Category Archives: Self Publishing

When it comes to Print Specifications: The Devil is in the Details

When it comes to print specifications, The Devil is in the Details.

While searching today for other print project manager blogs, I found an amazing job offer. It made me realize how urgently other businesses need the skill set I have.

There are literally hundreds of details to manage when it comes to print. In fact, back in “the day” when print was analog, I used to say “the normal printing project has 101 details, mess one up and it goes in the trash”. With the advent of digital technology in the world of print, the number has doubled or tripled. In other words “the average print project has 300 plus details, mess one up and it’s in the trash”.

A good analogy might be that of an upcoming airline flight. We want to know that our pilot and crew has massive experience in successfully delivering the passengers to their destinations. We want to travel with an airline that has systems in place that pretty much guarantee our safe arrival. And the details are everything.

Therefore it is appropriate that in our industry that all print files that arrive to our production facility go through a “pre-flight” checklist. But the details begin far ahead of the arrival of the digital print files. They begin in the estimating process.

Paper weight and finish, ink colors, page numbers, sections, tabs, tables of content, binding method, foil stamping, quantity, trim size, delivery, mailing, packaging and countless other details go into the average printing estimate.

It is humorous to me how many requests I receive that are missing basic details such as colors, or number of pages, or quantity. To assist you with getting all the details in your original request for quotation (RFQ) I have included an PDF example of  the detailed specification sheet that I use to submit and RFQ for a recent case bound book we produced.  You can use most of the line items in this document for even the most simple request, as more detail is always better than less when it comes to providing an accurate estimate.

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When should I use digital printing versus traditional offset?

Digital or Traditional?

When it comes to print these days we are often faced with an early decision. Should I print this digitally or should this go on a traditional offset printing press? I have found there are several factors to take into consideration, and that even drive the decision making process.

Run Length. Generally speaking, print runs under the 500 quantity would be good candidates for the digital process. But, the finished size of the piece has to be considered here. Most Xerox type printers have a maximum sheet size of about 12 x 18 inches. So if your postcard announcing your upcoming event is 8.5 x 5.5 or smaller you could run 4 or more on a press sheet. It really is the number of press sheets that makes the biggest impact. Why? Because digital presses generally bill out at a static “click” rate and there is no economy of scale as volume increases.

Quality / Appearance. As of this writing, many digital print devices produce what I call “pleasing color”, in other words, most untrained eyes cannot tell the difference between a Xerox color copy and a traditionally printed page. However, to the disconcerting eye there are vast differences. Most digital presses use toner, a polymer that is fused to the paper with heat, leaving the appearance of plastic sitting on top of the paper. Traditional offset printing uses soy based inks which are pressed into the paper with pressure, the ink actually impregnates the paper, and once dry the surface appears flat with the surface of the paper.

Turn Around / Deadline. Generally speaking turn around times are much quicker in the digital realm. This is because there is little to no make ready, no plates to make and mount, etc. I often have requests with 24 – 48 hour turns that simply have to go on the digital press or the deadline could not be met. If quality is really important to you, and in particular if the run length exceeds 500 – 1000 a little pre planning will yield you a far superior result at less expense.

Finished Size. As I mentioned above, most digital print devices are limited to 12 x 18 inches, although I have heard about a new device in the market that prints 23 x 29, however I have been unable to locate such a device in my local market to date. So, if your item is larger that 12 x 18 then you must print on the traditional device no matter what the run length is.

Personalization. One of the most fascinating features of digital printing is the ability to customize each individual piece, information such as names or locations, as well as the ability to swap images appropriate to your target demographic make digital printing very attractive to marketers. Personalization on direct mail using the traditional print process is done post press and adds expense.

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What if I want to Self Publish a Beautiful Casebound Book?

If you would like to learn more about producing a beautiful case bound book, I suggest you read on!

Folger Graphics received a Grand Award for the production of this title

Folger Graphics received a Grand Award for the production of this title

One of my most satisfying projects is the recently produced Pirate & Hoopoe. Karima Cammell commissioned me to help her mastermind this incredible book. Her team successfully raised $15K on www.Kickstarter.com to help finance the project. Take a peek at her site to see great video and visuals and the saga of how one woman took her passion and produced an amazing book! Karima has been an inspiration to me, and I was totally honored to be at the controls on all production details.

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