Cost-Saving Options: Print orders, in many cases, are now more specialist, high-end publications involving more creative differentiation as a result of digital replacing traditional media as the dominant format for mass consumption. For print customers, this can make things more difficult by expanding their options and possibly increasing their costs as well.
However, a beautiful print doesn’t have to be expensive. With a little knowledge and the right level of help from your magazine printing company, you may be able to find the simplest parts of your publication where prices can be cut. This will allow you to put money toward the parts that really make a difference.
The suggestions outlined in this article are meant to make you a more knowledgeable print buyer who is better equipped to deliver exceptional print work without hurting your profit margin.
Table of Contents
Think About Printing in 16pp or 32pp Sections
Typically, printing machines use plates that create 16pp pieces. Smaller print runs, such as 4 or 8 pages, require more plates, which increases production costs and lengthens the run. Therefore, it is wise to limit yourself to portions that can be divided by 16.
Independent publications in particular should find this interesting because they frequently vary the paper stocks used in production to denote changes in tone, format, or theme.
Think About Printing Some Parts in Mono
Another tool at your disposal for dividing portions of your magazine or replicating pictures is experimenting with colour, or in this case, the lack of colour. Costs can be greatly decreased by lowering the number of inks featured in your print. Around 20% can be saved when printing in mono instead of four colours. About £700 could be saved if around 75% of the pages in our sample title were printed in monochrome.
Emboss or Laminate as Opposed To Using Textured Stock
Adding tactility to the cover is a necessary requirement for all different kinds of print, whether that is catalogues, marketing brochures or magazines. The use of textured materials is a cheap yet straightforward method. By laminating or embossing, you can also add texture.
The use of materials with texture can lead to more issues than just a big expense. Because of the paper’s uneven surface and a lengthier drying period, these stocks may produce inconsistent print reproduction. With significant cost and print time savings, embossing or applying a textured laminate over untextured material can more reliably achieve varied consistencies. In comparison to using textured stocks, you may anticipate saving up to £1,500 by the use of embossing and lamination on a run of 2,000 copies or more.
Print on Tinted White Paper
Cream stocks are becoming more frequently used to convey a sense of opulence in independent periodicals and catalogues. There is no doubt that coloured stocks sell for a lot more money. One way to reduce the cost of printing these publications is to select white paper and then add a tint that is cream to the finished print. As the image prints onto a background that is neutral, it not only provides a chance to save money but also enables more accurate colour reproduction. Printing on a white material that has a tint as opposed to cream stock might reduce your paper expenditures by as much as 50%.
Order Any Bespoke Sizes You Require Directly From the Vendor
Paper, especially that produced for common printing sizes, is often all that paper retailers carry (e.g., A4 or A5). They can typically meet your request for a custom size, but there will usually be a supplement. You can request that the paper be produced in a custom size for publications that are printed in larger quantities. Direct ordering from a paper mill with plenty of lead time helps lower waste costs, which is advantageous from a financial and sustainable standpoint. For instance, by permitting the manufacturer to print in the ideal size for folding rather than utilising paper generally used for standard-sized items, you can cut expenses by 9% on a 270 x 210mm 116pp magazine.
It’s important to note that because the paper mills need a minimum weight of 3 or 4 tonnes to make the customised material, this advice only applies to longer runs of at least 4,000 copies. Additionally, they demand at least three weeks’ notice.
The tips outlined above are just a few of the ways you can reduce printing costs for your publication, and hopefully they will prove useful.