Traditional forms of advertising still exist even if promotional prospects have become digital. That is because audiences are still captivated by images printed in magazines and brochures. Since printing involves much ink and paper, businesses expect it to be costly. It may also be time-consuming. Compared to flashing everything on websites, they would rather advertise online. But products and services printed at an exceptional level are more impactful. It only proves that a good hardback book printing company helps businesses gain much influence in brand promotion.

An excellent firm can be spotted by asking each candidate some key questions. Read the paragraphs below to know these questions.

Can I get a quote?

Getting a quote for printing your project should be free. Most printing companies have websites that allow you to enter your project specifications and request pricing online. Be sure to note if the quote you receive is an estimate or the actual cost. Phone or office visits can ensure you get an accurate quote for your project if you need help on paper selection or other details. Developing a relationship with an account representative can be helpful.

Will I see proof?

You want to see proof of your printed piece and give approval before it goes to the presses. A digital PDF proof is an excellent visual to check for type and grammar errors and the placement of elements. But a hard copy proof will more closely represent the colours that will be printed. Before printing is underway, good hardback photo book printing companies arrange for press checks that occur after the job is set up on the presses.

Do you offer a guarantee?

You want the printing to be perfect. Efficient hardback photo book printing companies monitor equipment conditions and manage colour shifts, trimming errors, or printing delays. Some printing companies strive for 100% customer satisfaction and offer a money-back guarantee. Others will correct the errors and reprint the job at no added cost to you.

Do I need to allow for creep?

This question is critical when producing any printed document containing a large number of pages. When the sheets are folded and trimmed, the inner sheets will be smaller than the outer ones – otherwise known as creep. The thicker the paper stock, the greater this difference will be. Unless this is allowed, your margins will vary. During file preparation processes, the best short run hardcover book printing services make adjustments for creep. Better to allow for this in the design than to have to make any adjustments later.

What are your artwork requirements?

To complete projects faster, supply files in the correct formats. Ask if your artwork should be saved in colour profiles and check if your printer would prefer the fonts to be outlined or supplied with the artwork. Outputting artwork to PDF is the preferred workflow for many printers. Check with your printer for their recommended PDF standard and the compatibility settings. Most will require a pdf with bleed, crop marks and supplied as single pages, not spreads.

What are my choices?

Ask your printer which print process is best for you. Quantities will often determine whether the job should be digital or litho. So find out how it will be printed. A reliable hardback photo book printing company find the best printing options that fit a client’s budget.

What’s the creep and bleed?

If you’re printing a brochure or book, you should always check if you need to allow for creep. Printing such products can take a long time to adjust for pre-designed work. Exceptional short run hardcover book printing services always check on bleed in any project. 3mm is a standard safety net.

Can you recommend the best paper stock?

You might know what you want already, but if you give your printer an idea of the finish you’re looking for, they can recommend you better or the ideal option for your requirements. Printers should give invaluable advice on stocks, ink management, and eco-friendly options if they know the client’s ideal finishes.

Should I mark it up?

For printers to be fully aware of the printing scope, mark up artwork with specs, colours, and guides. Set the guides up in single spot colour and label it ‘GUIDES ONLY - DO NOT PRINT’.

What’s the recommended size for my product?

If you can be flexible, it’s always worth speaking about the size you want your piece to be. A few millimetres difference can often allow you to plan up more pages per sheet and have a much more economical print. Being flexible with the piece sizes would enable clients to have an extra budget on paper stock or hardback for your book or products.

Can I use folds or unusual formats?

An experienced printer will advise any unusual folds or die-cuts. Different printers might want artwork adjusted to allow for folding. So go through how you want your final piece to look, and they will figure out how to do it.

Businesses can expect to have a lot of advantages when working with an efficient hardback book printing company. But it could be overwhelming to spot a professional printing firm. Perhaps all printing firms online would claim that they offer unbeatable services. Yet by asking candidates each of the questions mentioned above, the selection process would be quick and successful. These questions can help recognise a printing company that has satisfied plenty of businesses.