When it comes to printing your book, you’ve likely thought a lot about things like the cover design, format, and style, but what about the printing method? For centuries, books have been a gateway to knowledge, culture, and storytelling. The earliest printed books were painstakingly produced using woodblock printing in China, followed by the revolutionary invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century. This breakthrough made books more accessible and affordable, fueling the spread of literacy and ideas. Today, book printing has evolved into multiple advanced methods, each suited for different needs. Whether you're a self-published author, a small press, or a large publishing house, understanding the different types of book printing methods can help you choose the best option for your project.
The three major types of printing methods are offset printing, digital printing, and Print On Demand. Here’s what to know about each type.
Offset printing
Offset printing transfers ink from a plate to a rubber blanket, and then onto a printing surface. This process creates high-quality prints and is ideal for large-volume printing like books, magazines, and newspapers.
The process
First, metal plates made of aluminum are created — one for each color used in the print job. Then, each plate is mounted onto a cylinder and inked. This makes sure that the ink only goes to the image areas of the plate. The inked image then goes onto a rubber blanket cylinder. This makes sure that every page that’s printed is consistently high quality. The rubber blanket then presses against the paper, putting the inked image onto the final material.
Pros
Offset printing offers sharp, clean images with true-to-life colors. Although initial setup costs are higher because the plates have to be custom created, offset printing keeps per-unit costs low. The more you print, the less you pay, which makes it an economical option for large print runs. Offset book printing is most attractive for print runs of more than 10,000 books.
Beyond its affordability for larger volumes, offset printing can also print on many different types of materials, including paper, cardboard, and plastic.
Cons
Because of its higher setup costs, offset printing isn’t recommended for small quantity print runs. Beyond this, preparation and setup can take time, so if you need a nearly immediate turnaround, it may be worth exploring digital printing or Print On Demand. Offset book printing normally takes between 6-8 weeks.
Digital printing
Digital printing involves transferring digital images directly onto various types of media without the need for traditional plates. Because this method is more flexible and efficient, it has gained in popularity, particularly for shorter print runs.
The process
Digital files, such as PDFs, are sent directly to a digital printer. The printer then uses either toner or liquid ink to reproduce the image directly onto the chosen material.
Pros
With such a simple setup process, digital printing is great for book printing projects that need fast production times. Digital printing can also be customized to fit different needs so aspiring authors can personalize their books, for example.
Dry toner digital printing produces sharp, vibrant prints and works well for high-coverage color printing. OnPress Book Printing, for example, uses Xeikon dry toner presses, which are G7-certified for superior quality.
This method is best for book printing runs between 1-9,999 units.
Cons
The only real question when it comes to digital printing is whether or not the printing platform is dry toner or inkjet. Inkjet is cheap, but can struggle with maintaining consistent quality color printing. Additionally, jet-outs can cause the appearance of white lines running through the printed pages.
At OnPress, you don’t have to worry about these issues because of our G7-certified dry toner platform which delivers measured and reliable printing.
Print on Demand
Print on Demand (also called POD) is a digital printing process where books are printed individually as orders are received, eliminating the need for larger inventories. This model has become particularly popular for authors with niche audiences, or self-published authors.
The process
When a customer places an order for a book, the digital file is sent to a digital printer, which produces the book in the specific quantity. Oftentimes this is just a single copy at a time. The printed book is then bound and shipped directly to the customer.
Pros
POD eliminates the need to keep stock of your books, reducing the risk of unsold books and the storage costs associated with keeping them. This lets authors bring books to market without a huge outlay of spending. Authors can also update or revise content between printings without risking financial penalties.
Cons
The cost per book is typically higher than it is with offset printing. Compared to traditional methods, there may be fewer options in terms of paper quality, binding styles, and finishes. That’s a minor issue compared to the greater benefits of being able to operate your scaling book-selling business.
How to choose the best printing method for your needs
Now that you understand more about the different types of printing, how can you choose the right printing method for your specific needs? Consider the quantity of books you want printed. For large print runs, offset printing is the most economical. Smaller print runs are better handled by Print On Demand, making them more cost-effective.
If you need a quick turnaround, digital printing or POD will be better options owing to their faster setup and production times. Keep your total budget in mind, including costs for things like:
- Setup costs
- Per unit costs
- Storage expenses
If you need personalized book printing, digital printing gives you this level of flexibility.
At OnPress Book Printing, we specialize in various printing methods to meet your publishing needs. We take great care to produce your book according to the highest quality standards, no matter which printing method you choose. From premium-quality color printing to fast three-day delivery and a price match guarantee, there’s no better choice for your book printing needs.
Whether you want to print a novel online or you’re looking for affordable custom book printing services, OnPress Book Printing is here to help. We’re proud to be certified G7 printers for graphic novels, giving you the highest level of color fidelity no matter which device is used to read your book.
Many of our authors take advantage of our free book layout templates for printing making it easier than ever to bring your story to life. Wondering how much it costs to print a book? Have other questions about the different types of printing and which one may be right for you? We’re here to help!
Reach out to our friendly, helpful book printing experts with any questions you may have! We look forward to working with you to bring your book to life!
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