Ten Ways to Cut Your Printing Costs

Design and Plan for Cost Efficient Prints


1.   Stick with standard finished sizes to reduce paper waste 
      and minimize your costs.


2.   Be careful when using bleeds, that is, color or images that run to the 
      edges of the paper. Sometimes they require larger sheets that need to be
      trimmed, resulting in higher costs and longer production time.


3.   Use color to print a large quantity of "shells." Then, customize the
      text as your projects come up throughout the year with one color of ink.


4.   Spread the cost of color between several jobs. For example, design
      a series of brochures that share the same colors, and print them at the same time.
      It can be cheaper than paying separate setup charges for each.


5.   Before placing a special order, ask if there is a paper stock in inventory that
      might be right for your project.


6.   Choose the right type of binding. Saddle stitching (stapling the piece along
      the center fold) is one of the least expensive and most popular types of binding.


7.   On larger quantities that are printed on two sides, lay out both sides on 
      one larger sheet. This is called printing "two-up" and can reduce costs by about 25
      percent since press time is cut in half.


8.   If you are designing your materials or providing a digital file, make 
      sure your printer outputs a sample to check the accuracy of the layout and any color
      separations. In addition, make any revisions before you turn your layout or digital files
      over to the printer. Revisions are costly once a job is in production.


9.   Consider digital 4-color prints. Though press printing small quantities
      (under 400) of a full-color brochure is usually cost prohibitive for many organizations,
      consider short-run digital printing instead. If set up correctly, your project can be
      output directly from your digital files and the press time is cut in half.


10. Avoid rush charges. Find out what length of time is required from your printer
      for production printing and added processes like folding, paper- and die-cutting. Stay
      on deadline to avoid rush charges, which can be as high as 50 to 100 percent above
      the normal quote.