Brochures >> Guide to Printing Services
Brochure Printing Services - A Buyer's Guide
Even with the constant evolution of web-based communications, the business brochure is still a reliable workhorse. It can support a variety of business purposes, and also serves as a convenient information piece for consumers. So let's talk about the brochure printing services that bring these pieces to life.
Brochure Printing is the Easy Part
You might not think it right now, but having your business brochures printed is actually the easiest part of the process. That's because the brochure printing company handles the logistics for you. I know from experience that the brochure's content, layout and design are the harder parts. Once you get through all of that, printing is fairly simple.
With that being said, there are certain things to keep in mind when dealing with postcard printing services if you want the best results. Here are some of the lessons I've learned from dealing with commercial printers on brochure projects.
Use Local Printing Services if Possible
Online printing companies are great for simpler projects like postcards and one-page flyers. But because of the extra pages involved, brochures are a bit more complex when it comes to printing. Sure, the printer is going to do most of the "heavy lifting" for you, but it's nice to proof your brochure in person prior to giving the green light for a full print run.
Use a Brochure Printer With Account Reps
The best commercial printing outfits assign dedicated account reps to each client. For example, the printing company I worked for had about 15 account reps. Sure, each rep had quite a few clients to keep up with. But at least they were familiar with the client's past projects, design standards, and related topics.
This makes a big difference when it comes to the brochure printing process. When you call the print shop with a question or concern, you should be speaking to a familiar person. The process will be more efficient as a whole when this is the case.
Proofing and Sign-Off
Regardless of whether you use a local printing service for your brochures or a web-based company that ships to you, there will be a proofing and sign-off stage at some point. This is where the printer produces a test copy of your brochure so you can review it for color matching, layout, trim accuracy, etc.
With a web-based printing service, you will likely receive a proof copy in the mail and be asked to review it. If you are using a local printer, you will likely pay a visit to their shop to proof the brochure, or the printer will have it sent to you by their delivery / courier staff. In either case, there are certain things you need to review before giving the printing service a green light to produce the brochures.
- Color Matching - This refers to how well the colors in the printed brochure match the color codes and standards provided by the custom. Color matching is more important for some companies than others. Dell Computers, for example, would be much more concerned with color matching in their brochures than a mom-and-pop computer repair shop would.
- Bleeds and Cuts - Was your brochure cut where you wanted it to be? Do your full-bleed colors and/or graphics fill the page as you wanted? These are additional details you should review during the brochure proofing process.
- Readability of Text - You should pay close attention to the readability of text when reviewing your brochure. Sometimes fonts get "lost" or compressed during the printing process, especially when digital printers are used.
We hope you have found this guide to brochure printing services helpful, and we wish you luck with your future print jobs.