Guidelines For Choosing the Right Commercial Printer

Many printers specialize in certain types of printing. Partidea of what to look for in a printer. The best way to
of what kind of printing a printer does depends onfind the right printer is to ask around, research their
what kind of printing press it has. Printers with webWeb sites and ask for a bid on your project.quality
presses, in which items are printed on one continuousimages (more detailed), but take longer to print
roll of paper, generally specialize in magazine printingbecause the sheets are already cut and have to be
and longer-run marketing pieces.pulled one at a time out of the sheet holder. Sheetfed
Sheetfed presses produce higher quality images (morepresses are used for everything from poster printing
detailed), but take longer to print because the sheetsto art books.
are already cut and have to be pulled one at a timeMany printers have one or the other type of press as
out of the sheet holder. Sheetfed presses are usedwell as a digital press, which is used for shorter-run
for everything from poster printing to art books.pieces.
Many printers have one or the other type of press asWhen trying to choose a printer, it's important to know
well as a digital press, which is used for shorter-runwhat kind of press the printer has as well as knowing
pieces.the following:
When trying to choose a printer, it's important to knowThe location of the printing facility. This is important to
what kind of press the printer has as well as knowingyour shipping costs. Paper is heavy and the cost of
the following:shipping is going up with the price of gas. The fewer
The location of the printing facility. This is important tomiles the delivery truck has to travel, the cheaper it will
your shipping costs. Paper is heavy and the cost ofbe for you. Of course, if you find a printer that has a
shipping is going up with the price of gas. The fewergreat discount, go with that company if the discount is
miles the delivery truck has to travel, the cheaper it willmore than what you have to pay for shipping. You
be for you. Of course, if you find a printer that has acan ask for a shipping estimate before you place your
great discount, go with that company if the discount isorder.
more than what you have to pay for shipping. YouFind out if the printer is capable of your size of print
can ask for a shipping estimate before you place yourjob. If you need a large number of items printed (at
order.least 150,000) you can usually save money by going
Find out if the printer is capable of your size of printwith a web printer. Ask the printing companies you're
job. If you need a large number of items printed (atchecking out what kind of printers they have and if
least 150,000) you can usually save money by goingthey've done a job of your size before. A sheetfed
with a web printer. Ask the printing companies you'reprinter could certainly print 150,000 items, but it would
checking out what kind of printers they have and iftake longer and could cost up to $10,000 more than
they've done a job of your size before. A sheetfedprinting the job on a web press.
printer could certainly print 150,000 items, but it wouldPrinting companies are pretty good about helping you
take longer and could cost up to $10,000 more thandecide which kind of press you need and which kind
printing the job on a web press.would save you the most money. Call several printers
Printing companies are pretty good about helping youasking for bids and let them know you are shopping
decide which kind of press you need and which kindaround. This should get you the lowest price and some
would save you the most money. Call several printershelpful information.
asking for bids and let them know you are shoppingLook for a digital printer if you have a small print run. If
around. This should get you the lowest price and someyou only need 500 or 1,000 copies of a flyer or some
helpful information.other small-format piece (meaning not a poster or
Look for a digital printer if you have a small print run. Ifsomething bigger than 8.5" x 11") look for a company
you only need 500 or 1,000 copies of a flyer or somethat has a digital printer. The best digital printers are
other small-format piece (meaning not a poster oriGen and the Heidelberg DI for color and DocuTech for
something bigger than 8.5" x 11") look for a companyblack-only jobs. These digital printers produce great
that has a digital printer. The best digital printers arecolor contrast and can get the job done quickly.
iGen and the Heidelberg DI for color and DocuTech forGenerally, printers can run these jobs as soon as you
black-only jobs. These digital printers produce greatgive them your digital file.
color contrast and can get the job done quickly.Go with the printer that has the smallest press that will
Generally, printers can run these jobs as soon as youdo the job to your satisfaction. The bigger the press,
give them your digital file.the bigger the plates and the more ink will be used.
Go with the printer that has the smallest press that willPlus, it takes more energy to run a bigger press.
do the job to your satisfaction. The bigger the press,Generally, you can save money (hundreds of dollars) if
the bigger the plates and the more ink will be used.you use a smaller press.
Plus, it takes more energy to run a bigger press.These are just some general guidelines to give you an
Generally, you can save money (hundreds of dollars) ifidea of what to look for in a printer. The best way to
you use a smaller press.find the right printer is to ask around, research their
These are just some general guidelines to give you anWeb sites and ask for a bid on your project.