technology has continued to evolve alongside the rise of the virtual. Most of these changes aren’t noticeable to the majority of end consumers – glossier recycled paper, soft proofing, better colour management. Others are quite clearly advances that I can explain to my mother in one sentence, and she’ll understand why that’s clever.

Such as: “Anyone can make their own magazines for free.” Enter MagCloud, a new print-on-demand website dedicated to magazines. continue reading…


News from the magosphere 06/06/08



John Menzies starts selling digital magazines online
And also selling a digital magazine subscription system to other retailers. WH Smith has their own here, plus there’s a USA Today story on e-market leaders Zinio here

Newspaper prototype is basically a magazine
Is it a newspaper or a newsmagazine?

New York Review of Magazines returns
Great to have it back. Thoughtful student-written features on the industry in the States, plus reviews

Colophon at 8 Festival in Vienna
With special magazine lounge. Sorry to miss it

Five ways to spot a faked photo
Warning: gets quite technical. Via Mediabistro