| Average consumers and professional publishing | | | | commercial printing service that accepts short run |
| companies all have access to large scale | | | | jobs allows a self-publishing author to order less |
| commercial printing services. The rapid expansion | | | | than one thousand units. This can save enormous |
| of the "self publishing" industry has made the | | | | amounts of money and may actually allow |
| remarkably high-quality products available only on | | | | someone to move ahead with their publishing |
| commercial printing presses available to the | | | | plans. Many short run printers also don't tack on |
| masses. | | | | extra fees if an existing customer orders a |
| When considering the use of a large scale | | | | repeat of a short run job because they would all |
| commercial printing service it is important to | | | | ready have all of the materials to complete the |
| remember that, while the cost of the job may | | | | work. |
| seem quite low, the services they provide come | | | | Commercial printers should offer their customers |
| at a premium expense. This means that a few | | | | a nice range of binding options, even if they are |
| "essential" options should be available from the | | | | ordering a short run printing job. Today's binderies |
| company selected. These include: | | | | can glue or stitch their binding and make a range |
| * Full color printing | | | | of "cases" available as well. Commercial printers |
| * Lithographic or planographic options (this is | | | | should be able to make many options for both |
| particularly important for artists who self-publish | | | | soft and hardcover books affordable and available |
| images of their work) | | | | to their clients. |
| * Short run print jobs | | | | Some final considerations for working with a |
| * A variety of binding options | | | | commercial printing service include support |
| Full color printing is an absolute essential for | | | | services, shipping and "turnaround" time. Even the |
| anyone considering the publication of a book with | | | | largest of commercial printers should be able to |
| graphics, illustrations, photographs or reproduction | | | | guide their client through the entire printing and |
| photographs of artwork. It is also important if a | | | | proofing process. This means that they should |
| full color case or cover is desired. Many people | | | | have a dedicated customer representative who is |
| also self-publish children's books and full color | | | | in direct contact with the customer every step of |
| printing is an absolute necessity where such | | | | the way - from the design of the job, the |
| works are concerned. | | | | approving of the "proof" copy and the review of |
| Lithographic and planographic processes require | | | | the completed work. |
| the "plate" to come into full contact with the | | | | Additionally, there should be some reasonable |
| paper, and results in the highest quality imagery | | | | pricing available on the shipping of printed books |
| available. Many coffee table books and highly | | | | through the commercial printing company. Even if |
| graphic works rely on the lithographic process to | | | | they use a bindery service, the printer should |
| yield the best results. This also requires the | | | | extend wholesale pricing because they have |
| commercial printing service to make full color | | | | access to the best pricing themselves. |
| printing available as well, but is generally not | | | | Finally, commercial printers, particularly in the "large |
| difficult to locate within many printing company's | | | | scale" category, do nothing but printing jobs all |
| basic services. | | | | day, every day. Because of that they should |
| Short run print jobs are essential because they | | | | have a relatively short "turnaround" time on the |
| can make the difference between printing a book | | | | work, and anything beyond 90 days is not realistic. |
| and not printing a book. How is that? A | | | | |