Custom Printing

The custom printing is a popular marketing term used by many printing operators. It implies that you can custom design your order and the company will print it for you. Now..., 30 years ago I would understand that cars did not come automatically with the air conditioner. However, any car dealer who proclaims today that the aircon is included in the price is... silly . The same applies to the so called custom printing.

Any printing company manager stating that their service is fantastic because you can custom design your product, needs to "get out more into the world". The custom printing is an essential business model for any printing operator. In fact, customers are charged less if they design the product themselves. Most printers will add additional fee for any graphic designs they have to undertake. The additional cost can be as high as $100 an hour.

Custom Printing Guide

There are very few limitations for custom printing. However, there are plenty of additional costs for non-standard features. For printing business cards you do not pay for the size. However, the number of colours matters. For printing brochures, flyers and pamphlets the size and the type of the paper are the main customisation costs. The same applies to printing labels but here, the type of the custom printing will determine the final price.

The large format printing is a customisation in its own right. Customers can print as long banners as they want but anything above 30 meters will incur hefty price tag. Some specialised labels and brochures may require specific shapes. Not all printers have the facility to customise the shape of the product. Those who can, will charge additional fee for non-rectangular designs.

Custom Printing Designs

Most custom made designs should be done using the computer software. In fact, this is the way printing businesses expect you to deliver the product for the final print. The most accepted format is PDF. However, many printers can take any graphic format and either use it directly or convert it to the desired type.

For business cards you can use free software. Open Office is a sufficient program to design a simple business card. Business cards' images, which do not require a high resolution, can be done on the Paint Brush. Open Office (same as the commercial word processors) is able to import the image.

For brochures, you probably need a more elaborated programs. For simple flyers the freeware will do but serious pamphlets and brochures need heavy guns like Photoshop. There are numerous programs for labels. In fact, for barcode labels there are specialised programs which convert numbers to the barcode image.

Custom Printing Prices

Generally, you do not pay more if you deliver your own design for the printing (if you do then change your printing contractor!). However, certain features in your design may incur additional costs. In fact, printing companies will charge extra if they have to design the product themselves. Therefore, all printing businesses offer free standard designs for those customers who do not know how to create their own product. Thus, you can use your own custom printing design or the free template and you will still pay the same.