When you're printing catalogues, books or magazines in the thousands, every specification choice has a knock-on effect on price. The good news is that many of the biggest savings come from planning, not from cutting corners. Here are seven ways to keep costs down on your next large print run.

1. Plan ahead and avoid rush fees

Urgent jobs limit your production options and often cost more. If you know a catalogue or annual report is coming up, start the conversation early. More lead time gives your printer the flexibility to schedule the job efficiently, and it opens the door to offshore production, which is often where the largest savings are.

2. Print more copies in a single run

Much of the cost of a print job sits in the setup. Once the presses are running, each additional copy costs far less than the first. If you know you'll need more copies later in the year, printing them in one run is usually much cheaper than two smaller reprints.

3. Design to standard sizes

Standard sizes such as A4 and A5 make the most efficient use of paper sheets. Custom sizes can create waste, which you end up paying for. If a custom format isn't essential to your design, sticking to a standard size is an easy saving.

4. Choose the right paper weight

Heavier stock costs more to buy and more to freight. For inside pages, a sensible mid-weight often looks and feels just as good as a heavier option. Ask for samples before you decide, and save the heavier weights for your cover, where they make the biggest impression.

5. Match the binding to the job

Hardcover and PUR binding are excellent, but they aren't needed for every project. A short-life seasonal catalogue may be perfectly suited to saddle stitching, while a long-term reference book deserves something more durable. Choosing the binding for how the piece will actually be used keeps you from paying for durability you don't need.

6. Supply print-ready files

Artwork problems cost time and money. Before sending files, check that images are high resolution, colours are set to CMYK, fonts are embedded and bleed is included. Our team pre-press checks every incoming file, but getting it right first time helps your job move straight into production.

7. Compare quotes like for like

It's worth comparing prices, but only when the specifications match. Quantity, size, stock, colours and finishing all need to be the same for a fair comparison. When we've done this against a market-leading Auckland printer, the results have been significant:

• A6 notepads, 1,000 units: $1,429 vs $1,010 with Mainprint, a 30% saving.
• 100 page A5 soft cover book, 1,000 units: $19,699 vs $11,080 with Mainprint, a 43% saving.
• 624 page A4 hardcover book, 1,000 units: $33,404 vs $22,800 with Mainprint, a 37% saving.

Save without the risk

Mainprint works with a network of trusted national and international partners to deliver world-class pricing, backed by a Kiwi company that takes full responsibility for your job. You get the savings of offshore production without the risk of dealing with unknown operators yourself.

Get a free quote or see our price comparisons to find out how much you could save.