Introductio

n to
print
production
Presented by: Aila Marie A. Alpuerto
Learning outcome
• Understand the Print
Production Process
• Analyze Printing Costs and
Apply Print Production
Planning Skills
• Integrate Design and Practical
Production Elements
 Topic Outline
Introduction to print
production
01.
• The Graphic Print
Production Flow
02.
03. • Printing cost
• Planning Graphic print
The Graphic
Print
Production
Flow
What is print production and
how does it work?
Print production is the process of
creating printed materials. If that
seems vague, it is because print
production can be flexible and
mean different things to different
businesses.
 01
Pre-press
THE THREE STAGES
02
OF PRINT Press
PRODUCTION
03
Post-press
 When designers or production

management mention
PRE-PRESS
“pre-press” concerning printed

materials, they often refer to the

process between printing the

draft or layout of the design and

the final print job.

 • Double-check the design file, format,

fonts, and resolution to ensure it is up

to standard with the final version you

PRE-PRESS will eventually print.

• Perform a color test to ensure that the

THIS IS A VITAL STEP IN THE PRINT
computer color (check out CMYK vs.
PRODUCTION PROCESS AND
REQUIRES GREAT ATTENTION TO RGB article) matches what your team

DETAIL AND FLEXIBILITY TO ENSURE wants on the final product.

EVERYTHING IS ACCURATE BEFORE
• Format the art for printing and create a
GOING TO PRESS.
sample of the design.
 When you hear the term “press”

regarding print production, this

PRESS refers to the printing stage. This

stage is where the design you

have perfected in the pre-press

phase is transferred to the

material you choose, depending

on what you are printing.

 This stage is a bit more nuanced than

PRESS the other stages because there are

EACH TYPE OF PRESS PRINTING IS different types of print options you can

DESIGNED TO PAIR WELL WITH choose from, including:

SPECIFIC MATERIALS YOU MAY BE
PRINTING. THE PROCESS OF THIS
• Lithography or offset
STAGE WILL BE DIFFERENT FOR
EVERYONE DURING PRINT • Letterpress
PRODUCTION DUE TO THE • Screen
DIFFERENT PRESS OPTIONS
• Digital
 At this stage, you have finally

made it!
POST-PRESS . For instance, if you print a

booklet, this stage will involve

correctly assembling the pages

to be sorted in the correct order.

 • Physically folding, cutting, and

bounding any book materials.

POST-PRESS • Trim, smooth, or round any

business cards or marketing

THE POST-PRESS STAGE materials.

FOCUSES ON THE FINAL • Clean up the overall design of the
PRINT AFTER IT HAS GONE
THROUGH THE PROCESS OF image to make it look more
PRE-PRESS AND PRESS. aesthetically pleasing and

accurate to the original design.

