🚀 go-pugleaf

Steven

I would start with the small to mid-size printers for your spot work and
mid-size to larger for your cmyk projects. I have a printer for each, as
usually the smaller printers don't do the cmyk work and vise versa.
Do not allow a 2-color press do 4-color work (unless you don't care about
your color and consistency) - you cannot keep consistent color or
registration throughout the run - some will try to sell you on this. They
are trying to pay for that press, a 2-color press will run about
$50,000-$100,000, a 4-color will run $250,000 into the millions.

Ask for referrals from people you know who print. Word gets out fast who is
good and who isn't, what their strengths and weaknesses are. They will also
tell you their experiences with their printers and will give you a very good
idea as to whether you want to work with them or not.

You can also get quotes from a couple of different printers on your project
to see where the prices are. Do not make a habit of this though, it takes a
lot of time to put quotes together and they do not want to spend their time
on someone who is just using the numbers with little intention of using
their services.

I ALWAYS have my work done in-house by one printer, no outside sources on
the printing portion - I have control of the project - if it goes outside -
I no longer have any say.

I prefer all aspects of the project to be done in-house but this is just not
feasible, sometimes bindery, die cutting, laminates or added elements will
have to be done by outside sources.

Many spot printers will say they can do the cmyk work, then they farm it out
to the bigger shops, with a markup on it. I work direct with my vendors, no
middlemen to cross wires with. Ask them if they do the work themselves,
in-house hopefully, they will be honest and if you find out otherwise, run.

Good luck





> Thanks for all the information. It sounds like I should be interviewing
> printers to find one I can trust to give me the best advice and choices of
> production. As a beginner how do I approach printers to find one that will be
> more of a partner?
> 
> Steven