Printing
cost
 FACTORS THAT
CONTRIBUTE TO PRINTING
COSTS
 PAPER IS A SUBSTANTIAL
PORTION OF OVERALL PRINTING
COSTS. THE WEIGHT, TYPE AND
SIZE ALL INFLUENCE THE COST. MATERIALS
FOR MAGAZINES AND
CATALOGS, HIGH-QUALITY
PAPER WITH SPECIAL FINISHES
CAN SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASE
THE PRICE. OPTING FOR THICKER
PAPER WITH ADDITIONAL
APPLICATIONS CAN HELP YOU
CREATE A DURABLE,
 INK IS ALSO A FACTOR IN
MATERIAL COSTS. BLACK
AND WHITE PRINTING CAN
HELP REDUCE COSTS, BUT MATERIALS
WON’T PROVIDE THE SAME
VISUAL APPEAL AS A
WELL-CRAFTED
FULL-COLOR PRINT
PROJECT. SIMILARLY,
SPECIALTY COATINGS CAN
ADD TO YOUR PRINTING
 Quantity
Printing costs typically follow
an economy-of-scale
principle. The more you print,
the lower the cost per unit. This
is because setup costs are
spread across a larger volume.
For example, printing 1,000
copies of a book might be
considerably more expensive
per unit compared to printing
 Equipment
This aspect relates to the price of the
printing equipment, such as the
printer itself, scanners, cutters, and
other items. Equipment having
distinctive features, especially more
advanced equipment, might be more
expensive.
Some businesses are unable to afford
to buy equipment. In these situations,
the cost of leasing or renting the
equipment is considered rather than
 THE MACHINERY USED IN
PRINTING WON’T ALWAYS
MAINTENANCE FUNCTION FLAWLESSLY. THE
BUSINESS WILL HAVE TO SET
ASIDE SOME OF THEIR BUDGET
FOR MAINTENANCE CHARGES IN
ORDER TO KEEP THEM
OPERATIONAL.
Depending on the choice the
corporation makes, these can be
 THIS ELEMENT RELATES TO
THE CONTINUING PRINTING SUPPLIES
COSTS, SUCH AS THE TONER,
PAPER, AND OTHER MEDIA
NEEDED.
Supplies can also include
things like staples, folders, and
other items, depending on the
range of services the company
IN DETERMINING THE FINAL CHARGE RATES
PRICING OF THEIR ITEMS,
BUSINESSES MIGHT ALSO
TAKE A FEW ADDITIONAL
ASPECTS INTO ACCOUNTS,
SUCH AS OVERHEAD
EXPENSES AND THE
CALIBER OF THEIR
 Planning
Graphic print
production
 Before you Creating a timeline for

your project will ensure that every

aspect of it runs smoothly and that

DEFINE YOUR you won’t feel rushed to make any

big, last-minute decisions.

OBJECTIVES AND Communicating these needs or

BUDGET. expectations upfront with your

print vendor will improve the

process.
 As you begin planning your piece,

make sure to consider who you want to

reach and what message you are

wanting to convey. Knowing your

KNOW YOUR target audience will enable you to

TARGET AUDIENCE. tailor your design, messaging, and

print specifications to resonate with

them. Consider their preferences for

what will catch their attention.

 As you work on your project for print, a

common mistake is including too

much content. When your design

WRITE AND DESIGNbecomes very content-heavy, it will be

distracting or hard to read all the
WITH PRINTING IN
information. Instead, think about how
MIND. to condense your information into a

simple format with a logical flow that

makes it easy for the eye to follow.

 Collaborating with a reputable

print vendor can be a seamless

experience no matter the types

SELECT THE RIGHT of print projects you plan to

PRINT VENDOR. execute. Utilizing a print vendor

ensures that your vision comes

to life with professional quality.

• REPUTATION- Consider a print vendor that
is known for producing quality materials.
Research vendors with strong reviews and
see professional referrals from other small
business owners.

• Expertise- Choose a print vendor who can

guide you through the entire print process
and is knowledgeable in a variety of print
mediums to meet your needs.
• Equipment Capabilities- Look for a print vendor that
has quality equipment and is capable of printing in
different capacities.
• Turnaround times- Find a print vendor that can
create a final product quickly when you have time
constraints or need a last-minute project printed.
• Pricing- Be sure to choose a print vendor that aligns
with your budget but doesn’t compromise the
quality of your project.
 Your selection can significantly

impact the final look and feel of

your printed materials.

CHOOSE YOUR
Consider factors like weight,
PAPER AND
texture, and finish, such as
FINISHES. glossy, matte, or satin to

enhance the overall impression

of your design.
 8

CONCLUSION
“Making targets and
strategies is an important
point in achieving
business goals.”
 9

Thank You
References:

https://bdsdoc.com/blog/what-is-print-production-and-how-does-it-w
ork/#:~:text=The%20three%20stages%20of%20print%20production
&text=Having%20a%20%E2%80%9Cflow%E2%80%9D%20in%20
print,press%2C%20and%20post%2Dpress
https://www.walsworth.com/blog/factors-that-affect-printing-costs
https://www.msadigital.com/know-the-factors-that-affect-your-printin
g-costs/
https://singlesourceus.com/how-to-plan-for-the-print-process/#:~:tex
t=Effective%20planning%20for%20the%20print,finish%20for%20yo
ur%20final%20product